Fatality #14 - August 3, 2015

Accident Classification: Machinery

Location: SSX Mine, Nevada

Mine Controller: Keith Jones

Mine Type: Underground

Mined Material: Gold Ore

Incident Date/Time: August 3, 2015 03:30 pm

A miner was found unresponsive in front of a jumbo drill on the 7250 level, zone 7. The miner is believed to have been moving the jumbo drill after he'd finished drilling. The jumbo drill was found against the rib, the engine was still running and the transmission was in the reverse gear. The victim may have been struck by the jumbo.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident.

Please provide any information to:

Stephen Cain, Lead Accident Investigator

Phone: 707-447-9844

PRELIMINARY REPORT

Read more about the Preliminary Report

FATALITY ALERT

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On August 3, 2015, a 26-year old miner with 4 years of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The drill was traveling in the reverse direction of travel up a 10% slope and was carrying a 13½ ft. long drill steel in a rack that had been installed on the machine. The forward end of the drill steel struck a rib causing it to be pushed back toward the operator. The drill steel struck and killed the operator, and caused him to fall to the ground. No witnesses were present at the time of the accident.