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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 4, 2006, a 23-year-old laborer, with one month mining experience, was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim had entered the area under the crusher and traveled near the back side of the discharge conveyor tail pulley. His clothing became entangled in the rotating tail pulley.

Photograph of Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • Establish policies that ensure employees are trained on required procedures to safely remove spillage near moving conveyor belts.
  • Establish policies that ensure employees are trained on required procedures to safely remove spillage near moving conveyor belts.
  • Before assigning miners to clean up spillage, have them identify hazards and demonstrate how they would safely complete the tasks.
  • Stop, Look, Analyze, Manage ( SLAM )
  • Ensure that conveyor belts are deenergized and blocked against motion before positioning yourself near the drive, head, tail, and take-up pulleys.
  • 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 5th fatality reported in calendar year 2006 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2005, there were 9 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st Powered Haulage fatality in 2006. There were two Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 2005.


    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