Mining Accident News No.1310 20 September to 17 October 2013 In this issue: the quarry in "a military-type cargo truck" when the vehicle flipped backward onto its roof, USA: PA Fatality is Third in Aggregates This Week trapping the victim inside, according to ..........................................................................1 Bradford County Coroner Thomas M. MSHA Releases Investigation Report in Loveridge Carman. Carman theorized the truck's gears Mine Fatality......................................................1 may have played a role in the accident. The Canada: Family has mixed feelings about Vale victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, died plea deal ............................................................2 at the scene of traumatic asphyxia, Carman Quote of the week .............................................3 said. S. Africa: Atlatsa reports fatality at Bokoni..........3 Qld: Safety systems improved after fatal mining The accident occurred at T. G. Mountain accident .............................................................3 Stone's Northrup slate operation at about 2:15 China: 4 killed, 7 trapped in mining accident.......4 p.m. Thursday. 3 miners missing after accident in Germany........4 T.G. Mountain Stone has operated the two- Nambia: Electrical accident injures three at person intermittent quarry since 2008, Langer Heinrich ..................................................5 according to MSHA’s database. The mine has Canada: Miners not getting enough sleep, Sudbury study says.............................................5 reported no non-fatal days lost injuries during USA: Accident Claims Life of Veteran West this period. Virginia Miner ....................................................6 MSHA has not inspected the quarry this year. USA: Illinois man dies in White County mine Last year, the mine received $100 in MSHA accident .............................................................6 fines. In 2011, the amount was $408. USA: Dozer operator killed at Bridger Coal Mine.7 China: Two miners saved after 10‐day ordeal......7 On Monday, a miner was killed when his Qld Mines Minister blames industry accidents on loaded haul truck went through a berm and ‘stupidity’...........................................................8 over a highwall at a Missouri quarry. A miner Canada: Craigmont Mine Accident ‐ No Charges died Wednesday in an engulfment accident at after Worker Drowned .......................................9 a limestone mine in Kentucky. Four other This week in mining accident history ..................9 aggregate miners have died this year. Canada: John Wilson Mining Accident ‐ Daughters Angry Charges Weren't Laid..............................11 In all, 27 miners have died in 2013, the same Mining dictionary .............................................12 number at this time a year ago. The breakdown by sector is 13 in metal/non-metal Saturday 21 September 2013 and 14 in coal. USA: PA Fatality is Third in MSHA Releases Investigation Aggregates This Week Report in Loveridge Mine Reproduced with kind permission of Sharpe Media, LLC Fatality A miner killed in a motor vehicle accident at a Extract from The State Journal, WVa, USA quarry in northeastern Pennsylvania is the The Mine Safety and Health Administration third fatality in four days in the U.S. aggregate has released its fatal accident report about an sub-sector. incident at the Loveridge Mine in Marion County that killed Glen L. Clutter, Jr., 51 of Timothy Farr, 31, of Ulster was hauling Baxter in February 2013. containers of water uphill on a dirt road into NOTE: Views expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual sender, and are not associated with ANY organisation, individual or publication Issue 10 of 2013 e [email protected] Page 1 Mining Accident News No.1310 Clutter, a 31 year mining veteran, was working The company originally faced nine charges, at the Miracle Run end of the Loveridge No. 22 while supervisor Keith Birnie faced six. Mine owned by CONSOL on Feb. 12, 2013 The remaining charges against Vale were when a slate bar struck him as he attempted to dropped as part of the plea deal. The charges re-rail a supply car. The car shifted and a slate against Birnie were dropped after the Crown bar struck Clutter on the right side of his face received information as part of trial and forehead, said a report from MSHA. submissions, and felt there was no reasonable Clutter was unconscious and flown by chance of conviction. HealthNet to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. There, he was listed in critical While in some ways she's glad not to have to condition and put on life support. Clutter later go through a full trial, which was due to start in died from his injuries. Investigators determined late October, Briana said she would have liked the accident was caused by failing to secure to see Vale held to account on all the charges. the supply car before it was lifted. “We are happy they pled guilty, but it's