Warehouseman

Employee went to prime the diaphragm pump located outside the stripping machine building, adjacent to the hydraulic room. Eight minutes pass where EE is unaccounted for prior to being found unresponsive, kneeling in liquid, face against the stainless steel flange of the tank house return HDPE line.

On April 9, 2016, Bryan Ortiz, Hydromet Electrowinning Operator I, age 25, was seriously injured when he was electrocuted by an energized flange on the electrolyte return line. Ortiz was instructed to prime a pump in the area and was found incapacitated kneeling in electrolyte solution with his head contacting an energized flange. Ortiz died of his injuries on April 10, 2016. The accident occurred due to management's failure to insulate or guard energized flanges on the electrolyte return piping and failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the electrical hazards that existed.

1. Management failed to ensure that the stainless steel endcaps on the HDPE electrolyte return lines were not electrified when the rectifier circuits were energized.

   Corrective action: Management has placed insulating covers over metal flange fittings and provided a fence around the area to prevent accidental contact.

2. Management failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment for electrical hazards.

   Corrective action: Management developed and trained employees in new procedures for persons entering the fenced containment area around the electrolyte piping. Dielectrically-rated rubber boots and gloves are required to be worn when in the containment area.

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

Activity at time of incident

Mill Equipment

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Contact with electrical current

Source of injury

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

4 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

4 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY