Accident Report: Fatality Reference
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fab14m05-06.pdf
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY -On April 11, 2014, a 53-year-old scaler with 8 years of experience and a 29-year old scaler with 8 years of experience were killed at an underground limestone mine. The miners were in a basket on a boom truck scaling a pillar about 40 feet above the mine floor. Large slabs of rock fell from the rib and struck an outrigger and the back of the truck, causing the boom to fall to the mine floor.
Best Practices
- Establish safe work procedures and train all persons to recognize and understand these procedures.
- Discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
- Always examine, sound, and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
- Always wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
- Scale loose material from a safe position and location.
- Test for loose material frequently during work activities.
- Install ground support in roof and ribs where conditions warrant.
- Use equipment with a reach that reduces the possibility of the equipment being struck by falling material.
- Position equipment to keep outriggers and boom from being struck by falling material.
Additional Information
These are the 5th and 6th fatalities reported in calendar year 2014 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2013, there were 4 fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. These are the 1st and 2nd Fall of Rib fatalities in 2014. There were 0 Fall of Rib fatalities in the same period in 2013.