Mining Fatalities

Fatality #27 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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m27On June 14, 2014, Kevin Lee Ames, a 35-year-old laborer, was using a propane torch to shrink-wrap pelletized gypsum when he received serious burns on 35% of his body. He was subsequently discovered by a co-worker and transported to a hospital. He died on July 28, 2014. The death certificate indicated that the cause of death was mucormycosis (fungal infection) due to burns, and that the manner of death was an accident. An autopsy was not performed. Based on the findings of the death certificate and the MSHA investigation, the Fatality Review Committee determined that the death should be charged to the mining industry.

[SafeMiners.com note: We’re posting these much later, catching up from late notice and even later pictures from MSHA for the reasons noted above.]

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

Fatality #26 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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m26On June 17, 2014, Ronald Dwayne Dunn, Customer Truck Driver, age 41, parked his bulk tanker truck at a tanker top access platform, went to the top of the platform, and opened the bulk hatch on the trailer in preparation to get loaded with cement.  Another driver noticed the victim was not on top of the truck.  The driver found that the victim was inside the tank of the truck but could not get him out and called for help.  A responder team arrived and found the victim unresponsive.  He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On September 3, 2014, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) referred the accident to the Chargeability Review Committee.  On February 2, 2015, the Chargeability Review Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry.  The autopsy report indicated that the manner of death was accidental and that the cause of death was asthma exacerbated by environmental dust exposure. The toxicology screen detected levels of theophylline, the active ingredient in the asthma inhaler.  It appears Dunn may have accidentally dropped his asthma inhaler into the tank, proceeded to climb into the tank to retrieve it, and was unable to get out.

[SafeMiners.com note: We’re posting these much later, catching up from late notice and even later pictures from MSHA for the reasons noted above.]

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

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m09On June 30, 2015, a 65-year old equipment operator with 19 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel surface mine. The victim was operating a front-end loader and was removing material from a sand bank when the bank collapsed and engulfed the machine and entered the operator’s cab causing the victim to be asphyxiated.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions that can decrease bank or slope stability and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards.
  • Observe and evaluate all pit, highwall, slope, and bank conditions prior to beginning work and throughout the shift to ensure safety. Be especially vigilant for these conditions after each rain, freeze, or thaw.
  • Provide equipment cabs strong enough to resist burial pressure.

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

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m8On June 12, 2015, a 66-year old contract service mechanic with 42 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel surface mine. The victim reported to several witnesses that he had hit his head earlier in the shift and afterward was found unconscious.  The victim was transported to the hospital where he died the next day.

Best Practices

  • Wear a hard hat to protect your head from injuries resulting from impact with other objects.
  • Maintain proper lighting in work areas.
  • Use the proper tools for the job.
  • Discuss work procedures; identify all potential hazards; and ensure the job is done safely.
  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m07On May 28, 2015, a 61-year old water truck operator with 2 years of experience was killed at a surface gold mine. The victim was killed when a water truck ran over a portable toilet that was occupied by the victim.

Best Practices

  • Locate portable toilet facilities in areas inaccessible to mobile equipment.  Always be aware of equipment operating in close proximity to your area.
  • Ensure that all persons are clear before moving equipment.
  • Sound your horn to warn  persons prior to moving mobile equipment  and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators before getting on or off of equipment and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Establish rules and use signs or signals warning of hazards at locations where pedestrians and mobile equipment are both performing tasks.

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

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m06On March 23, 2015, a 48-year old mine operator with 20 years of experience was killed at a dimension stone operation.  The victim was operating a walk-behind masonry saw, positioned between the saw and a ledge, when he tripped and fell.  The victim and the saw went over the 4½-foot ledge, resulting in the saw falling on him.

