Rock Driller fatality at SSX Mine (SMALL MINE DEVELOPMENT L.L.C.), NV, August 3, 2015

Employee was operating a jumbo on an incline in the main haulage. The operator drifted to the right rib and the spare drill steel in the drill steel rack came in contact with the right rib. The drill steel gained pressure breaking the drill steel rack striking employee with the drill steel in the head causing a fatal blow.

On August 3, 2015, Jason Potter, miner, age 26, was tramming a jumbo rock drill in reverse up a slope when a 13 ½ foot long drill steel came in contact with the rib wall and sprang back striking and killing the victim. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to ensure that loading and transporting of materials were done in a safe manner.

1. Management's policies and procedures were inadequate and failed to ensure that persons loaded and transported materials in a safe manner. The drill steel was transported on top of the jumbo drill and was allowed to extend 2.5 feet beyond the leading edge of the drill. Additionally, the drill steel was not secured in a manner that prevented the drill steel from sliding side to side. This caused the drill steel to strike the rib and then strike the miner.

   Corrective action: Management conducted training for all persons regarding the safe loading and transporting of materials.

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

Activity at time of incident

Underground Equipment, Nec

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Other

Accident type

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Source of injury

DRILL STEEL (ALL SIZES)

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

HEAD, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

4 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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