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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On May 3, 2002, a 62-year-old contract dozer operator with 20 years of experience, drowned at a surface limestone operation. The victim was operating a dozer to level a pad for a dragline, when he over traveled the edge of the pad and sank. Several hours later, a dragline moved into position and began extracting material from the pit. The dragline brought up several pieces of the dozer. A search for the victim started immediately, but he was not found until May 6, 2002.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Determine the relationship of the water's edge to the work area prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Provide flotation devices in the operator's cab on mobile equipment working near water.
More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

This is the 20th fatality reported in calendar year 2002 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2001, there were 12 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the eighth fatality classified as Machinery in 2002. There was one Machinery fatality in the same period in 2001.

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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