Skip to content
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION

Underground Metal Mine
(Platinum)

Fatal Fall of Ground Accident

March 20, 2001
DOD: April 5, 2001

Stillwater Mine
Stillwater Mining Company
Nye, Stillwater County, Montana
ID No. 24-01490

Accident Investigator

David A. Huston
Mine Safety and Health Inspector

Originating Office
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Rocky Mountain District
P. O. Box 25367, DFC
Denver, CO 80225-0367
Irvin T. Hooker, District Manager



OVERVIEW


James W. Noble, development miner, age 42, was injured on March 20, 2001, at 2:45 p.m., when he was struck by a fall of ground. He later died of the injuries on April 5, 2001.

The accident occurred because of the failure to examine, scale or support, the loose ground along the rib in the work area.

Noble had a total of 14 years mining experience, 12 years as a miner, all at this mine. He had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 48.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT


The Stillwater Mine, a multi-level underground platinum mine, owned and operated by Stillwater Mining Company, was located at Nye, Stillwater County, Montana. The principle operating official was Ronald W. Clayton, vice-president of operations. The mine was normally operated two, 10-hour shifts a day, seven days a week. A total of 1,025 persons were employed at this mine of which 718 worked underground.

Platinum-bearing ore was extracted using the ramp-and-fill mining method. Sub-level stoping was also done along with cut-and-fill stoping. Approximately 60 percent of the ore was hoisted to the surface mill through a 1,950-foot vertical shaft. Ore was also hauled to the surface by trucks and a rail system which extended about 3 miles. A milling facility was located at the mine site. The smelter and the base metals refinery were located at a company-owned facility in Columbus, Montana.

The last regular inspection of this operation was completed on December 19, 2000. An inspection was ongoing at the time of the accident.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT


On the day of the accident, James Noble (victim) reported for work at 7:00 a.m., his normal starting time. Dan Davis, development supervisor, assigned Noble and John DeSaveur, miner 1, to continue the normal mining cycle at the 4100 west footwall lateral development heading.

Noble and DeSaveur arrived at their work area heading and used a diesel-powered load-haul-dump unit to load out about half of the round that had been blasted on the previous shift. After extending the ventilation tubing air and water lines, they loaded out the remainder of the shot rock from the heading. At approximately 12:00 p.m., they began drilling to install rockbolts for ground support.

The installation began in the back (roof), about 18 feet from the face. Noble finished bolting his section of the back before DeSaveur and then started bolting the south rib (wall) approximately 18 feet from the face while DeSaveur completed his section of the back. When DeSaveur finished, he started bolting the north rib about 18 feet from the face. At about 2:45 p.m., Noble finished drilling the south rib. He went to retrieve bolts near where DeSaveur was drilling when rock that fell from the north rib struck him.

DeSaveur used a scaling bar to remove the rock from Noble and called for help on the pager telephone. The mine's emergency response team arrived several minutes later and treated Noble until he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Noble remained hospitalized and died on April 5, 2001. Death was attributed to multiple crushing injuries.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT


MSHA was notified of the accident at 3:30 p.m., on March 20, 2001, when a miners' representative informed Rodney Gust, mine inspector, who was onsite conducting a regular inspection at the mine. An investigation was started immediately. An MSHA accident investigator traveled to the mine, made a physical inspection of the accident site, interviewed a number of persons, and reviewed documents relative to the job being performed by the victim and his training records. An order was issued pursuant to Section 103(k) of the Mine Act to ensure the safety of miners. Miners' representatives participated in the investigation.

DISCUSSION


     The accident occurred at the 4100 west footwall lateral development heading that was located in the west portion of the Stillwater Mine. Typical drift dimensions were 12 feet high by 11 feet wide. Reportedly, Noble and DeSaveur had scaled the heading prior to beginning the bolting procedures. This procedure consisted of examining and scaling the entry as they advanced toward the face. The scaling was accomplished using an 8-foot metal tipped aluminum bar.

     Development rock being mined consisted of 40 percent Norite, 50 percent Pyroxene, and about 10 percent Feldspar. The ground failure occurred about 9 feet from the drift floor of the north rib from a point about 7 feet from the face and extended about 4 feet up the heading. The fallen rock (slab) measured 3 feet 7 inches by 3 feet 6 inches and was 8 inches thick. It weighed approximately 1,400 pounds.

