METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On August 21, 1995, a miner with 18 years of mining
experience was killed at a platinum mine. Two miners were
pulling ore from a chute when the chute became hung-up.
The miners decided to try to free the hang-up by setting
explosives in the chute. After three unsuccessful blasts,
the miners attempted to free the hang-up by banging the
chute gate against the chute lip. The material would not
break free. As the employees started walking toward the
chute, the material broke free. The ore came down with
such force that it tore the chute off the I-beam supports.
One employee was engulfed with the approximately 280 tons
of wet, sticky material that fell. He died from
suffocation. This is the 27th fatality reported in
calendar year 1995 in the metal and nonmetal mining
industries. As of this date in 1994, there were 29
fatalities reported in these industries. This death is
the fourth fatality classified as falling/sliding material
this year. There were three falling/sliding material
fatalities during the same period in 1994.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95M27]
