Crandall Canyon report

The report into the deaths of 9 miners, including 3 rescuers, at Crandall Canyon in August 2007 has been released by the US Department of labor.


A pillar burst or series of pillar bursts, known as a “bump” – within the Crandall Canyon Mine blocked all exits out of what had been the South Barrier of the Main West section of the Mine. Miners were excavating the South Barrier at the time of the bump, which registered a 3.9 on the Richter scale. Debris created by the bump led to the entombment and deaths of six miners.
A second bump killed three others who were part of the effort to rescue the six trapped miners.

Also see:
A New York Times summary of the report.

Response to coronial inquiry into Renison fatalaties

Peter Cook, Managing Director of Metals X has declared that "when we bring Renison back into production in the next few weeks [our aim] is to restore Renison’s reputation as one of Australia’s great mines, not only from a production sense, but as a benchmark for mining, geological and technical standards."

The statement follows release of findings by the Tasmanian Coroner on fatal accidents in 2001 and 2003, before Metals X acquired Renison.

The Tasmainian Minister for Planning and Workplace Relations, David Bartlett said that while it was "premature to provide a full response to the 109 page [corner's] report, there is no doubt that the current laws that regulate mine safety in Tasmania need reviewing."

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