skip navigational linksDepartment of Labor Seal U.S. Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978		 Photos representing the mining workforce
www.msha.gov
[skip navigational links]Search MSHA Advanced Options | A to Z | Help
Find It! in DOL | Compliance Assistance |    
Printer Friendly Version (Contains All Graphics)

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On October 7, 2008, a 56 year-old lead man with 18 years of experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim was in a chute of an underground surge tunnel when material from above sloughed off and engulfed him.

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above


Best Practices
  • Identify potential hazards and establish safe work procedures for any work conducted in a surge tunnel.
  • Never work under material feeding into bins, hoppers, chutes, and surge tunnels.
  • Remove or prevent all material from falling if repairs are required in chutes or hoppers.
  • Disconnect and lock out the circuits controlling the feed before entering.
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 17th fatality reported in calendar year 2008 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2007, there were 28 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 1st Falling Material fatality in 2008. There were 2 Falling Material 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:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report - Not Available Yet



Back to Top   Back to Top www.msha.gov www.dol.gov
Frequently Asked Questions | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey
Accessibility | Privacy & Security Statement | Disclaimers
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939		 Phone:    (202) 693-9400
Fax-on-demand: (202) 693-9401
Technical (web) questions: Webmaster
On-line Filing Help: MSHAhelpdesk@dol.gov
or call (877) 778-6055
Contact Us