On May 10, 2016, a 46-year old maintenance man with 6 years of experience was fatally injured at a cement plant. The victim went to the top of the slurry tank to start the rake system. He fell 50 feet through a 3-foot by 4-foot opening in the walkway into the empty slurry tank below.

Best Practices

• Protect openings near travelways by installing railings, barriers, or covers.
• Ensure covers or railings protecting temporary access openings are secured in place at all times when an opening is not being used.
• Provide readily visible warning signs that clearly display the nature of the hazard and any protective action required.
• Wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
• Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards to finish the job safely.
• Train all persons, especially workplace examiners, to recognize and understand safe job procedures before beginning work. Communicate and correct hazards in a timely manner.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).

On October 10, 2014, a 66-year-old contract truck driver with approximately 11 years of experience was killed at a cement operation.  The driver was inside a loading rack closing the hatch on top of a bulk tanker truck.  When the victim raised the rack to access the hatch, he fell between the rack and rounded side of the truck and then fell to the ground.

• Establish traffic patterns to ensure safe alignment of vehicles with access equipment.
• Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
• Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to address the hazards associated with the work being performed.
• Always use fall protection when working where a fall hazard exists.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and any hazards that may be present.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On February 21, 2014, a 34-year old contract laborer with 6 months of experience was killed at a cement operation when attempting to access an elevator in the finish mill. When the victim opened the elevator door on the fourth floor landing, he stepped into the elevator shaft and fell approximately 51 feet to the top of the elevator car located on the ground floor.

• Immediately report any elevator problems to management.
• Ensure that any problems affecting the safety of an elevator are repaired promptly.
• Ensure that elevator door interlocks, that prevent the door from being opened unless the elevator car is present, are functional.
• Ensure that elevator doors will not open unless an elevator car is at the floor landing.
• Install audible signals that sound when the elevator car is at the landing prior to the doors opening.
• Train all persons to be aware of their surroundings when entering or exiting an elevator car.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

On October 17, 2013, a 52-year old electrician with 5 years of experience was injured at a cement operation. The victim was standing on a step ladder, pulling cable in a cable tray. The mounting bracket for the tray broke loose from the wall and the tray struck the step ladder. The victim fell 5 feet from the ladder, striking his head on the concrete floor. The victim was transported to a hospital where he died on October 19, 2013.

• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when installing a cable tray on a supporting structure.
• Ensure that the correct anchors are used and that the supporting structures are adequate when installing a cable tray.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and any hazards that may be present.
• Properly position ladders used to reach elevated areas.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).