Ledgeman/Hand

Cracked stone fell and crushed employee. Employee didn't follow procedure. Employee's lanyard wasn't tied off and the employee was using a foot wedge and jackhammer with 1 1/4" bit. Employee should have been using 3/4" plug drill and 5" tether and wedge. The employee was drilling from the base and should have been drilling at the top.

Matthew W. Kantala IV, ledge man, age 36, was fatally injured on July 20, 2017, while performing secondary breakage operations on a block of granite. A large piece of granite broke loose and knocked Kantala off a ledge to the mine floor approximately 10 feet below. The large piece of granite hit the ledge and broke into three pieces. One of the pieces, weighing an estimated six tons, fell on Kantala. The accident occurred because the mine operator: (1) did not block material during secondary breakage operations to prevent movement; (2) did not make sure miners were using fall protection; and (3) did not conduct an adequate workplace examination –by not identifying a prominent geological anomaly in the granite and not promptly initiating appropriate action to correct such condition.

1. The mine operator did not block material to prevent movement during secondary breakage operations.

   Corrective action: The mine operator purchased new equipment and trained miners in a newly developed plan with procedures for different methods of secondary breakage. This plan addresses and requires the prevention of movement of material.

2. The mine operator did not assure that miners used fall protection where there was a danger of falling.

   Corrective action: The mine operator purchased new equipment and trained miners in a newly developed plan with procedures for different methods of secondary breakage. This plan addresses and requires the use of fall protection.

3. The mine operator did not conduct adequate workplace examinations.

   Corrective action: The mine operator trained miners in a newly developed plan with procedures for different methods of secondary breakage. This plan addresses workplace examinations and actions to be taken to address any hazardous conditions found.

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

Activity at time of incident

Hand Tools (Powered)

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

BROKEN ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY