Mining Incidents

Asarco Inc: 19 recorded fatalities controller

MSHA controller ID: M00017

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Fatalities
19
Total incidents
4,185
Mines on record
39
Years on record
1983–1999
Injury rate, 2006
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 3.41 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2006 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2003 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2002 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2001 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Health sampling
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2004-11-23, 21 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
7
samples
3
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg4
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

Top causes

Incident timeline

1999
111
1998
171
1997
162 (1f)
1996
146 (1f)
1995
196
1994
211
1993
219
1992
233 (4f)
1991
350
1990
378 (3f)
1989
503 (1f)
1988
480 (2f)
1987
304 (1f)
1986
195
1985
132 (2f)
1984
205 (3f)
1983
189 (1f)

Operators under this controller

Mines on record

Fatalities under this controller

19 recorded
April 10, 1997 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal master electrician Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Asarco Inc · Contact with electrical current

AT ABOUT 10:00 AM AN ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR WAS ELECTROCUTED WHILE WORKING ON AN ENERGIZED 300KVA, 4,160/480 VOLT PAD-MOUNTED ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER. TRANSFORMER LOCATED OUTSIDE NEWLY CONSTRUCT ED SURFACE SHOP FOR UNDERGROUND ON 2330 BENCH OFPIT. CONTRACTOR'S EMP FOUND VICTIM LAYING ON GROUND NEXT TO TRANSFORMER. DOORS OF TRANSFORMER COMPARTMENT OPEN, EXPOSING 4160 & 480 VOLT TERMIN

April 3, 1996 TN · Metal/Non-Metal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS OPERATING A LOADER. AS HE PULLED OUT ON THE GALLERY INCLINE THE LOADER, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, RAN AWAY WITH HIM. HE JUMPED, FELL, OR WAS PULLED OUT OF THE LOADER. THE LOADER RAN OVER HIM AND HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY.

November 17, 1992 MO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE CHANGING OUT A HOIST CYLINDER ON A CLARK FRONTEND LOADER WHEN HE CRAWLED BETWEEN THE BOOM ARMS OF THE LOADER (WITHOUT SUPPORTING THE BOOM) AND REMOVED THE PLUG FROM THE HYD. LINE ALLOWING THE BUCKET TO FALL PINNING HIM BETWEEN THE BUCKET AND THE SHOP FLOOR, RESULTING IN DEATH.

July 11, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

INVESTIGATION IS ON GOING IT APPEARS THAT A ROCK FELL STRIKING THE VICTIM ON THE HEAD.

March 23, 1992 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · MACHINERY
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPL REMOVING BOLTS FROM SWING SHAFT COMPONENT OF SHOVEL AS PART OF A REPAIR PROJECT.EMPL WAS POSITIONED ON SHOVEL TRACK SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT SIDE OF COMPONENT LAYING FLAT FACING UPWARDS TOWARD C OMPONENT AND REMOVING SPECIFIED BOLTS.2 BOLTS WERE PURPOSELY LEFT IN PLACE SO NEXT PHASE OF DIS MANTLING PROCESS COULD PROCEED.THE 2 BOLTS REMAINING FAILED CAUSING COMPONENT TO DROP 18" TO TO

January 6, 1992 MO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

EMPLS PERFORMING WEEKLY PREVENTITIVE MAINT.CHECKS AT #2 CONVEYOR HEAD PULLEY.EMPL CLIMBED OVER BARRICADE TO LOOK AT SCRAPER ON #2 CONV.HEAD PULLEY.EMPL STANDING ON MUCK PILE OF #5 ORE RAISE IN SPECTING SCRAPER WHEN MUCK PILE GAVE WAY AND EMPL FELL DOWN MUCK RAISE.(LHD BEGAN PULLING MUCK FROM CHUTE 100' BELOW,ORE BEGAN TO FLOW SUCKING EMPL DOWN.)

September 4, 1990 TN · Metal/Non-Metal driller operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Asarco Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS DRILLING IN 14-B-2 WEST DRIFT. APPARENTLY HE DRILLED INTO AN ISOLATED POCKET OF METHANE GAS. HE WAS SEVERELY BURNED WHEN THE METHANE EXPLODED AND DIED OF ASPHIXIATION. THE SOURCE OF THE METHANE AND THE SOURCE OF THE IGNITION ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.

June 22, 1990 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

I.NAME FATALLY INJURED WHEN CRUSHED BETWEEN TITAN HAUL TRUCK AND CATERPILLAR RUBBER TIRE DOZER AFTER IT HAD BEEN TOWED WITH CABLE SLINGS TO DESIGNATED LOCATION.

