Welder (Non-Shop) fatality

September 15, 2021 at 9:11 AM

Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc. · Greenlee County, AZ

Investigator narrative

Weld crew initiated an argon purge on a 30"" pipe that had been fit up afternoon prior. When argon purge was established, two welders began to make their root pass welds. Upon inspection ""sugaring"" was observed. a welder entered the open end of the 30"" pipe for unknown reasons where they were found by a coworker to be unresponsive. No witnesses observed them enter the pipe.

Record details

Classification: OTHER
Accident type: Unclassified, insufficient data
Activity at time: Welding Or Cutting
Subunit / location: STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
Source of injury: MISCELLANEOUS,NEC
Nature of injury: UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED
Total mining experience: 10.9 years
Experience at this mine: 0.13 years
Experience in this job: 10.9 years
Mine type: Surface
Sector: Metal/Nonmetal

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