On October 22, 2022, a mine examiner drowned in an underground sump. The mine examiner was assigned to start pumps in the area. The float switch box was found open with exposed electrical conductors inside the box.
Best Practices
- Make sure miners de-energize, lock out, and tag out equipment before entering an area to perform repairs or maintenance.
- Make sure miners have communication systems available when assigned to work alone.
- Operators must conduct required examinations from safe locations to identify hazards, correct hazards, notify miners, and record hazards.
Additional Information
This is the 26th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Drowning.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)