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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 29, 2004, a 24-year-old laborer with four days mining experience was fatally injured at a cement operation. The victim entered a large transfer duct and walked in ankle deep dust until he reached a point where the duct work joined with another one. He walked on the crusted surface of a mound of hot dust that had accumulated directly beneath a hot gas generator. The victim received fatal burns when the material unexpectedly gave way and he fell waist deep into the hot dust.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Train employees in safe work procedures and workplace hazards before beginning any work.
  • Restrict access, using warning signs indicating the hazards and/or barricades, to areas where hazards may exist that are not apparent to employees.
  • Ensure that employees stay in the work areas they are assigned and not venture into unfamiliar areas.
  • Monitor new employees closely.


    • 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 1st fatality reported in calendar year 2004 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2003, there were three fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st fatality classified as Slip/Fall of Person in 2004. There were two Slip/Fall of Persons fatalities in the same period in 2003.

    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