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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On July 19, 2004, a 41 year-old contractor driller trainee with 20 years mining experience was fatally injured at a surface granite operation. The victim fell from the top of a highwall as he was re-threading a drill steel in a vertical drill.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
  • Train all personnel to help them recognize potential hazards and understand procedures to safely perform tasks.
  • Establish operating procedures for contractor employees to safely perform tasks and routinely monitor to ensure safe procedures are followed.
    • 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 2004 for the Metal and Nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2003, there were 13 fatalities reported. This is the 5th fatality classified as Slip/fFall of Person in 2004. There were 2 Slip/Fall of Person 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