Stoper Miner

Employee had partially drilled a hole using a jackleg drill. A coworker discovered him unconscious/unresponsive, slumped over the drill. It was later determined the employee's clothes were wound up in the 6' drill steel though the cause & nature of the accident & cause of death remain undetermined and under investigation.

On April 28, 2014, Richard C. Otto, Miner, age 53, was killed when he became entangled in a 6- foot drill steel of a jackleg drill. Otto had been drilling blast holes in the face of the stope, preparing for a production blast in the No. 8-4540 south stope. A coworker found Otto’s coveralls entangled in the drill steel approximately 15 feet 6 inches away from the face. The jackleg drill was still operating when he was found. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to ensure procedures were established to provide that the victim’s workplace was kept clean and orderly. The stope contained large rocks, air and water hoses, drill steels, and an oil container, exposing Otto to slip, trip, and fall hazards as he moved about while drilling. Management also failed to ensure that procedures were established to provide secure footing in the workplace where the accident occurred. The floor of the stope was strewn with loose rock and other items which did not provide secure footing for the victim or the drill. Secure footing is needed to keep the leg of the drill from moving or sliding while in operation. Additionally, Otto was assigned or allowed to work alone in the No. 8-4540 south stope where he could not be seen or his cries for help could be heard by another miner. There were no other miners working in the immediate area.

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

Activity at time of incident

Drill Face, Rib, Side, Down

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Conventional Stoping

Accident type

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Source of injury

APPAREL,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

32 years

Experience at this mine

11 years

Experience in this job

11 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY