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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 4, 2002, a 54 year-old mechanic with 32 years mining experience was fatally injured at the surface lime plant of an underground limestone mine. The victim was positioned on the ground to guard access to the drop area while several co-workers threw filled dust collector bags from the elevated bag house. The victim was struck by one of the bags that weighed about 90 pounds.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Formal procedures that address possible hazards should be implemented prior to beginning major maintenance tasks.


  • A restricted drop area must be established prior to dropping materials from elevated locations.


  • All persons should be removed from drop areas and barricades or barriers should be installed to prohibit access to protect personnel from falling material.
    • More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
    Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

    This is the 11th fatality reported in calendar year 2002 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2001, there were 8 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as Handling Material in 2002. There were no Handling Material fatalities in the same period in 2001.

    The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


    For more information:
    Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report