Laborer

EE's working to clean the mainframe arm on primary crusher. During the lift, the rigging assembly appears to have failed, striking the EE who was located in the line of fire.

On July 17, 2023, at approximately 1:06 p.m., Christopher G. Perry, a 37-year-old miner with one year and six months of mining experience, died when he was helping to replace an arm guard on a gyratory crusher. A steel lifting lug that had been welded onto the crusher’s narrow arm guard detached and struck Perry while the narrow arm guard was being lifted by a crane. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not ensure the miner was clear of a suspended load.

1. The mine operator did not ensure the miner was clear of the suspended load.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure for working around suspended loads and trained all miners in the new procedure and on the dangers of working near suspended loads.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

MACHINE-MILL,CLEANING PLT

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

2 years

Experience at this mine

2 years

Experience in this job

2 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY