On October 2, 2018, a 40-year old miner with 20 years of experience was fatally injured when struck by stemming sand ejected from a borehole. While conducting a blasting operation in a new vertical raise, a contract foreman was attempting to clean out a previously blasted vertical borehole with high-pressure air. A sudden release of energy forced stemming sand from the bottom of the borehole, striking the miner.
Best Practices
- Assess the suitability of blasting methods when blasts do not perform as intended.
- Use water to clean out the bottom of boreholes used for blasting.
- Never position yourself directly over or in front of the collar of a borehole when cleaning it out.
- Ensure miners are adequately task trained.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).