Special Edition: M/NM Fatal, Nevada

Miner’s cause of death identified in MSHA preliminary info
Suzanne Featherston sfeatherston@elkodaily.com Nov 13, 2018

CARLIN — An underground miner died Nov. 11 at the Newmont Mining Corp.’s Pete Bajo mine when a loader rolled over the victim, according to a Nov. 13 preliminary statement from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The preliminary information states that the miner exited his load-haul-dump loader and failed to set the parking brake.

MSHA issued an order to secure the scene and have started an investigation into the fatality.

“Our primary focus at this time is on supporting the employee’s family, and we are providing them all possible assistance as we grieve his tragic loss of life,” Newmont said in an email Nov. 12.

Newmont has not yet released the name of the miner.

Pete Bajo is one of four underground mines in Newmont’s Carlin operations west of Elko on the Carlin Trend.

Pete Bajo operations have been suspended until further notice. Authorities have been notified, and an investigation has begun.

“We are fully committed to understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event so we can take all necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the future,” Newmont said in a statement.

Newmont is also providing grief counseling and other support to the employees of the Carlin operations.

This is the second underground mining fatality in northeastern Nevada’s gold mines in less than a month. The last fatality occurred at the Lee Smith mine, operated by Small Mine Development, in the Jerritt Canyon complex Oct. 25 in a roof collapse. Lee Smith mine operations continue to be suspended.

Thanks for the share, AB.