Fort Knox Gold Mine Worker Dies in Fall

A Fort Knox gold mine employee fell to his death in a workplace accident Saturday evening, according to mine authorities and Alaska State Troopers.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Jun 6, 2011 at 8:16 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 6, 2011 at 8:16 AM AKDT

 Updated at 11:10 p.m.

FAIRBANKS — A Fort Knox gold mine employee fell to his death in a workplace accident Saturday evening, according to mine authorities and Alaska State Troopers.

Michael J. Murray, 39, a mill operator who had worked at the mill more than a year, was cleaning the second floor of a crusher room by himself when he tripped and fell 80 feet through a hole in the floor, according to troopers.

Murray was supposed to be wearing a harness, but for some reason was not, trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said.

The accident was reported about 7:15 p.m., near the end of Murray’s shift. He was pronounced dead at 7:43 p.m. after mine staff and Steese Fire Department personnel performed CPR.

Troopers do not suspect foul play. A larger investigation will be conducted by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Before Saturday’s accident, the mine had gone more than 4 million man-hours and 4.5 years without a workplace injury that kept an employee from working, mine spokeswoman Lorna Shaw said.

Following the accident, the entire facility was shut down to make sure conditions were safe for work to resume Sunday morning, she said. The crusher Murray was cleaning will remain closed during the federal investigation. 

“This is a very personal loss for us,” she said in an email. “Safety isn’t about numbers; it’s about people. Michael was well-liked and well-respected. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Fort Knox gold mine, 26 miles northeast of Fairbanks off the Steese Highway, is owned by Canadian-based Kinross Inc., and is operated by Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc. 

The mine employs 533 people.

Contact staff writer Sam Friedman at 459-7545.

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Melody McCullough said on Monday, Jun 6 at 11:31 PM

My husband works at Fort Knox...My heart and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time..

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Donielle Carroll said on Wednesday, Jun 8 at 12:02 PM

Michael was a very wonderful devoted father and husband. He also was a very "safety first" individual. This accident is terrible and he will be very missed by all those lives he touched.

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