25.07.2007

Mine fatality

Craig Bagley, 27, of Anchorage and Tyler Kahle, 19, of Tomahawk, Wisconsin fell around 17 metres last Thursday when the boom lift they were working from tipped over at the Rock Creek Mine near Nome.

The men were subcontractors working for Alaska Mechanical of Anchorage the prime contractor on the Rock Creek mine construction. They were attaching siding to the mill building when they fell.

They survived the fall and were transported to a local hospital, the two died from their injuries within two hours of arriving at the hospital.

Kahle was pronounced dead at 7:49 p.m. and Bagley died at 9:09 p.m., troopers said. There seems to be some confusion as to when the accident happened and when the emergency services were called. The Mine says the accident happened at 6:45 and the emergency call went out at 6:55.

Troopers report that the accident actually happened at 6:00 pm meaning a 55 minute delay before help was called in.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and mine owner NovaGold Resources Inc. said they are investigating the accident.

A mine representative said that the two men were wearing harnesses and were attached to the lifts platform. No further details are yet available.

Vertikal Comment

Thankfully it has been some time since we have reported on a lift accident, today there are two. this one and a scissor lift fall in Australia.

This incident coudl prove to be one that we learn a lesson or two from. we will follow developments as the investigation continues.