Fatality · MSHA Record #219952480043

Electrician fatality at Intrepid Potash East (New Mexico Potash Corp), NM, August 23, 1995

at 7:30 PM

On August 23, 1995, an electrician was fatally injured in an electrical accident at Intrepid Potash East (New Mexico Potash Corp), NM.

Intrepid Potash East · Underground · Metal/Non-Metal

Operator: New Mexico Potash Corp (Cedar Chemical Corp)

Eddy County, NM

Classification ELECTRICAL

Type Flash burns (electric)

Investigator narrative

HE TOOK A RATCHET WRENCH WITH AN ALLEN SOCKET AND ATTEMPTED TO LOOSEN THE LUGS ON THE INCOMING POWER LEADS ON TOP OF BREAKER. A FLASH OCCURRED WHEN THE ENERGIZED POWER CIRCUIT BECAME GROUNDED THROUGH HIS METAL RATCHET WRENCH AND THE FRAME OF THE CONTROL PANEL.

Record details

Activity at time of incident: Electrical Maintenance
Subunit / location: MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT
Accident type: Flash burns (electric)
Source of injury: ELECTRICAL APPARATUS,(Not Elsewhere Classified)
Nature of injury: ELECT.ARC BURN-NOT CONTAC
Body part affected: MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)
Total mining experience: 26 years
Experience at this mine: 26 years
Experience in this job: 9 years
Degree of injury: FATALITY

Related fatalities

Same operator

September 7, 1995 · Maintenance Man · New Mexico Potash Corp, NM
April 27, 1993 · Maintenance Man · New Mexico Potash Corp, NM

Same classification

September 13, 2025 · Electrician · Tower Rock Stone Company, MO
July 26, 2025 · Electrician · Stillwater Mining Company, MT
August 9, 2024 · Master Mechanic · Buzzi Unicem USA, TX
May 8, 2024 · Beltman · US Aggregates Inc, IN
February 6, 2023 · Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver · Rogers Group Inc, AR

Same year

December 27, 1995 · Laborer · American Borate Company, NV
December 24, 1995 · Truck Driver · Oracle Ridge Mining Partners, AZ
December 23, 1995 · Continuous Miner Operator · D-Max Energy Inc, WV
December 22, 1995 · Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver · American Aggregates Of Michigan, MI
December 21, 1995 · Beltman · Noseman Branch Mining Inc, WV

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Accident record: Download MSHA Accidents.zip then search for Document number 219952480043 (the unique key per MSHA Form 7000-1)
Mine record: MSHA Mine Data Retrieval System and search by Mine ID 2900170
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Source: US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) · Document 219952480043 · Mine ID 2900170 Trainer view →