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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 11, 2006, a 22-year-old rock handler, with 9 months mining experience, was fatally injured at a dimension stone operation. The victim stacked patio stones on a wood pallet and wrapped wire field fence around the stones to secure them in place. As he was tightening the fence material by twisting the wire, he was struck by a skid steer that was backing up.

Photograph of Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • Provide a location for stacking and binding stones to pallets that minimizes the exposure of miners to the travel of mobile equipment.
  • Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed along with the methods to protect personnel. Stop, Look, Analyze, Manage ( SLAM )
  • Ensure all miners are trained to recognize work place hazards, specifically the hazard of mobile equipment traveling nearby.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, be certain no one is in the intended path, sound the horn to warn unseen persons, and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
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 6th fatality reported in calendar year 2006 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2005, there were 9 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 2nd Powered Haulage fatality in 2006. There were four Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 2005.


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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