METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On October 31, 1995, an instrument electrician with six
years of mining experience was killed at a copper pit.
Two employees were assessing a problem in a circuit at the
electric substation after an electrical failure to the
battery charger. Both employees were in the switch house
and had racked-out the switching mechanism. One employee
went around the switch enclosure and moments later heard
an explosion. When he looked to see what had happened, he
found the victim on fire kneeling on the ground in front
of the switch panels. The victim got up and ran outside
where he was taken down to the ground and the flames were
extinguished. He was taken to a burn center where he died
from his injuries. This is the 41st fatality reported in
calendar year 1995 in the metal and nonmetal mining
industries. As of this date in 1994, there were 34
fatalities reported in these industries. This death is
the fifth fatality classified as electrical this year.
There were two electrical fatalities during the same
period in 1994.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95M41]
