Accident Report: Fatality Reference
PDF Version
fab11m08.pdf
(176.91 KB)
METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY -On September 7, 2011, a 30 year-old miner with 1 year of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The victim was on a ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. When the round was initiated, small rock and debris traveled through a 3-inch diameter diamond borehole, striking him.
Best Practices
- Plug a diamond drill hole that intersects any opening and map the hole.
- During blasting operations, consider mine specific conditions, including diamond drill holes and rock strata, and establish mine policies and procedures to protect all persons.
- When developing a blasting plan, make sure all drilled holes and open passageways that intersect the area to be blasted are known and taken into consideration before initiating any blast.
- Use a central blasting system and schedule blasting between shifts or on off-shifts when no one is present.
- Train persons to identify hazards associated with blasting activity and take action to correct them.
- Never initiate a blast until the blast area has been determined to be safe and all persons have been evacuated from the designated blasting area.
- Take special precautions to ensure that all roadways and regularly traveled areas are blocked to prevent access when blasting is being conducted.
Additional Information
This is the 8th fatality reported in calendar year 2011 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2010, there were 14 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st Explosives fatality in 2011. There was 1 Explosives fatality in the same period in 2010.