Mine accident claims life of contract worker at PotashCorp Aurora

A contract worker at PotashCorp Aurora’s Lee Creek mine died Wednesday evening as the result of injuries sustained in an accident about 5 p.m. that day.

The incident is under investigation by state and federal agencies.

The worker, who worked for Trader Construction Company, one of the contractors at the PotashCorp facility near Aurora, was identified as David Clark, 51, of Chocowinity. Trader Construction is based in New Bern.

“David’s leadership, knowledge and dedicated work ethic earned him the respect of PotashCorp-Aurora (PCS Phosphate) and Trader Construction personnel alike. He was a devout family man and leader in his church. He was liked by everyone and loved by many,” reads a statement issued by Trader Construction on Thursday. “David was a loving son, husband and father. We ask the community of faith join with us as we prayerfully surround and support his family during their time of grief.”

Grief counseling has been set up at PotashCorp Aurora for all employees.

Clark, a supervisor, had more than 30 years of industrial construction experience, including 24 years with Trader Construction, according to Lonnie Dow, a Trader Construction spokesman.

An official with the N.C. Labor Department’s Mine and Quarry Bureau was at the accident scene Thursday morning and investigating the incident, said Neal O’Briant, a public information officer with the department. An official with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration was sent to the accident scene, O’Briant said.

“If there is a federal investigation, that would take precedence,” O’Briant said Thursday.

Clark was struck in the head by a 24-inch-diameter pipe, according to Enrique Chaurand, an investigator with MSHA. A backhoe was being used to put the pipe in place when the incident occurred, he reported.

The worker died while being transported to a hospital, Chaurand said.

“Trader Construction managers, safety personnel and crew men are cooperating fully and working diligently with PotashCorp-Aurora (PCS Phosphate) personnel and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials in the accident investigation,” reads the Trader Construction statement.

Michelle Vaught, spokeswoman for PotashCorp, during a brief telephone interview Thursday, said the mine has not been shut down as a result of the accident.

If any citations are issued as a result of any investigation, they would be issued by federal authorities, O’Briant said.

There were 24 fatal mine accidents in 2010, according to MSHA’s website. Last month, a fatal mine accident occurred at CF Industries phosphate mine in Florida.

MSHA has jurisdiction over approximately 2,100 coal mines and 12,500 metal and nonmetal mines nationwide. MSHA’s mission is to protect the safety and health of the nation’s miners under the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006.