On September 1, 2020, a miner (53 year-old plant helper in Texas with 2 years and 8 weeks of experience*) died when he fell while attempting to close a hatch on the top of a bulk material trailer (at an industrial sand plant with 20 employees). The miner was wearing a fall protection harness but his lanyard was not attached to a secure anchorage.
Best Practices:
- Encourage the use of automated hatches on tanks and trailers.
- Provide and ensure the use of an effective fall arrest and secure anchorage system.
- Provide safe access to all work areas and ensure truck and trailer access and work platforms are properly designed, maintained, and used.
- Examine work areas and equipment. Don’t use unsafe work areas and equipment until repairs are made.
- Refresh miner training on safe work procedures after returning from periods of shutdown, and routinely monitor work habits.
Additional Information:
This is the 15th fatality reported in 2020, and the fourth classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.” *(Italicized details added by safeminers.com)
Click here for Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).