Sand and Gravel

MNM Fatality 8/4/22

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On August 4, 2022, a mine manager died while performing maintenance on a bulldozer.  While kneeling on the bulldozer’s track, the victim accidentally engaged the lever that put the bulldozer in reverse.  The bulldozer track moved the victim to the rear of the bulldozer where he was run over.

Best Practices: 

  • Operators should train miners on safe maintenance procedures:
    • turn off the engine
    • block equipment against motion
  • Operators should make sure miners are in a safe location in relation to machine parts that can move.

Additional Information: 

This is the 17th fatality reported in 2022, and the seventh classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 9/9/22

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On September 9, 2022, a dredge operator drowned while working in a dredge pond.

Best Practices: 

  • Make sure a competent person conducts workplace examinations before miners begin work to identify conditions that may adversely affect safety.
  • Make sure miners wear life jackets or belts where there is danger of falling into water.
  • Make sure miners maintain communication when working alone.

Additional Information: 

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Drowning.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 1/26/22

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On January 26, 2022, a dump truck rolled backward onto a 54 year-old miner while the miner was attempting to troubleshoot a brake issue.  The dump truck operator was unaware that the miner was under the truck when he released the parking brake, allowing the dump truck to roll backward. 

Best Practices: 

  • Block machinery or equipment against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and assure they acknowledge your presence, before traveling near mobile equipment.  Do not assume that mobile equipment operators know that you are in the vicinity.

Additional Information: 

This is the 5th fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 3/22/22

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On March 22, 2022, a 44 year-old heavy equipment operator drowned after the floating pump station he was standing on capsized.  At the time of the accident, the miner was assisting a co-worker in connecting a water discharge line.  

Best Practices: 

  • Design and use floating platforms in a manner that complies with the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations.
  • Before working on a floating platform:
    • implement safe work procedures that take into account potential hazards from rain, ice, freezing temperatures, and other environmental conditions.
    • perform adequate work place examinations, especially on floating platforms that are infrequently used.  Check parts that are subject to rust, sun damage, water damage, etc. over long periods of time.
  • Wear life jackets where there is danger from falling into water.

Additional Information: 

This is the twelfth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Drowning.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 3/4/22

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On March 4, 2022, a 37 year-old bulldozer operator died when the bulldozer he was operating went over the edge of the highwall, landing upside down on the pit floor.

Best Practices: 

• Dump loads a safe distance back from the edge of the highwall and push the material over.
• Maintain control of mobile equipment while it is in operation.
• Perform ground condition and workplace examinations.
• Train miners to safely perform tasks.Additional Information: 

This is the tenth fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 12/13/21 Surface

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On December 13, 2021, a customer truck driver (victim) stopped at a designated tarping area and was assisting another driver with a rear trailer indicator light.  The victim’s truck moved forward and pinned him against the back of the other driver’s truck.

Best Practices: 

  • Do not leave mobile equipment unattended unless the transmission is in the park position, the parking brake is set, and the trailer brakes are engaged.
  • Block, or secure from movement, mobile equipment parked on a grade.
  • Never position yourself in hazardous areas around mobile equipment parked on a grade that is not blocked or secured from movement.
  • Train customer truck drivers on site-specific hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 37th fatality reported in 2021, and the 17th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 10/20/21

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On October 20, 2021, a 50-year-old mechanic with 12 years of experience was fatally injured at a mine with 10 employees* when he was struck by the bucket of an excavator while assisting in repositioning a hopper.

Best Practices: 

  • Never position yourself between mobile equipment and a stationary object.
  • Do not work in pinch points where inadvertent movement could cause injury.
  • Carefully inspect and secure the pins in an excavator’s bucket before each use.
  • Before beginning work, analyze all tasks, establish safe work procedures, train miners, and eliminate hazards.  Be alert for hazards that may be created while the work is performed.
  • Identify and apply methods to protect personnel from hazards associated with the work performed.
  • Monitor all employees to ensure safe work procedures, including safe work positioning, are followed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 30th fatality reported in 2021, and the 5th classified as “Machinery” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 10/1/21

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On October 1, 2021, a 25-year-old Plant Operator with 4 years and 11 weeks experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when he entered a surge bin used as a feed hopper and was engulfed by material.

Best Practices: 

  • Design surge bins and feed hoppers to prevent blockages.  Equip bins and hoppers with mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material, so miners are not required to enter or work inside bins and hoppers.
  • Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to conduct tasks, such as removing large rocks and other material, safely.
  • Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of defects.
  • Don’t stand on material stored in bins.  Material stored in a bin can bridge over the hopper outlet, creating a hidden void beneath the material’s surface.
  • Establish policies and procedures to remove blockages in bins and hoppers safely.  Train and ensure miners follow these policies and procedures.
  • Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline, and make sure these are maintained, in good condition, and securely anchored.  Assign another miner to constantly monitor and adjust the lifeline, as needed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

Click here for Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 9/21/21

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On September 21, 2021, a 68-year-old contract truck driver with 20 years of experience was fatally injured while operating a haul truck.  The victim was found lying in front of his truck near the edge of a haul road.  The truck was upright and in the opposite direction of the expected route of travel.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish a site traffic plan to include traffic routes, speed limits, and access points.  Train miners to follow all traffic controls.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before placing equipment into service.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain control while operating mobile equipment.  Never exceed a vehicle’s design capabilities, operating ranges, load limits, and safety features.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Never exit a moving vehicle.  Remain in the seat with your seat belt secured.

Additional Information: 

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2021, and the twelfth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 6/7/21

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On June 7, 2021, at a mine with 25 employees*, a 56 year old hopper operator with 6 years and 36 weeks experience* entered the top of a primary feed hopper to break up and remove a large rock. Raw material that remained on the sides of the hopper sloughed off and engulfed the miner.

Best Practices: 

  • Equip hoppers with mechanical devices, grates/grizzlies or other effective means of handling material so miners are not required to enter or work where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding material.
  • Establish and assure policies and procedures are followed to safely remove blockages in bins and hoppers. Follow manufacturer recommendations.
  • Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to safely conduct tasks such as removing large rocks and other material.
  • Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard and lifeline which are securely anchored and constantly monitored and adjusted by another person, as needed, prior to entering bins or hoppers.
  • Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition especially when removing blockages in bins or hoppers.

Additional Information: 

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).