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Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On May 24, 2010, a 61-year-old maintenance foreman with 32 years of experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim entered a vertical roller mill without locking out the electrical power switch. The mill was started with the victim in the mill.

Best Practices

  • Always follow established lock-out and tag-out procedures.
  • Never rely on others to place your lock on electrical power switches.
  • Always post warning notices at the power switches.
  • Never enter machinery without ensuring the energy source is locked out.
  • Always test to ensure power is off after locking out.
  • Maintain power switch lock out mechanisms to function properly.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On May 14, 2010, a 35 year-old mechanic/welder with 4 years of experience was fatally injured at a cement operation. The victim was using an oxy- acetylene torch to cut a damaged drill steel to salvage the drill bit. The drill steel exploded causing metal fragments to strike the victim.

Best Practices

  • Always examine materials before applying heat, cutting or welding.
  • Never apply heat to materials without ensuring that flammables/combustibles/explosive materials are not present.
  • Always examine materials with hollow spaces or cavities to ensure gases can vent before applying heat.
  • Never apply heat to materials where pressure build up is possible.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)

Fatality #5 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On May 5, 2010, a 21 year-old old contract driller with 1 year of experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim was repositioning a truck mounted drill. He lowered the mast and raised the leveling jacks to move the drill. The drill then rolled down a grade and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Maintain parking brakes to ensure proper function.
  • Always set parking brakes when leaving a vehicle unattended.
  • Ensure parking brake will hold the vehicle before exiting cab.
  • Use tire chocks when parking equipment on grades.
  • Never attempt to enter the cab of a runaway vehicle.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On March 24, 2010, a 63 year-old contract truck driver with 21 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface area of an underground salt mine. The victim was loading his truck under a 150 ton salt bin when it collapsed, falling onto the cab of the truck. A second victim working in the area received serious injuries.

Best Practices

  • Routinely examine metal structures for indications of weakened structural soundness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Keep corrosive material spillage/build-up removed from metal structures.
  • Report all areas where indications of structural weakness are found.

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

Fatality #32 for Coal Mining 2010

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On April 11, 2010, a 61-year old contract iron worker/mine fireboss with 20 years of mining experience was fatally injured while installing pre-fabricated metal stairs on the side of a fan housing. The stair stringer had been hoisted into place and clamped at the top with two “locking pliers-type” C-clamps. The bottom of the inclined stringer was lying on a 6×6 inch timber. To level the stair treads, a 6×6 inch timber was going to be replaced with a 4×4 inch timber. To replace the 6×6 timber, rigging was fastened near the lower part of the stringer. The victim was standing on the ground holding the handrails. As the lower end of the stringer was hoisted by the crane, the clamps opened and the top end of the stringer fell. This caused the bottom end of the stringer to pivot up and swing out. This pushed the victim backward and pinned him against a nearby manlift.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that all personnel stay clear of hoisted loads and areas where loads may fall if hoisting fails.
  • Know the limitations of temporary supports and ensure they are used within their specifications.
  • Ensure all components are adequately blocked and secured to prevent unintended motion.
  • Use taglines on loads to be hoisted that will need steadying or guidance.
  • Ensure that crane operators communicate with other workers in close proximity to loads that are going to be moved.
  • Ensure that personnel are trained to recognize hazardous work procedures.
  • Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed, along with the methods to protect personnel.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf)

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On January 26, 2010, a 59 year-old purchasing manager with 5 years of experience was fatally injured at a cement operation. The victim was struck by an over-the-road tandem trailer truck. The truck had been waiting to unload. When the truck pulled forward, another truck driver observed the victim under the second trailer of the truck and immediately stopped the driver. The victim was holding a cell phone at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to stay clear of mobile equipment.
  • Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Never approach mobile equipment until you receive confirmation from the operator indicating awareness of your presence.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Avoid distractions, such as cell phones, when exposed to hazards.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no persons are in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of intended movement and wait to give them time to move to a safe location.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram(doc)

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On January 9, 2010, a 20 year-old contractor laborer with 21 weeks of experience was fatally injured at a copper operation. Two track excavators were being used to place a 400-foot long section of 24-inch diameter plastic pipe into a pond. To facilitate the installation process, the pipe was placed on top of an adjacent section of pipe that was previously placed on the plastic lining of the pond. During installation, the pipe being installed misaligned and the victim and two coworkers attempted to remove the end of this pipe from the top of the existing pipe. At that time, the end of the pipe shifted, hit a coworker, and then struck the victim. The victim fell to the ground and the pipe landed on him. The coworker was not injured.

Best Practices

  • Task train all persons prior to performing any work.
  • Always stay clear of suspended loads.
  • Use taglines of sufficient length to adequately protect persons from potential hazards.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram(doc)

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2010

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On January 2, 2010, a 57 year old mechanic with 8 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface shop of an underground coal mine. He was repairing a 1-ton truck (mantrip) that was raised and supported by jack stands. The victim was positioned under the truck and the truck’s rear wheels were on the floor. A coworker, who was assisting, entered the truck, depressed the clutch pedal, and started the truck. The truck was in gear when it was started. The coworker’s foot then slipped off the clutch pedal of the standard transmission, causing the truck to lurch forward, fall off the jack stands, and strike the victim.

Best Practices

  • Block vehicles against motion in all potential directions of movement prior to any work.
  • Keep standard transmission vehicles in neutral with the park brake engaged when work is performed on the vehicles.
  • The vibration of a running motor may cause blocked or jacked equipment to move or fall off of its blocks or jacks. Position yourself out of the path of travel in the event a failure occurs.
  • Observe blocking and jack stands during loading and ensure they remain solid without any tilting or sliding. The slots at the head of the jack should properly couple with the jack points underneath the vehicle.
  • Metal to metal contact may slide much easier than wood or other materials against metal. This is a good reason to ensure everything remains level and evenly loaded. Also, remove any grease or lubricants from the area that will contact the blocking/jack stand.
  • Jacks and blocks should be positioned on level ground and ensure they are all raised to equal heights.
  • If available, use a pit to perform maintenance work on the underside of mobile equipment.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (doc)


Fatality #16 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On September 27, 2009, a 28 year-old truck driver with 2 years of experience was fatally injured at a copper operation. He was operating a 240-ton haul truck that left the haul road and climbed a berm, causing it to overturn and land on the haul road. The victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, fell from the cab of the truck.

Best Practices

  • Always wear a seat belt when operating a haul truck or mobile equipment.
  • Monitor employees regularly to ensure seat belts are worn when operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify and correct any defects that may affect the safe operation of self-propelled mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On September 15, 2009, a 59 year-old delivery driver with 14 years of experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. She parked off mine property and walked on site to deliver a package. The victim walked behind a front-end loader that backed over her.

Best Practices
  • Establish a visitor control policy that includes signs directing visitors to a safe location.
  • Train delivery persons to recognize work place hazards they could be exposed to while at the mine.
  • Always make sure equipment operators see you before entering any area where mobile equipment is operated. If possible, make eye contact with the equipment operator. When moving to a different area, inform
    the equipment operator before leaving the area.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
  • Ensure that all persons are clear before moving equipment. Sound your horn to warn unseen persons that you are about to move and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Ensure that backup alarms on mobile equipment are maintained and operational.

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