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Fatality Alert - Fatality #9 - May 28, 2010

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Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

ftl10m09.pdf (268.71 KB)

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On May 28, 2010, a 59-year-old supervisor with 20 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground gold mine. The victim and another miner entered a blast area when a misfire detonated without warning. The other miner was injured and hospitalized. 

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above

Best Practices

  • Follow the manufacturers' guidelines for the storage and usage of explosives.
  • Keep explosives storage areas clean, dry and orderly.
  • Properly rotate explosive stock to use oldest stock first.
  • Never use damaged/deteriorated/outdated explosives, initiation devices, or blasting agents.
  • Wait a minimum of the required times before entering the blast area when either a misfire and/or burning explosives are a possibility.

Additional Information

This is the 9th fatality reported in calendar year 2010 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2009, there were 10 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st Explosives and Breaking Agents fatality in 2010. There were no Explosives and Breaking Agents fatalities in the same period in 2009.