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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 18, 2003, a 37-year-old supervisor with 16 years 8 months mining experience was fatally injured at an underground crushed stone mine. The victim and a co-worker were re-positioning a water discharge line adjacent to a fan installed on top of a ventilation shaft located on the first level of the mine. The victim stepped on the metal air shaft enclosure. The metal had deteriorated and it failed, causing the victim to fall down the shaft, 143 feet to the second level.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Ensure that covers installed over openings are substantially constructed, inspected frequently and properly maintained.


  • Inspect metal structures located in wet or corrosive environments frequently to identify deterioration that may present a safety hazard.


  • Evaluate the integrity and support strength of any cover that was not designed as a walkway prior to walking on it.


  • Restrict access to covers over openings that were not specifically designed to serve as travelways.
    • 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 third fatality reported in calendar year 2003 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2002, there were three fatalities reported in these industries. This is the second fatality classified as Slip/Fall of Person in 2003. There was one Slip/Fall of Person fatality in the same period in 2002.

    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