On April 17, 2014, a 58-year-old truck driver with 3½ years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine. An excavator was loading material in a haul truck parked at the pit. When the victim exited the truck, he was struck by the excavator bucket and pinned against the truck.
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use 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.
- Ensure that haul truck operators remain in their trucks when being loaded.
- Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence. Stay in the line of sight with mobile equipment operators.
- Ensure that you make eye contact with mobile equipment operators before approaching their work areas. Never assume the equipment operator sees you.
- Never place yourself in a location where equipment operators can’t see you.
- Before operating equipment, always ensure other miners are clear and safely positioned.
- Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).