Troy Mine at fault for Libby miner's death
The Western News
The Mine Safety and Health Administration found the Troy Mine at fault for the death of a Libby miner in July 2007.
Mike Ivins, 55, of Libby, was killed because there was not adequate ground support installed and maintained in the area where Ivins died.
"The mine operator had knowledge of the unstable ground conditions in the area where the accident occurred," according to the MSHA accident report.
Ivins, a mechanic at the Troy Mine, which is owned by Revett Minerals in Spokane Valley, Wash., reported to work the morning of July 30, 2007. He was told a roof bolter had a broken hydraulic hose and needed to be repaired. Ivins repaired the roof bolter and shift boss, Cole Anderson then spoke to Ivins, who was sitting in his truck at the time. Josh Peterson, a roof bolt operator, and Allen Layer, a roof bolter trainee, were in the area at the time.
Ivins was still sitting in his truck waiting for Anderson to move his truck so he could leave the area. Rock had fallen from the roof and Ivins signaled Anderson about the fallen material. More rock continued to fall and Anderson yelled for Layer and Peterson to leave the area.
Anderson got to his pickup when more falling rock struck the back of Ivins' pickup, which caused one of the rear tires to blow out. Material continued to fall and covered Ivins' truck, leaving only the grille visible. Arc flashes and smoke were coming from under the hood of Ivins' truck and a fire began.
Ivins was trapped in his truck. Emergency personnel were notified and the mine was evacuated due to fire and smoke. Several mine rescue teams were dispatched, working throughout the day and night to reach Ivins. Central Mine Rescue from Osburn, Idaho was standing by as a back up crew.
According to the MSHA report, a plan was submitted to MSHA and approved. Recovery began at 7 p.m., Ivins' truck was recovered and at 9:30 p.m. the coroner pronounced Ivins dead, with the cause being blunt force trauma, according to the report. The material that originally fell was estimated at 700 tons. Subsequent rock falls brought the total to 3,000 tons.
Peterson and Layer received emergency care as a result of the incident. Peterson was struck by Anderson's truck during the rockfall, according to the MSHA report.
"Prior to the accident, records noted that on several occasions the roof and face either had voids, mud slips, or fall of materials," the MSHA investigators reported. "Drift width varied between 25 to 32 feet, with a height of 18 to 20 feet. Wire mesh and 8-foot Swellex bolts had been installed over the brows in the crosscut but rib bolts had not been installed. The continuing deteriorating ground conditions indicated that the current support was inadequate and that different support or supplemental support materials was needed. Since the bolter in this section was limited to installing 8-foot Swellex bolts, another machine would have been needed to install different supports."
MSHA concluded that the mine's management was at fault for the rockfall.
"The accident occurred because management failed to ensure that adverse ground conditions identified during the mining cycle were adequately supported. Management provided a ground control plan listing ground support systems that would enhance control of adverse ground; however, these systems were not fully implemented. Supplemental support materials identified in the ground control plan were not readily available," according to the MSHA report.
The Troy Mine was shut down following the rockfall. On Aug. 9, 2007, the mill was reopened and on Aug. 12, 2007, mining operations resumed.
"We disagree with the report," said Doug Miller, general manager of the Troy Mine.
Following the incident, a bolting plan was submitted to MSHA and additions have been made to the plan to ensure the safety of miners, Miller said.
Ivins had been working at the mine for two years, 10 months.
Revett Minerals Vice President of Operations Carson Rife could not be reached for comment.