On April 4, 2013, a 30-year old general foreman with 6 years of experience was killed at a copper ore operation. An excavator was being used to position a 36-inch diameter by 40-foot long section of pipe to connect it to another section of pipe. The pipe, attached to the excavator by a lifting strap, shifted and fell on the victim.
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed along with the methods to properly protect persons.
- Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
- Attach taglines to loads that may require steadying or guidance while suspended.
- Securely block equipment against hazardous motion to ensure energy cannot be released while performing work.
- Never work in the fall path of objects/materials of massive weights having the potential of becoming off-balanced while in a raised position.
- Implement measures to ensure persons are properly positioned and protected from hazards while performing a task.
- Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).