Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company controller

Time of accident: 10:00-11:30 Employee was drilling approximately 5' from the highwall. Drill steel was out of the carousel (cause under investigation). They exited the drill to correct the situation and failed to put on fall protection as per company policy and training requirements. It appears that they tripped/slipped/stumbled and fell over the edge. This resulted in a fatality.

Employee (EE) climbed over platform guardrail onto raised forklift carrying screens, EE and screens fell from forklift 15 to 17 ft; EE landed on his feet, knees buckled, he collapsed to the ground & apparently one or more screens fell onto employee's body-trunk area abdomen region. Co-worker & injured worker moved screen(s) off of EE & EE scooted himself away from screens.

EMPLOYEE TOOK A "SHORT CUT". EMPLOYEE NEVER USED HIS FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT WHILE TAKING HIS "SHORT CUT", THE RESULT WAS THIS EMPLOYEE FALLING OFF A BEAM. THE EE FELL TO HIS DEATH 46' BELOW . EMPLOYEE HAD ALL HIS FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENTSECURED TO HIS HARNESS AND NEVER ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THEM TO PREVENT THE FALL.

SWITCH ENGINE THAT WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY REMOTE DEVICE; WAS SWITCHING CARS ONTO TRACK WHERE EE WAS WORKING, CAUSING CAR TO RUN OVER HIM, CRUSHING HIM TO DEATH.