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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - - On March 24, 2003, a 46-year-old supervisor with 8 years mining experience was fatally injured on the surface at an underground stone mine. A crane was lifting steel plates that were to be used as conveyor belt take-up weights. The victim was positioning the plates when the rigging failed and the plates crushed him.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed along with the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Establish safe work procedures that require all personnel to be positioned where they are not working under suspended loads.
  • Train all personnel in safe work procedures.
  • Use rigging that is free of defects and designed to safely lift the load.
    • 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 fifth fatality reported in calendar year 2003 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2002, there were nine fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as Machinery in 2003. There were three Machinery fatalities 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