Posted on 11/19/2013 7:54:20 AM PST by george76
Rick Williams is a hero for trying to save the life of fellow Revenue-Virginius Mine worker Nicholas Cappanno in a mine accident Sunday that took both their lives, Cappanno’s brother, Eric Keep, said Monday.
Cappanno, a 34-year-old Montrose resident, was new to the hard-rock mine industry, having worked at the Ouray County mine only a few weeks, Keep said.
He died alongside Williams, his immediate supervisor in the newly reopened silver and gold mine just southwest of Ouray, in an accident that also injured 19 others early Sunday.
“He worked in the gas patch for years, but that would take him away from his family for too long,” said Keep, who also lives in Montrose. “When the new mine opened, it gave him the chance to be closer to home. He was a real family person.”
Cappanno left behind a wife and two sons, ages 5 and 2. His parents, Audrey and Dan Keep, also live in Montrose.
The two men died of exposure to carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless toxic gas, after igniting an intentional “powder-smoke” burn, Keep said.
Such burns are common in mining, used to clear away rock to get at the precious metals buried inside.
“They were trying to get rid of old powder and went back in too soon, and I don’t know if they ignited too much or what,” Keep said. “The burn caused the gas to build up pretty fast and ate up all the oxygen. The other guy (Williams) is a real hero, and I want people to know that. He went in and tried to revive my brother, even giving him his oxygen, but the gas took him, too.”
...
all miners are required to carry gas detectors and re-breathers that contain oxygen
(Excerpt) Read more at gjsentinel.com ...
CO is dangerous stuff, because it bonds to red blood cells better than oxygen.
--having spent over ten years of my life in underground mining, this just doesn't make sense, even if it is a quote, leading me to think my byline still applies---
What is a “powder smoke” burn and how does it work?
As Star Mine Manager Rory Williams, no relation to deceased miner Rick Williams, described the incident at a press conference at the Ouray Community Center late Sunday night. Cappanno and Williams ventured deep into the mine early Sunday morning, shortly after the shift change, encountering lethal levels of carbon monoxide presumed to have lingered as the result of a blast set off on a previous shift.
Williams confirmed the fallen miners were equipped with safety equipment, including self rescue devices and rebreathers containing oxygen; he said that equipment malfunction is not suspected at this time.
Williams said he did not have any information about when or why the suspected blast occurred, nor about why Williams and Cappanno had ventured into that portion of the mine. MSHA investigators will seek to answer these and other questions, as well as probe the adequacy of the mine’s ventilation system.
--a "burn" or "burn cut" describes the center holes in a drilled "round" in a "face" , which is the exposed rock in which one drills the holes, which are then filled with explosive and detonated----
--as far as burning "old powder" underground , that would be a poor way to dispose of it--
Tragic .
yes
—in the picture of the “fire ore” bin, chances are that is supposed to be “fine” ore bin as opposed to a “coarse” ore bin—just another example of reportorial sloppy work-—
just another example of reportorial sloppy work.
yes
No CO detectors? Sometimes CO can build up to such high levels in a confined space that it can knock someone out in seconds.
all miners are required to carry gas detectors and re-breathers that contain oxygen
Especially in CO.
Sorry, had to apply some humor. It’s still tragic.
RIP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.