hard, Investigators noted failing to maintain the track because those charges were just so easily and failing to complete pre-shift examination dropped,” she said. “That's the way the judicial also contributed to Clutter's injuries. system is.” The mine accesses the Pittsburgh No. 8 coal In terms of Birnie, Briana said it's also difficult seam and can be entered from three portals for her to understand how the charges against including the Sugar Run and Miracle Run him were also so easily dropped. She said the portals located near Fairview and the Metz families weren't privy to the information which portal near Mannington. led to the Crown's decision to drop the You can read MSHA's complete report at charges against Birnie. http://www.msha.gov/FATALS/2013/FTL13c05 Vale was represented in court by Kelly Strong, .asp. the company's president of Ontario/UK operations. Hearing him say the word “guilty” Canada: Family has mixed was a bit of a relief, Briana said. feelings about Vale plea deal In a written statement released after the court Extract from NorthernLife.ca appearance, Strong said Vale investigated the The sister of one of two Vale miners killed on incident that led to the miners' deaths, and is the job in 2011 said in some ways, she's glad making changes to its safety practices. lawyers representing the company and the “We hope that with them pleading guilty ... in Crown were able to come to a plea deal the future they'll be more conscious of agreement for charges laid in the wake of the mistakes and be more conscious of safety,” tragedy. Briana said. At least it saved her family the pain and stress “I know that they are making changes, and of going through the full trial, Briana Fram they're happy with that. But let's continue to said. make those changes and be proactive instead Vale pleaded guilty to three charges under the of being reactive.” Occupational Health and Safety Act and was She describes Sept. 17 as an emotional day fined $1,050,000 on Sept. 17 in the deaths of for her family. Briana's brother, Jordan Fram, as well as his co-worker, Jason Chenier. Briana was among the family and friends of the two miners who delivered victim impact Page 2 Mining Accident News No.1310 statements before the court, describing how support for a mining inquiry as well. “Why much she misses her brother, friend and wouldn't they want to support it?” she asks. “guardian angel.” “It brought back so many feelings,” she said. Quote of the week “It almost felt like it was the day that Jordan “I don’t necessarily agree with everything passed away again, going through everything, I say.” and that emotional timeframe. It was difficult.” (Herbert) Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) Canadian philosopher of communication Jordan and Briana's mother, Wendy Fram, theory said she thought the victim impact statements drove home to Vale what the families are Monday 23 September 2013 going through. “They don't understand it, because they haven't been in that situation,” S. Africa: Atlatsa reports she said. fatality at Bokoni In terms of the fine laid against Vale — an JOHANNESBURG – Triple-listed Atlatsa amount that's actually precedent-setting in Resources has reported a fatality at its Bokoni Ontario and perhaps Canada — Briana said platinum mine, following a fall-of-ground she can't say whether it was appropriate or accident at the operation’s Middelpunt Hill not, as nothing would compensate her family's UG2 shaft section on Saturday. loss. The Department of Mineral Resources had When asked if the Fram family plans on suing since completed an inspection and issued a Vale, Briana said that's something they've Section 54 safety stoppage notice for the never wanted to do. She said she's not sure shaft. about the Chenier family, as she's never The company said in a statement that, discussed the matter with them. following the incident, the Bokoni management It's also possible to lay criminal charges team had started a mine-wide audit on safety against companies responsible for the deaths and health practices at all its operating shafts or injuries of workers under the Westray Act, to assess current risk levels and ensure but that didn't happen in that case. adherence to mine safety standards. The union representing Vale miners, The board of directors and management of the Steelworkers Local 6500, has spoken out company and Bokoni extended their against the lack of criminal charges laid in this condolences to both the family and colleagues case. of the deceased employee. Briana said she'd like to see a judicial system Saturday 28 September 2013 that's more familiar with mining so they can “appropriately investigate and judge cases in Qld: Safety systems improved this situation.” after fatal mining accident The Fram family, along with Steelworkers Extract from The Daily Examiner, Qld Local 6500 and other community supporters, A CORONER found lessons had been learnt has been pushing for an inquiry into mining from the death of Michael Earle Auld, from Tin safety in Ontario.