On July 20, 2017, a miner was driving wedges into a block of granite in an attempt to break it loose.  A piece of granite weighing 9 tons fell and crushed the victim against the quarry floor.

Best Practices

• Always conduct examinations of work place to identify loose ground or unstable conditions before work begins and as changing ground conditions warrant.
• Ensure that the person conducting the examination has the training and experience to recognize potential hazards.
• Danger off hazardous conditions and prohibit work or travel in areas where hazards from unstable ground have not been corrected.
• Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed along with the methods to protect personnel.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).