ELKO, Nev. — Greenwood Village-based Newmont Mining Corp. and one of its Nevada contractors have been cited for federal safety violations in the death of a worker in January at the Leeville mine north of Carlin.
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration says Brian Holmes, 53, was wearing the proper safety harness but was being hoisted too quickly up a ventilation shaft when the accident occurred at the underground gold mine.
Labor Department spokeswoman Laura McGinnis told the Elko Daily Free Press both Newmont and Cementation USA Inc. will face fines, but the amounts have not yet been assessed.
The agency said Newmont installed new enclosed cages after the accident to better protect workers transported up and down the vent shaft.
Newmont spokeswoman Mary Korpi says the company has also retrained employees on proper safety procedures.
