A 40 year old US based drilling contractor has been killed from an exploding air tool at an underground zinc mine. The employee was a contractor working for Major Drilling Group International who have operations globally.
According to available reports, the miner was killed instantly at a Zinc Mine (Empire State Mines) while using an air tool that exploded. Unconfirmed reports state that the contractor was forcing air into a hole to clear rock when “there was some sort of explosion.” He suffered a traumatic chest injury and died instantly.
The USA based mine inspectorate The MSHA website lists the cause of the fatality as “exploding vessels under pressure.”
Grief counselors are reportedly on site meeting with employees and contract workers.
MSHA (the USA Federal Mines Inspectorate) stated there have been 16 fatalities at mines in the United States so far this year, including yesterday’s at Empire State Mine.
In another air tool incident, An Australian worker was struck on the left forearm with compressed and foreign particles when a swivel fitting on an air hose detached from the pneumatic ratchet he was using. The incident occurred at a NSW mine on 10 March 2017.
AMSJ will provide updates as information becomes available.
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