Tuppurainen, Pekka
Deceased
Pekka Tuppurainen
Demographics
male
Date of death
2009-05-19
Finding date
2013-08-20
Cause of death
traumatic asphyxia due to mine accident (loader operator falling into stope and being buried in backfill material)
AI-generated summary
Pekka Tuppurainen, an experienced underground loader operator at George Fisher Mine, died when his loader fell 29 metres into a stope while he was backfilling. He was crushed by backfill material, causing traumatic asphyxiation. The coroner found that a temporary steel stop log would likely have prevented his death. The backfilling procedure used ('dump and push') lacked documented training and risk assessment. Systemic issues included incomplete integration of safety management systems after Xstrata's acquisition in 2003, delayed prioritisation of backfilling procedure reviews identified as necessary in February 2009, and the unexplained absence of steel stop logs that were already in use at an adjacent mine. Post-incident remedial actions were comprehensive, including adoption of steel stop logs, new procedures, and investment in proximity detection technology.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- inadequate control measures for backfilling over a vertical edge with intact pillar
- dump and push method not documented in procedures or training packages
- absence of temporary steel stop logs which were available at adjacent mine
- lack of risk assessment specific to dump and push technique
- delayed review of backfilling procedures despite being identified as necessary in February 2009
- absence of documented procedure for performing dump and push at vertical edges
- incomplete integration of Xstrata safety management system with Mt Isa Mines procedures
- vertical openings hazard not explicitly listed in risk register despite history of similar incidents
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