skip navigational linksDepartment of Labor Seal U.S. Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978		 Photos representing the mining workforce
www.msha.gov
[skip navigational links]Search MSHA Advanced Options | A to Z | Help
Find It! in DOL | Compliance Assistance |    
Stay Out! Stay Alive!
Stay Out! Stay Alive!
Near Misses
Accidents that could have resulted in a fatality, but did not.


Photo of Incident described in this article


03/12/2006
A driver and passenger on a Suzuki Samurai OHV, who traveled off-road in a designated “limited use area” on public lands in the California Desert’s eastern Imperial County, fell down an abandoned vertical mineshaft, and spent 20 hours in the shaft before they were rescued. The driver suffered a possible broken arm; his passenger was unharmed. The accident apparently occurred Sunday; a search and rescue was initiated Sunday night when the two men failed to return to their camp as expected. The Bureau of Land Management received a call at 8:30 a.m. on Monday and a geologist and ranger responded. The driver and passenger were extracted, but BLM’s El Centro Field Office rangers had to arrange a crane to lift out the Suzuki. (Source: Bureau of Land Management)



Back to Top   Back to Top www.msha.gov www.dol.gov
Frequently Asked Questions | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey
Accessibility | Privacy & Security Statement | Disclaimers
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939		 Phone:    (202) 693-9400
Fax-on-demand: (202) 693-9401
Technical (web) questions: Webmaster
On-line Filing Help: MSHAhelpdesk@dol.gov
or call (877) 778-6055
Contact Us