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Fatality Alert - Fatality #3 - March 22, 2016

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

fab-m03.pdf (166.05 KB)

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On March 22, 2016, a 42-year old lead man with 6 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface limestone mine when he was struck by fly rock from blasting operations. The lead man was parked in his pickup truck at a location to prevent others from accessing the blasting site. He was approximately 1,200 feet from the blast area.

Accident scene where a 42-year old lead man with 6 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface limestone mine when he was struck by fly rock from blasting operations.

Best Practices

  • Review and follow site specific blast plan prior to loading any explosives.
  • Utilize technology, such as face profilers and borehole probes, to obtain specific geometric details of the material to be blasted.
  • Adjust stemming depth and/or decking to maintain adequate burden on all sections of the blast hole.
  • Develop a drill pattern by considering geology, face geometry, and surface topography.
  • Clear and remove all persons from the blast area unless suitable blasting shelters are provided to protect persons from flyrock. Allow at least 15 seconds after a blast for any flyrock to drop.
  • Examine blast site geology, communicate with the driller and review the drill log for angles, voids, competency of rock, loss of air, etc., prior to the loading any explosives. Make appropriate adjustments to ensure that the holes are not overloaded.
  • Ensure blasting and fly rock areas are properly calculated to ensure the blast site is clear of all persons.
  • Determine the actual burden for all face holes along their length and adjust the explosive power factor along the borehole accordingly.

Additional Information

Additional information on blasting safety can be found at:  

https://www.msha.gov/news-media/alerts-hazards/mnm-safety-alert-explosive-and-blasting-safety

This is the 3rd fatality reported in calendar year 2016 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2015, there were 6 fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the 1st Blasting and Breaking Agents fatality in 2016. There were no Blasting and Breaking Agents fatalities in the same period in 2015.