     Hand-held pneumatic jackleg drills were used to install ground support at the 4100 heading. Noble was using a Midwest Gardner Model No. C8 secondary development jackleg and DeSaveur was using a Midwest Gardner Model No. 56 primary development jackleg. Both miners were using 6 feet long drill steels with a 1-3/8-inch drill bit.

     Five-foot-long split set rockbolts were installed in the back of the 4100 heading in conjunction with steel mats 8 to 10 feet in length. The bolts were installed four to a row, spaced 3 feet apart. The ribs were bolted about 8 feet from the floor with one row of 5-foot split-set bolts in conjunction with steel mats. Additional bolts were installed about 5 feet above the drift floor when necessary.

     The development supervisor had been assigned to conduct examinations of the work area in this section of the mine. However, it was determined that this work place had not been examined for several work shifts prior to the accident.

CONCLUSION


The cause of the accident was the failure to examine, scale or support the loose ground along the right rib in this work area before commencing other work.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Order No. 6267148 was issued on March 20, 2001, under the provisions of Section 103(k) of the Mine Act:
A serious accident occurred at the Stillwater Mine on March 20, 2001, when a miner was bolting for ground support at the 4100 west footwall lateral. A large slab fell, striking the miner causing serious injuries. The order is to assure the safety of persons at this operation until the mine or affected areas can be returned to normal operations as determined by an authorized representative of the Secretary. The mine operator shall obtain approval from an authorized representative for all actions to recover persons, equipment, and/or return the affected areas of the mine to normal operations.
This order was terminated on March 21, 2001. Conditions that contributed to the accident have been corrected and normal mining operations can resume.

Citation No. 6267149 was issued on March 21, 2001, under the provisions of Section 104(d)(1) of the Mine Act for violation of 30 CFR, 57.3200:
A serious accident resulting in fatal injuries occurred at this mine on March 20, 2001, when a miner was struck by a fall of ground. Hazardous ground conditions had not been taken down or supported before work or travel was permitted in the area. Failure to correct the hazardous ground conditions prior to commencing work is a serious lack of reasonable care constituting more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with a mandatory safety standard.
This citation was terminated on March 27, 2001. Ground conditions were properly scaled down and supported. The company has instituted policies and procedures to prevent future fall of ground type accidents.

Order No. 6267150 was issued on March 21, 2001, under the provisions of Section 104(d)(1) of the Mine Act for violation of 30 CFR, 57.18002(a):
A serious accident resulting in fatal injuries occurred at this mine on March 20, 2001, when a miner was struck by a fall of ground. A competent person designated by the mine operator had not examined the 4100 west footwall lateral for conditions which could adversely affect safety or health. Failure to conduct this examination and initiate appropriate corrective action is a serious lack of reasonable care constituting more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with a mandatory safety standard.
This order was terminated on March 28, 2001. A competent person was designated by the mine operator to examine the 4100 west footwall lateral for conditions that affect safety. A record of the examination of the work place was maintained by the company.

Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon FAB00M07


APPENDIX A


Persons Participating in the Investigation

Stillwater Mining Company
Michael W. Crum .......... Safety Director
Jim Weiser .......... General Mine Foreman
Thomas Fuell .......... Safety Coordinator
Daniel Davis .......... Development Supervisor Jerry Doughtery .......... Geologist
Paper Allied Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union (PACE)
Local 8-0001
Scott Ellis .......... Miners' Representative
John McGee .......... Miners' Representative
Mine Safety and Health Administration
David A. Huston .......... Mine Safety and Health Inspector
APPENDIX B


Persons Interviewed

Stillwater Mining Company
Michael Crum .......... Safety Director
Thomas Fuell .......... Safety Coordinator
Daniel Davis .......... Development Supervisor
Jerry Doughtery .......... Geologist
John DeSaveur .......... Miner 1
Scott Ellis .......... Miners' Representative
John McGee .......... Miners' Representative
MedCor, Independent Contractor
Wayne Armstrong .......... Paramedic-EMT