On January 30, 2023, a miner died while troubleshooting a belt conveyor when he fell through a 37-inch-long by 34-inch-wide hole created by the removal of a section of grating. The miner fell approximately 35 feet from the catwalk to the ground below.
Best Practices
Operators should:
- Provide fall protection where there is a danger of falling and train miners on its proper use.
- Replace guarding/grating that protects temporary access openings as soon as completing work.
- Conduct workplace examinations and immediately correct any unsafe conditions.
Additional Information
This is the sixth fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).