The victim was tasked with priming a diaphragm pump located outside the stripping machine, adjacent to he hydralic room. The victim was found unresponsive, kneeling with his faced against the stainless stell flange of the return HDPE pipe with his kneed contacting damp pavement. CPR was administered. The victim appears to have received electrical shock. The victim was removed from life support on April 10, 2016.
Fatality #4 - April 9, 2016
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Freeport-McMoRan Safford Inc - Arizona
Mine Controller: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Copper Ore NEC
Incident Date/Time: April 9, 2016 02:03 pm
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:
Lee Hughes, Lead Accident Investigator
Phone: 303.231.5465
PRELIMINARY REPORT
On April 9, 2016, Bryan Ortiz, Hydromet Electrowinning Operator I, age 25, was seriously injured when he was electrocuted by an energized flange on the electrolyte return line. Ortiz was instructed to prime a pump in the area and was found incapacitated kneeling in electrolyte solution with his head contacting an energized flange. Ortiz died of his injuries on April 10, 2016.
FATALITY ALERT
METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On April 9, 2016, a 25-year old plant operator with 4 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface copper ore mine. He was found unresponsive, kneeling with his face against a stainless steel flange that was connected to a high-density polyethylene pipe. The victim appeared to have received an electrical shock.