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September 1, 2022 Fatality - Fatality Alert

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

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.”