MSHA MINE FATALITY – On August 20, 2019, a 20-year-old miner with 27 weeks of mining experience was fatally injured when he fell 40 feet down a shaft, to the cement floor below. The victim was working with another miner, unloading a refuse kettle attached to an electric hoist, when he went over the unguarded edge of the shaft.
Best Practices:
- Always use fall protection equipment and safety belts with lines, when working at heights and near openings where there is a danger of falling.
- Have properly designed gates, safety chains, handrails, guards, and ensure covers are securely in place at openings through which persons may fall.
- Always be aware of your surroundings and any hazards that may be present.
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures.
- Train personnel in safe work procedures regarding the use of handrails and fall protection equipment, and ensure their use.
- Conduct workplace examinations in order to identify and correct hazards prior to performing work. Report hazards that you cannot immediately correct to management.
Additional Information:
This is the 16th MSHA fatality reported in calendar year 2019. As of this date in 2018, there were 13 MSHA fatalities reported. This is the second MSHA fatality classified as Slip or Fall of Person in 2019. There were no MSHA fatalities classified as Slip or Fall of Person during the same period in 2018.