Mining Incidents in Alaska

A miner was fatally injured while using a tool to remove a down hole hammer. The drill motor turned unexpectedly, pinning the driller's leg between the tool and the drill mast.

The investigation is not complete, but as of now it appears a miner was fatally injured when material that traveled through a borehole struck him after a blast was initiated. The victim was on the 1290 level ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. The concussion from the explosion traveled through a 3-inch borehole, blowing small rock and debris onto the victim.

Employee was working without fall protection and fell to his death.

A fatal accident occurred when a miner became entangled in a take up pulley on the #13 conveyor belt. A guard was in place at the time of the accident.

Initial Information: Two EE's working from manlift on West side of mill building over Electrical Room. From initial witness reports, it appears they were in the process of retracting & lowering boom at end of shift with boom fully extended to the South when South side wheels slipped sideways from leveling blocks, causing lift to tilt and capsize. Boom fell & basket hit the ground.

Initial Information: Two EE's working from manlift on West side of mill building over Electrical Room. From initial witness reports, it appears they were in the process of retracting & lowering boom at end of shift with boom fully extended to the South when South side wheels slipped sideways from leveling blocks, causing lift to tilt and capsize. Boom fell, basket hit ground.

Frozen dig face material sloughed from the dig face of 750-28 bench, striking employee and pining him to the ground.

EE WAS UNDER A DITCHING BUCKET CUTTING A PLATE OUT AND THE PLATE FELL AND LANDED ON HIS CHEST. WITHOUT AN AUTOPSY REPORT COMPLETED YET, THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS THE IMPACT OF THE STEEL PLATE ON HIS CHEST, LUNGS.

DURING THE EARLY PART OF NIGHT SHIFT WHILE TRAINING WITH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER IN THE CAT WITH HIM, NEW DRIVER GOT TIRES OF WATER TRUCK OVER THE EDGE OF A SHALLOW EMBANKMENT. THIS CAUSED THE T RUCK TO ROLL OVER THE EDGE CRUSHING THE CAB WHICH KILLED HIM.

EMPLOYEE WAS ADD 7' SWELLEN BOLTS TOT HE RIB AND BACK. EMPLOYEE LEFT THE CAB OF THE JUMBO E WARN HIS HANDS. EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH HIS BACK TOT HE RIGHT RIB. THE GROUND SUPPORT FAILED AND THE RIB STUFFED COVERING THE EMPLOYEE.

WHILE ASSTISTING JACKLEG OPEATOR, VICTIM APPARENTLY MOVED TO CLOSE TO OPEN RAISE AND FELL.

EMPLOYEE DRILLING WITH 2 BOOM JARVIS CLARK JUMBO W TAMROCK 550 DRILLOS & 11/4IN DRILL STEEL EMPLOYEES CLOTHING GOT CAUGHT ON DRILL STEEL PULLING EMPLOYEE BETWEEN DRILL ROD & DRILL SLIDE RESULT ING IN DEATH

VICTIM AND 2 OTHER EMPLOYEES. WERE INSTALLING WIRE ROPE FOR AN AERIAL TRAM. THE WIRE ROPE GOT STUCK UNDER A ROCK OUTCROPPING. THEY APPLIED MORE TENSION TO THE ROPE IN ORDER TO FREE IT. THE ROP E SPRANG FREE AND BROKE AWAY FROM ITS ANCHOR BOLT. THE ROPE STRUCK THE VICTIM AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 350 FT.

CONE CRUSHER TR5ILER WAS KNOCKED OFF STANDING BLOCKS AND A CRANE WAS MOVING IN TO PICK UP TRAILER.AS CRANE MOVED IN THE DIRECTOR AND OPER WERE LOOKING AT OVERHEAD WIRES.OPER SAW SOMETHING OUT OF CORNER OF E2E AND WENT FOR BRAKE AND HIT GAS.PINNED VICTIM BETWEEN OUTRIGGER AND CATWALK.

WHILE WORKING I3 TRENCH WITH BACKHOE WEST SIDE OF TRENCH FAILED AND FELL ON EMPL.

MIKE CALLAHAN HAD SHIRT HAGGING OUT OF PANTS HE WAS WARNED EARLIER IN DAY ABOUT IT. HE WAS TIGHTING SPRING & WAS DONE. STRAIGHTED UP GOT SHIRT H IN SPROCKET HE PULLED IT OUT & LEANED RIGHT BAC K INTO SPROCKET THIS TIME IT CAUGHT BOTH OF HIS SHIRTS AND TWISTED HIM UP.

2 COMMERCIAL CONTRACT-DIVERS DROWNED WHILE ATTEMPTING REPAIRS ON DAM LOCATED 7 MILES FROM MINE SITE HOWEVER STILL ON COMPANY POPERTY GOT CAUGHT IN WATER FLOW AROUND LEAK AND COULD NOT FREE THE MSELVES

2 COMMERCIAL CONTRACT-DIVERS DROWNED WHILE ATTEMPTING REPAIRS ON DAM LOCATED 7 MILES FROM MINE SITE HOWEVER STILL ON COMPANY PROPERTY GOT CAUGHT IN WATER FLOW AROUND LEAK AND COULD NOT FREE TH EMSELVES