Accident Report: Fatality Reference
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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.
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.
Additional Information
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.