January 21, 2022 - On December 6, 2021, a miner was fatally injured while he was working in a pan feeder under a chute.  While attempting to remove angle iron that blocked the chute’s gate from closing, he was engulfed by material that fell from a surge pile above the chute.  The victim died from his injuries on December 10, 2021.

Best Practices

• Do not allow miners to travel on or below material that is on or above the sides of a bin, hopper, or chute.
• Provide mechanical devices or other effective means to protect miners from entrapment by caving material.
• Provide and maintain a safe means of access for all working places.
• De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery or equipment against hazardous motionbefore performing repairs or maintenance.
• Examine work areas and equipment.  Correct defects, or report them to the operator.
• Train miners to performtheir assigned tasks safely.