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Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

July 15, 2009 11:39 by randy

On July 2, 2009, a 52-year old mine owner with 34 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface dimension stone operation. He was working alone and was operating a walk behind masonry saw on a ledge. Apparently he was positioned between the saw and the edge when he tripped and fell. The victim and the saw went over the 9-foot ledge and the saw fell on him. 

Best Practices

  • Identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect persons.
  • Ensure that operators are in a safe position and have control of their equipment at all times.
  • Keep workplaces free of tripping hazards.
  • Use barricades or railings at edges of drop-offs where persons are in danger of falling.
  • Equip walk behind masonry saws with devices to stop the engine if the operator can not maintain control of the equipment.
  • Design bench top stone cutting patterns so the saw operator is not positioned between the saw and the drop off edge.
Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf)

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