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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On June 12, 2007, a 45 year-old grade setter, with ten years construction experience, was fatally injured at a surface crushed stone operation. The victim was working to complete reclamation on a waste dump. He entered a trench and was struck by a large section of clay when a vertical wall of the trench collapsed.

Photo Showing Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • Carefully examine ground conditions prior to performing tasks near excavated embankments, trenches or ditches.
  • Identify hazards associated with the task to be performed, review those hazards with all personnel involved, and implement measures to ensure persons are properly protected.
  • Support trench walls or slope the walls to a safe angle.
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 12th fatality reported in calendar year 2007 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2006, there were 14 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 2nd Falling Material fatality in 2007. There were 2 Falling Material 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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