Accident Report: Fatality Reference
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On June 18, 2010, a 29 year-old contract miner with 6 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground silver mine. The victim was scaling loose ground in a stope when he was struck by falling material approximately 3� feet long by 2� feet wide by 2 feet thick.
Best Practices
- Examine, sound, and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
- Train all persons to scale loose material safely.
- Communicate unsafe ground conditions to all affected miners.
- Perform manual scaling from a location which will not expose persons to injury from falling material.
- When manually scaling, use scaling bars of a length and design that will allow the removal of loose material without exposing persons to the risk of injury.
- Install ground support where conditions warrant.
Additional Information
This is the 11th fatality reported in calendar year 2010 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2009, there were 12 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st Fall of Roof fatality in 2010. There were no Fall of Roof fatalities in the same period in 2009.