Accident Report: Fatality Reference
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On March 23, 2015, a 48-year old mine operator with 20 years of experience was killed at a dimension stone operation. The victim was operating a walk-behind masonry saw, positioned between the saw and a ledge, when he tripped and fell. The victim and the saw went over the 4½-foot ledge, resulting in the saw falling on him.
Best Practices
- Identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect miners prior to conducting any work.
- Ensure that operators are in a safe position and have control of their equipment at all times.
- Keep workplaces free of tripping hazards.
- Use barricades or railings at edges of drop-offs where persons are in danger of falling.
- Equip walk behind masonry saws with automatic shut off devices to stop the engine if the operator cannot maintain control of the equipment.
- Design bench top stone cutting patterns to ensure the saw operator is not positioned between the saw and the drop off edge.
Additional Information
This is the 6th fatality reported in calendar year 2015 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2014, there were 4 fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the 2nd Machinery fatality in 2015. There were no Machinery fatalities in the same period in 2014.