METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 12, 1995, a powderman with approximately three
years of mining experience was killed at a gold pit. The
employee was on top of a bulk prills truck preparing to
load the truck from a full 75,000-pound capacity vertical
tank. He was pounding on the outside of the tank
attempting to free hung up prills when the cone part of
the tank broke loose and fell. After the cone hit the
truck, it fell sideways pinning the victim to the
handrail on top of the bulk truck. He died from crushing
injuries. This is the third fatality reported in
calendar year 1995 in the metal and nonmetal mining
industries. As of this date in 1994, there were also
three fatalities reported in these industries. This
death is the first fatality classified as falling/sliding
material this year. There were no falling/sliding
material fatalities during the same period in 1994.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95M03]