Maintenance Man

Rope access technician was performing inspection of downcomer duct. Around 11:30a.m.the technician became unresponsive by radio. Upon rescue and removal from downcomer duct, technician was alert and responsive with apparent head and leg injuries. Technician was transported to the hospital where they passed away on 9/21/2017.

Zakery Schmidt, a 28-year old Rope Access Technician, died on September 20, 2017, while measuring wall thickness inside a downcomer duct. Schmidt was rappelling inside a 318-foot vertical duct tower when an object fell from above and struck him on the head. After first responders extricated Schmidt from the duct, they transported him to a hospital where he died of his injuries the following day. No one witnessed the accident. The accident occurred because the mine operator and the contractor company did not provide oversight to ensure all parties utilized proper and safe work procedures for inspecting and working in the duct. In addition, the contractor company did not conduct adequate workplace examinations to identify hazards so appropriate corrective actions could be taken.

1. The mine operator and the contractor company did not provide oversight to ensure all parties utilized proper and safe work procedures for inspecting and working in the duct.

   Corrective action: The mine operator revised its procedures for working in a confined space and retrained all its employees in the revised procedures. The contractor used the operator’s procedures and retrained its employees.

2. The contractor company did not conduct adequate workplace examinations to identify hazards so appropriate corrective actions could be taken.

   Corrective action: The contractor company introduced comprehensive workplace examination policies related to identifying hazardous conditions and provided training to the miners.

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Inspect Equipment Or Mine

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

MISCELLANEOUS,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

1 year

Degree of injury

FATALITY