Best Practices

  • Identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect miners prior to conducting any work.
  • Ensure that operators are in a safe position and have control of their equipment at all times.
  • Keep workplaces free of tripping hazards.
  • Use barricades or railings at edges of drop-offs where persons are in danger of falling.
  • Equip walk behind masonry saws with automatic shut off devices to stop the engine if the operator cannot maintain control of the equipment.
  • Design bench top stone cutting patterns to ensure the saw operator is not positioned between the saw and the drop off edge.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal Mining 2015

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c07On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, a 52-year-old contract truck driver was killed while driving a fuel truck on a mine haulage road.  The tandem axle truck was found on its top near the bottom of a long descending grade which included a sharp curve to the right.  The fuel truck was fully loaded with approximately 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel.  After interviews, investigators could not determine if the victim was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Always wear your seatbelt while operating mobile equipment.
  • Incorporate engineering controls that require seat belts to be properly fastened before equipment can be put into motion.
  • Monitor employees regularly to ensure seat belts are worn.
  • Maintain full control of equipment at all times while it is in motion.  Take into account weather and road conditions (steep grades, inclement weather, low visibility, etc.).  Ensure work areas are properly illuminated at night.
  • Never exceed a vehicle’s design capabilities, operating ranges, load limits, and safety features.  Always select the proper gear and shift to this lower gear well in advance of descending grades.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems in good repair and adjustment.  Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained.
  • Conduct thorough pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Post conspicuous signs along haulage roads to inform operators of speed limits, approaching grades and curves, and the use of an appropriate gear to maintain a safe speed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #6 for Coal Mining 2015

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c06On Sunday, May 31, 2015, a 59-year-old mine examiner with 32 years of mining experience was found unconscious, unresponsive, and lying in a travel way.  The victim had been driving a diesel mantrip to travel to a set of seals to examine them.  The victim was located along the east coal rib, and the front right corner of the mantrip was in contact with the west rib just inby the location of the victim.

Best Practices

  • Operate all mobile equipment at speeds that are consistent with the type of equipment, roadway conditions, grades, clearances, visibility, and other traffic.
  • Always wear a seatbelt.
  • Maintain full control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Standardize and establish traffic rules, including speed limits, signals, and warning signs, at the mine.
  • Limit speed to safe levels by installing positive controls on personnel carriers and mantrips.
  • Install safety devices to keep miners from falling or being thrown out of moving vehicles.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #5 for Coal Mining 2015

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c05.jpgOn May 28, 2015, a 45-year-old surface foreman with 27 years of experience was killed when he was crushed between the frames of a road grader and a tractor that was transporting a base power module for a highwall miner.  The foreman was in the process of connecting a chain between the two machines when the road grader rolled back and crushed him.

Best Practices

  • Never position yourself between equipment that is not blocked and secured from movement.
  • Turn the engine off, place the transmission in gear, set the park brake, and always ensure equipment is securely blocked against motion, before performing repair or maintenance work, which includes connecting tow bars.
  • Use a tow bar with adequate length and proper rating when towing heavy equipment.  A chain should never be used to tow mobile equipment.
  • If mobile equipment must be towed, the equipment should be on level firm ground and secured from movement prior to connecting the equipment.
  • Ensure miners are adequately trained on proper towing procedures.
  • Ensure mobile equipment operators are aware of your location at all times.
  • Maintain communications with mobile equipment operators while working in close proximity to equipment.  Utilize radios to communicate when visual contact cannot be maintained.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems in good repair and adjustment.  Do not depend on hydraulic systems to hold mobile equipment stationary.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #5 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m05On March 17, 2015, a 44-year old haul truck driver with 4 days of experience was injured at a dredge operation. He was operating a loaded articulated haul truck along an elevated roadway next to a dredge pond. After traveling about 125 yards from the loading point, the haul truck drifted into the water. The victim was removed from the truck, transported to a hospital, and then transferred to a trauma center where he died on March 19, 2015.

Best Practices

  • Task train mobile equipment operators adequately and ensure each operator can demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Provide and maintain adequate berms or guardrails on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Conduct adequate work place examinations using competent persons and promptly correct hazardous conditions that adversely affect safety and health.
  • Ensure that all exits from cabs on mobile equipment are maintained and operable.

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