January 23, 2023 Fatality - Fatality Alert

Lapse in Appropriations

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Accident Report: Fatality Reference

January 23, 2023 Fatality

PDF Version

January 23 2023 - Fatality-Alert.pdf (268.3 KB)

MINE FATALITY – On January 23, 2023, a utility management miner died, and another miner was seriously injured, while removing unused waterline pipe suspended from a mine roof. The two miners were using hand tools to remove a pipe fitting when the waterline pipe suddenly came apart, striking the victim.

Accident scene where a utility management miner died, and another miner was seriously injured, while removing unused waterline pipe suspended from a mine roof.

Best Practices

Operators should:

Release stored energy and pressure from pipes (block and bleed) before breaking a pipe connection.
Lock out, tag out, and block equipment from movement before performing maintenance or repairs.
Train miners in the safe performance of their tasks.

Additional Information

This is the third fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Machinery".