SAFETY HEADLINESSafety
Cleveland-Cliffs Comments on United Taconite Accident Report
Mar. 24, 2008 Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. provided comment regarding a U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) report regarding an April 2007 accident that resulted in the death of a United Taconite miner.
According to Cliffs’ published statement, the fatality occurred when a drill tipped over after four bolts failed, diminishing the load-bearing capacity of the associated leveling-jack assembly. Cliffs said that the drill manufacturer, which expressly undertook responsibility for training the drill’s operators, had represented that the drill was capable of being safely operated on slopes consistent with the grade level where the accident occurred.
Since the accident, the drill manufacturer has stated that they have redesigned the drill, with eight stronger bolts replacing the four bolts previously used on each leveling-jack assembly. United Taconite officials are conducting a separate investigation, which is yet to be completed.
After the accident, MSHA issued citations to both the drill manufacturer and United Taconite. Cliffs said that United Taconite has challenged its citations before an administrative law judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. United Taconite disputes the allegations that violations of the mandatory standards existed. This litigation is only in the initial stages.
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an international mining company, the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America and a major supplier of metallurgical coal to the global steelmaking industry. The company operates six iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada, and three coking coal mines in West Virginia and Alabama. Cliffs also owns 80% of Portman Limited, a large iron ore mining company in Australia, serving the Asian iron ore markets with direct-shipping fines and lump ore. In addition, the company has a 30% interest in the Amapá Project, a Brazilian iron ore project, and a 45% economic interest in the Sonoma Project, an Australian coking and thermal coal project.