On July 31, 2018, a 62-year old foreman with 40 years of experience, was fatally injured while dismantling a portable crusher. The front-end loader was placing a 20-foot long steel tube onto the screen feed conveyor. The front-end loader operator lowered the bucket and crushed the victim against the conveyor structure.
Best Practices
- Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.
- Use cranes with appropriate rigging and tag lines to position components.
- When working near equipment, make eye contact with the equipment operator and directly communicate your intended movements.
- Wear a reflective vest or clothing while working.
- Ensure all persons are trained to recognize workplace hazards – specifically, the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to operation of large equipment.
- Prior to starting the task, train miners on proper maintenance procedures and discuss steps that will be taken to safely perform the job.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).