METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On May 10, 1996, a driller and a laborer were killed at a limestone mine. Both employees had one year of mining experience. The employees were in a �-ton pickup truck which they had driven into the underground mine to check the blast site at a development drift prior to beginning haulage operations. A 40 ft. by 40 ft. by 5 ft. slab of limestone fell from the back and crushed the truck. Both employees died instantly from crushing injuries. These deaths make a total of 19 fatalities reported in calendar year 1996 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1995, there were 15 fatalities reported in these industries. These are the first two fatalities classified as fall of roof/back this year. There were no fall of roof/back fatalities during the same period in 1995.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96M19]