June 22, 1990 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

I.NAME FATALLY INJURED WHEN CRUSHED BETWEEN TRUCK AND DOZER AFTER IT HAD BEEN TOWED WITH CABLE SLINGS TO DESIGNATED LOCATION.

March 11, 1989 TN · Metal/Non-Metal scoop car operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MUCKING OUT DRIFT AND HAULING IT DOWN GRADE TO A MILL HOLE BELOW. FOR RESONS UNKNOWN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE LOADER. THE LOADER TRAVELED DOWN THE DRILFT APPROX 17' WIDE FOR APPROX 1000'STRIKIN G THE RIBS SEVERAL TIMES. HE WAS FOUND IN THE OPERATOR'S COMPARTMENT WHICH HAD BEEN KNOCKED OFF THE LOADER. HE WAS APPARENTLY KILLED INSTANTLY.

October 24, 1988 TN · Metal/Non-Metal driller operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

VICTIM WAS OPERATING A DRILL RIG FOR REASONS UNKNOWN HE GOT OFF THE RIG AND APPARENTLY WAS STANDING BACK NEAR THE RT REAR SIDE APPROX 25 TONS OF ROCK FELL FROM THE BACK DIRECTLY ON HIM

July 15, 1988 TN · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Asarco Inc · Contact with electrical current

I.NAME,1ST CLASS ELEC,FATALLY INJURED WHEN CONTACTED ENERGIZED 4160 VOLT CONDUCTOR.PLEASE SEE ATTACH NARR.5 PGS.

March 12, 1987 ID · Metal/Non-Metal timberman Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

WHILE THE MINER3AND HIS PARTNER WERE IN THE STOPE, A ROCKBURST OCCURRED, THE ROCKBURST TRIGGERED A GROUND FALL WHICH KNOCKED DOWN, COVERED, AND KILLED THE MINER. APPROX THREE FEET OF MUCK WERE ON TOP OF THE M3NER

April 26, 1985 ID · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

WHILE A STOPE MINER WAS AT THE FACE OF HIS STOPE A ROCKBURST OCCURED. THE OUTBUST PRESSURE TRIGGERED A FALL OF GROUND TO OCCUR. THE MINER WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE FALLING ROCK. THERE WAS APPROX TWO FEET OF MUCK ON TOP OF THE MINER WHICH CAUSED HIS DEATH.

February 26, 1985 CO · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Asarco Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EE WAS STANDING AT THE CONTROLS OF A CAVO MUCKER-NOT MUCKING- WHEN THE RIB FELL AGAINST HIM CRUSHING HIM BETWEEN THE MACHINE & ROCK.

December 14, 1984 ID · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Hecla Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING BATTERY MOTOR ON 5400 LEVEL MAINDRIFT WHEN HE RAN INTO PARKED JUMBO MACHINE CAUSING FATAL INJURIES.

July 31, 1984 TN · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Asarco Inc · Fall from machine

EMPL LEFT ASSIGNED WORK AREA AND APPARENTLY BACKDED TRACTOR HE WAS OPERATING OFF MUCKPILE IN AN INACTIVE AREA.NO MECHANICAL DEFECT AFFECTING SAFE OPERATION OF TRACTOR WAS DISCOVERED DURING IN VESTIGATION..DRIVING IN 69-12 STOPE.LOOKING FOR DRINKING WATER TOOK WRONG TURN DROVE DOWN LARGE DRIFT OVER BENCH 25\ HIGH.3RD SHIFT FOREMAN FOUND TRACTOR UPSIDE DOWN,VICTIM LYING IN WATER.

July 7, 1983 ID · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Asarco Inc · Contact with electrical current

THE MAN WAS WORKING ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN AN ELECTRICAL SUB STATION ON THE 4900 LEVEL WHEN A WIRE INADVERTENTLY WENT INTO THE SIDE OF AN ELECTRICAL CUTOUT CAUSING MAN TO BE ELECTROCUTED

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

Where Asarco Inc stands on silica, penalties, and injury rate

MSHA's standard limits respirable silica to 50 micrograms per cubic metre, but MSHA publishes dust and quartz as separate files and never the silica figure itself. We derive it per sample, score it against the limit, and set the operator's injury rate against a benchmark built from the full MSHA operator record. With the 26-year penalty trail, contest posture, and fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.

The federal record itself stays free on this site. What costs money, and why.

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