The Department of Labor has fined operators of an Ouray silver mine $1.077 million for repeated, blatant safety violations that led to the “entirely preventable” deaths of two workers last year.
Officials said is the second-highest fine ever issued to a non-coal mine.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s report found that, ignoring regulations and repeated warnings, the operators of the Revenue Mine disposed of deteriorating explosives by detonating them inside of the mine, filling it with toxic gas. They did not seal off or ventilate the area and ignored complaints from miners who fell ill from the fumes.
The chain of safety violations ended in the carbon monoxide deaths of Nick Cappanno, 34, of Montrose and Rick Williams, 59, of Durango on Nov. 17, 2013.
“There are a number of mines all across the United States that have implemented sound safety habits — this is the mine that did not,” said Joseph Main, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
“They had a number of opportunities to take action, but they failed to follow basic safety procedures…we believe these deaths were entirely preventable.”
DOCUMENT: Read the investigation report in the two deaths at the Revenue Silver Mine
Main said the fine issued to Revenue Mine may not be the final word on the case.
“It doesn’t mean the investigation is entirely closed,” he said. “We’re holding out the possibility that further actions may be taken.”
Silver Star Resources, which owned the mine at the time of the incident, did not respond to a telephone message asking for comment.
Separately from the death investigation, the MSHA in September put the Revenue Mine on notice for a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Silver Star ownership.
According to MSHA, the company had 92 “significant and substantial ” violations between Aug, 1, 2013, and July 31.
The new owners of the Revenue silver mine, Fortune Minerals Limited of Canada, said in a statement they have begun a series of new safety measures since closing on the mine on Oct. 1.
The MSHA report detailed point-by-point the actions and omissions that ended in the deaths.
During a briefing on Nov. 13, workers were told of the proper procedure to dispose of deteriorated explosives. That included calling the manufacture of the explosives for guidance, as well as a warning to not detonate them in an underground, open-air blast. Nevertheless, according to the report, the company did not consult the manufacturer and on Nov. 16, detonated the explosives in an underground open air blast at about 2 p.m.
The blast site did not have the proper ventilation and, in addition, workers did not barricade the entrance to the blast site. Nor did anyone inform workers reporting for the night shift about the earlier blast.
That evening, some night shift workers were overcome by headache, nausea and dizziness. Even at that point, the report said, nothing was done to prevent workers from entering the mine or to determine the cause of the problems.
The next day, Cappanno, who the report said had only one month of mining experience, and another miner, Cory Geist, entered the mine. Both were overcome, but Geist managed to escape. A short time later, an emergency was declared and Williams entered the mine to look for Cappanno. He, too, was overcome by the carbon monoxide.
About 20 workers entered the mine in a rescue attempt; seven of them were subsequently hospitalized.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292, acotton@denverpost.com or twitter.com/anthonycottondp
