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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 1, 2004, a 34-year-old roof bolter operator with 13 years mining experience was fatally injured at an underground trona mine. The victim left the roof bolting station mounted on the remote controlled continuous miner. The miner operator, standing on the other side of the continuous miner, backed it from the face to clean up spillage. The victim tried to pass between the conveyor boom and rib when he was struck and pinned against the rib.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Establish procedures and follow them, especially when employees tram a remote controlled continuous miner.
  • Position employees outside of the continuous miner's turning radius and in a safe location before moving the machine.
  • Avoid pinch points between the rib and machinery.
    • 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 3rd fatality reported in calendar year 2004 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2003, there were three fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st fatality classified as Machinery in 2004. There were no Machinery fatalities in the same period in 2003.

    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