MINE FATALITY– On September 28, 2022, a miner died when he was engulfed in a collapsed stockpile. The miner was working close to the toe of the stockpile to remove material off the top of the surge tunnel's feeder to clear a blockage.
Best Practices: Operators should have procedures to safely clear blockages from feeders, and train miners to stay out of areas where there is a danger of falling or sliding material.
Equip feeders with mechanical clearing devices to prevent exposing miners to hazards of falling or sliding material.
Make sure miners trim stockpiles to prevent hazards.