September 1, 2022 Fatality - Fatality Alert

Lapse in Appropriations

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Accident Report: Fatality Reference

September 1, 2022 Fatality

MINE FATALITY – On September 1, 2022, a roof bolter was electrocuted when he contacted a metal hook that became energized after it penetrated the 480-volt cable that supplied electrical power to a roof bolting machine.

Accident scene where a roof bolter was electrocuted when he contacted a metal hook that became energized after it penetrated the 480-volt cable that supplied electrical power to a roof bolting machine.

Best Practices

Make sure miners use suitable, non-conductive ropes when pulling or handling electrical cables.
Never attach conductive parts, such as metallic hooks, to the portions of non-conductive ropes that contact electrical cables.
Make sure miners use proper Personal Protective Equipment when handling cables, such as insulated gloves.

Additional Information

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Electrical.”