Dallas-Based Lime Co. Settles Over Mine Manager’s Death

The U.S. Department of Labor says Dallas-based U.S. Lime Co. has agreed to a settlement in the May 2010 death of a maintenance manager at the company’s St. Clair Mine in Marble City, Okla.

The department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration said that U.S. Lime will play $211,002.

U.S. Line Co. declined comment.

MSHA investigators said 61-year-old Wilbur Farris was killed when a roller mill started while Farris was inside it. The MSHA says the roller was not properly locked and that a linkage from the breaker box to a circuit breaker was missing — meaning that turning the roller off did not eliminate the power.

Assistant Labor Secretary Joseph Main said the accident occurred because management failed to ensure safe work procedures were being followed.