Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Fatalgrams For the Metal/Nonmetal Mine Accident on February 25, 2008

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Mine Safety and Health Administration
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 25, 2008, a 62 year-old manager with 28 years experience was fatally injured at a surface sand and gravel operation. He was using an excavator to free a dragline from an ice-covered pit floor. The excavator broke through the ice as it traveled over an ice-covered, 10 feet deep ditch towards the dragline. The victim was ejected and was recovered from the water about six hours after the accident.

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above

Best Practices

When conditions change, examine travelways to evaluate hazards. If the safety of travelways can't be positively determined, do not travel on them.
In locations where travelways are not clearly distinguishable, install barriers, markers, or other warning devices to aid equipment operators, limit travel of mobile equipment, and inform mobile equipment operators of potential hazards.
Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage, SLAM each task to identify all potential hazards. Initiate action to protect yourself when performing every task.
Wear seat belts when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.

	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 5^th fatality reported in calendar year 2008 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2007, there were 4 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1^st Machinery fatality in 2008. There were no Machinery fatalities in the same period in 2007.

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:

MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report


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