Miner Killed While Repairing Sunshine Shaft

A 57-year-old shaft repairman died early Tuesday in an accident at the Sunshine Mining and Refining Co.

Tom Huff, an experienced miner, and about 15 other workers were nearing the end of their shift when the accident happened, said Harry Cougher, the mine’s senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Huff died about 5 a.m. while doing repair work in the shaft, Cougher said. He declined further comment, saying “it is still under investigation.”

Shoshone County sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene, but referred questions to the mining company.

Officials from the U.S. Mine Health and Safety Administration, United Steel Workers Association and Sunshine Mining still were investigating the cause of the accident Tuesday evening, Cougher said. Snow and rain that fell much of the day slowed the investigation, he said.

Huff had worked for Sunshine Mining on and off for the past 20 years. He had 32 years experience in the mining industry.

“He was a good miner, a good employee,” Cougher said. “No question about that.”

The accident halted work in the shaft most of the day. Company officials were hopeful work would resume late Tuesday. No damage was reported to the shaft.

The accident is the first fatality in a North Idaho mine since Sept. 17, 1996, when a 49-year-old miner fell 250 feet to his death at the Coeur mine near Osburn, Idaho.

, DataTimes