Mining Incidents
Trainer view Print or save as PDF from your browser (⌘P / Ctrl+P).
← Standard view
Case study · MSHA Record #219831220031

Blaster fatality

April 25, 1983 at 8:23 AM
Shade No 3 · Shade Mining Company · Somerset County, PA
Investigator narrative
IN THE PROCESS OF LOOSENING AMMONIUM NITRATE FROM INSIDE A 10\ X 9\4\\ X 22\HIGH STEEL STORAGE BIN .EMPL EITHER SLIPPED OFF LADDER OR IF STANDING ON TOP OF NITRATE COLUMN,FELL THROUGH THE CRUS T TO BOTTOM OF BIN AND WAS BURIED BY AMMONIUM NITRATE.EMPL COULD NOT PASS THROUGH 11\\ X 11\\ OPENING AND SUFFOCATED.
Record details
Classification
FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Accident type
Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings
Activity at time
Enter/Work In Bins, Silos
Subunit / location
STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
Source of injury
CHEMICALS,CHEM COMP,NEC
Nature of injury
SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN
Body part affected
BODY SYSTEMS
Total mining experience
4 years
Experience at this mine
4 years
Experience in this job
4 years
Mine type
Surface
Sector
Coal
Similar incidents in MSHA records · same classification: FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
  • March 3, 2026 · North American Silica Sand, LLC · TX · Cement Worker

    A contractor died after a concrete retaining wall collapsed into the excavated trench below crushing EE.

  • March 3, 2026 · North American Silica Sand, LLC · TX · Cement Worker

    Unsure of what conditions contributed to the death

  • January 19, 2026 · Vermont Quarries Corp. · VT · Ledgeman/Hand

    Nobody saw the accident and we have not been able to interview the EE