Electrician fatality at Cote Blanche Mine (Compass Minerals Louisiana Inc.), LA, August 15, 2019

A contractor died at the operation underground. The cause of death is unknown at the time of this report. MSHA issued a 103(k) order on the area. The information in this report is all we have at this time.

Shawn Clements, a 43-year-old contract Electrician with 10 weeks of experience at this mine, died on August 15, 2019, after contacting an energized electrical circuit. The victim was attempting to install a new circuit for the fire suppression system at the time of the accident. The accident occurred because mine management did not ensure the victim de-energized and locked out the electrical circuit prior to performing the task.

1. The mine operator did not ensure contract electricians followed their lock-out and tag-out policy prior to performing work on the electrical power circuit.

   Corrective action: The mine operator had a safety stand down with all miners: hourly, salary and contractors, at the mine and reviewed the lock-out and tag-out policy along with other safety procedures. Mine operator revised their training procedures to ensure new contract employees receive training in their lock-out and tag-out program and record such training.

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

Activity at time of incident

Hand Tools (Not Powered)

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Other

Accident type

Contact with electrical current

Source of injury

CONDCTR,ELCT,CBL,TROL POL

Nature of injury

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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