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Fatality Alert - Fatality #4 - April 9, 2016

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

fab-m04.pdf (136.81 KB)

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.

Accident scene where a 25-year old plant operator with 4 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface copper ore mine.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures that include hazard analysis before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.  
  • Train all persons to understand the hazards associated with working near energized electrical conductors.
  • Use properly rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt, and pants.
  • Ensure that all electrical systems are safely designed and properly installed and that all metal enclosing or encasing electrical circuits are grounded or provided with equivalent protection.
  • Provide equipment grounding conductors, with a sufficiently low impedance to limit the voltage to ground, for metal enclosures.  Use a properly rated meter to identify any stray electrical currents which may be present.
  • Lock Out, Tag Out, and Try: Place your lock and tag on the disconnecting device and test for power.

Additional Information

This is the 4th 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 Electrical fatality in 2016. There were no Electrical fatalities in the same period in 2015.