Ohioans who have worked with mining and construction know that it’s often dangerous because walls can become unstable and cave ins can quickly occur without warning. These kinds of construction accidents can injure multiple people at once, and they can even lead to the deaths of several workers. If you’ve been keeping up with the national news, you may have heard that there was a mining accident in Colorado that resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to 20 others.
The accident took place near the town of Ouray around 7:20 a.m. at the Revenue-Virginius mine. According to the news, the miners were underground and the two were confirmed dead during the afternoon of the 17th. The 20 people who were injured were treated at local hospitals, and all but two of those people were treated and released from the hospital. The two who remain in the hospital have not had their conditions released.
The cause of the accident is considered to be unknown. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration allegedly went to the site to determine the cause of the accident and was there on the scene on the day of the incident. The project manager for Star Mine Operations allegedly stated that the accident wasn’t related to a cave in, but instead was caused by the release of chemicals in smoke that injured the surrounding workers.
Mining has always been a dangerous job, and that’s why there are usually many safety precautions in place. In this case, the cause has not yet been determined, but if any safety violations appear, the company could be liable for the problems that caused the accident. If you’ve been involved in an accident at work while working in construction, mining parts for construction, or due to lax safety, you may be able to seek compensation.
Source:
The Plain Dealer, “Mining accident in Colorado kills 2 workers, injures 20” No Author Given, Nov. 17, 2013