Mine accident report faults training

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two workers killed in a construction accident at a gold mine last year were not properly trained to use the machine that toppled over and pitched them to the ground, according to a federal report.

The manlift at the Rock Creek Mine in Nome was not positioned on solid, level ground and it was being operated incorrectly because the workers had not been given adequate training, says a report issued Wednesday by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The accident occurred July 19, 2007, during the construction of the mine's mill building.

Tyler Kahle, 19, of Tomahawk, Wis., and Craig Bagley, 27, of Anchorage -- fishing buddies when not working -- were descending in a basket with the boom extended when the manlift tipped over.

The two were working for Alaska Mechanical Inc., a contractor building the mine and milling facilities operated by Alaska Gold Co., a NovaGold Resources Inc. (AMEX:NG) subsidiary.

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