Skip to content
METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On December 19, 2000, a 53-year-old plant general foreman with 19 years mining experience was fatally injured when a retaining wall constructed of large concrete blocks failed and one of the blocks slid onto the victim and pinned him. A hole was being excavated near the wall when the accident occurred.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Persons should not enter areas where excavation has been conducted until the integrity of the surrounding area has been tested

  • Material should not be stacked behind retaining walls unless the integrity of the wall is known to be able to withstand the weight of the material
    • More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Reduction 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 47th fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. (On 8/8/2000, the Fatality Review Committee determined that fatal no. 8 on 2/21/2000 was not chargeable). As of this date in 1999, there were 53 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the second fatality classified as Falling/Sliding Material in 2000. There was one Falling/Sliding Material  fatality in the same period in 1999.

    ---------------

    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