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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 2, 2007, a 37 year-old instrument technician, with 2½ years experience, was fatally injured at an alumina operation. The victim partially opened a ball valve in an access pipe in preparation for maintenance. Hydrogen fluoride discharged from the pipe onto his face. He was hospitalized and died several hours later.

Photo Showing Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • Review maintenance and inspection practices to ensure all possible hazards have been identified and appropriate controls are in place to protect miners.
  • Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition, specifically when performing maintenance on pipelines.
  • Require appropriate respiratory protection, special protective clothing, and face shields where hazards from gases, fumes, chemicals, or mechanical irritants may exist.
  • Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage, SLAM each task to identify all potential hazards Ensure that all hazards are eliminated so the task can be safely performed.
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 1st fatality reported in calendar year 2007 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2006, there were no fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st 'Other' fatality in 2007. There were no 'Other' fatalities in the same period in 2006.

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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