This fatality’s Final Report was first posted on MSHA’s website on 11/7/23. No alerts or preliminary reports were produced.
On August 4, 2021, at 8:12 a.m., Jeffery Hudnall, a 60 year-old steam truck operator with 16 years of mining experience, was fatally injured while steam cleaning a front-end loader. Hudnall was standing on the front-end loader’s right-side deck when he fell over nine feet to a concrete pad.
Click here for Final Report (pdf).
On August 5, 2023, a customer truck driver fell from a large container mounted on the trailer of his truck. After opening the container lid, the driver slipped while descending the container. The driver died from his injuries on August 7, 2023.
This is the 27th fatality reported in 2023, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On June 8, 2023, a miner died after climbing over the handrail onto a conveyor belt to gain access to a magnet belt that needed adjustment. When the miner stepped onto the magnet belt, the belt started, throwing the miner 16 feet to the ground below.
• De-energize, lock-out, tag-out, and block machinery against motion before performing repairs or maintenance on a belt conveyor.
• Install a system which provides visible or audible warning to warn miners that the conveyor will be started.
• Provide and maintain safe access to all workplaces and establish safe work procedures.
• Use fall protection when a fall hazard exists. Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest and secure anchorage system, and that miners are properly trained.
This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
MSHA has issued the following alert concerning Falls from Height.
Click here for: Fall Protection Alert in English (pdf), or in Spanish (pdf).
On January 30, 2023, a miner died while troubleshooting a belt conveyor when he fell through a 37-inch-long by 34-inch-wide hole created by the removal of a section of grating. The miner fell approximately 35 feet from the catwalk to the ground below.
Operators should:
This is the sixth fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On October 17, 2022, a miner died when he fell approximately 90 feet from the walkway outside the plant’s mill building.
This is the 25th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)
Investigation determined that the fatality was not chargeable to mine operator.
On June 20, 2022, a contract driller was working outside of his drill when he fell from the top of a highwall.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 14th fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
Click here or: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On January 14, 2022, a 44-year-old contract laborer with 13 years of total experience received fatal injuries when he fell 27 feet to a concrete surface. At the time of the accident, the contractor was on a belt conveyor in a preparation plant and was working to replace a belt conveyor roller.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the fourth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On July 26, 2021, a 33 year old contract iron worker with 8 years 13 weeks experience*, who was not wearing fall protection, was performing maintenance on a cement cooler at a mine in Stockertown, PA with 128 employees* when a wooden board broke, causing him to fall 23 feet onto a concrete floor.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 20th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”(*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
