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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On July 30, 2007, a 55 year-old miner with 2 ½ years experience was fatally injured at an underground copper mine. The victim backed a utility truck into a crosscut when a fall of ground occurred covering the truck and causing it to catch fire.

Photo Showing Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions where persons work or travel.
  • Promptly initiate action to install additional support when ground faults are identified.
  • Install barriers to impede entry when ground conditions may create a hazard.
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 2007 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2006, there were 18 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 2nd Fall of Ground fatality in 2007. There were no Fall of Ground 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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