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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 22, 2002, a 22 year-old drill operator with one year mining experience was fatally injured at a dimension stone quarry. The victim was drilling in the quarry when his clothing became entangled in the rotating drill steel.

Photo of Drill

Best Practices

  • Equipment operators should stop drill rotation when performing tasks near the rotating steel.

  • Loose fitting clothing should not be worn when working around drilling machinery.
    • 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 13th fatality reported in calendar year 2002 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2001, there were ten fatalities reported in these industries. This is the third fatality classified as Machinery in 2002. There was one Machinery fatality in the same period in 2001.

    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