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MNM Fatality – 6/17/22

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On June 17, 2022, a contract miner died when the compactor he was operating overturned, pinning him beneath the cab.  As the miner was backing up, the left tire went off the edge of a four-foot embankment, causing the compactor to overturn.

Best Practices: 

  • Wear seat belts at all times when operating equipment.
  • Train miners to perform tasks safely, and to recognize potential hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 13th fatality reported in 2022, and the 4th classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 1/28/22

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On January 28, 2022, while driving downhill, the 56 year-old driver of a concrete mixer truck was fatally injured after he lost control of the truck.  The truck overturned and the driver was ejected from the truck.  Another miner, who was in the truck, was also ejected and suffered serious injuries.

Best Practices: 

  • Each shift, inspect mobile equipment before placing it into operation.  Correct defects that pose a hazard to miners.  Tag out mobile equipment that can’t be corrected.
  • Assure brakes can stop and hold mobile equipment with its typical load on the maximum grade it travels.
  • Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of mobile equipment and drive at safe speeds.

Additional Information: 

This is the sixth fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here or: 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 – 12/3/21

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On December 3, 2021, a miner was fatally injured when he became entangled in the return idler on the belt conveyor under a portable crusher plant. 

Best Practices: 

  • Before performing maintenance and repair work near belt conveyors:
    • Remove power from the belt drive.
    • Securely block equipment against hazardous motion in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Guard moving machine parts to protect miners from contacting moving parts.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
  • Conduct thorough examinations of equipment. Report defects and do not work in unsafe conditions.
  • Train miners to assess risks and control hazards before beginning work on belt conveyors.

Additional Information: 

This is the 33rd fatality reported in 2021, and the 16th classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 1/11/22

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On January 11, 2022, a 32 year-old miner died while driving on a mine road when a tree fell from a highwall onto the cab of his pickup truck.

Best Practices: 

  • Examine highwalls frequently and from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top/crest).  Look for signs of instability such as cracks, sloughing, loose ground, and for fall of material hazards such as large trees and rocks.
  • Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
  • Conduct additional examinations as conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Clear loose or potentially hazardous material from near the edge of highwalls and slopes, especially when persons will work or travel below.
  • Develop and follow a ground control plan that addresses all potential hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the third fatality reported in 2022 and the first classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.” 

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

MNM Fatality – 12/6/21

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On December 6, 2021, a miner was fatally injured while he was working in a pan feeder under a chute.  While attempting to remove angle iron that blocked the chute’s gate from closing, he was engulfed by material that fell from a surge pile above the chute.  The victim died from his injuries on December 10, 2021.

Best Practices: 

  • Do not allow miners to travel on or below material that is on or above the sides of a bin, hopper, or chute.
  • Provide mechanical devices or other effective means to protect miners from entrapment by caving material.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access for all working places.
  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery or equipment against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Examine work areas and equipment.  Correct defects, or report them to the operator.
  • Train miners to perform their assigned tasks safely.

Additional Information: 

This is the 35th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Confined Space.”

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

MNM Fatality – 11/17/21

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On November 17, 2021, an 18 year-old* customer truck driver with no mining experience* was electrocuted after the tarping mechanism on the trailer contacted a high-voltage overhead power line at a mine with 10 employees*.  While exiting the cab of the truck, the victim contacted the energized truck and received a nonfatal electrical shock.  When he tried to reenter the cab of the truck, he was electrocuted.

Best Practices: 

  • Construct roadways to provide adequate width and clearance between mobile equipment and energized high-voltage power lines, as required by the National Electrical Safety Code.  Evaluate clearances periodically to account for changing physical and environmental conditions.
  • Provide and maintain a safe location for truck drivers to tarp their loads.
  • Check for overhead hazards when raising and lowering truck beds and tarps.
  • If your vehicle contacts an energized power line:
    • Stay in your vehicle.
    • Immediately call for help on a mobile phone or radio.
    • If staying in the vehicle is unsafe, jump away from the vehicle without contacting the vehicle and the ground at the same time.  Once on the ground, hop away from the power line for at least 40 feet.
  • Post readily visible warning signs or signals when overhead hazards exist.

Additional Information: 

This is the 32nd fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Electrical.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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