On June 11, 2009, a 57-year old mechanic with 31 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground lead/zinc mine while checking for a hydraulic leak on a loader. The victim leaned into the ejector plate relief port in the back of the loader bucket. The ejector plate of the bucket was retracted, crushing him against the back of the bucket.
Best Practices
- Train persons to recognize work place hazards.
- Establish safe work procedures before a task is performed.
- Securely block equipment and components against hazardous motion at all times while performing maintenance work.
- If equipment and components are to be moved, always verify persons are aware and in a safe location prior to movement.
- Consult and follow the manufacturer's recommended safe work procedures for the maintenance task.
Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf)