On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, a 28 year old bulldozer operator, with approximately 8 years of mining experience, was injured at a surface mine. The victim was conducting reclamation work on top of a graded slope when he lost control of the bulldozer and it rolled over several times, approximately 250 feet to the bottom of the slope. The operator was wearing a seat belt, but sustained serious injuries. He was hospitalized and died subsequently on November 14, 2011.

Best Practices

• Task train miners adequately on the equipment they will operate.
• Train all employees on proper equipment operation procedures, hazard recognition, and hazard avoidance.
• Establish and follow safe work procedures and ensure that personnel are trained to recognize hazardous work procedures or activity.
• Be familiar with your work environment. Before you start grading an area, look at it, walk around it, and plan the safest way to move the material and maneuver the equipment.
• Install tilt gauges in dozers and do not exceed the equipment’s maximum operating angles.
• Maintain control of equipment at all times during operation.
• Ensure that personnel operating mobile equipment always wear seat belts.

On Monday, October 17, 2011, a 62-year old miner was killed on the surface of the underground mine while using a jumper cable to move a track-mounted back hoe machine at a gap in the trolley wire. When reenergized by a jumper cable, the machine struck and ran over him. The victim had 30 years of mining experience, with one day of experience operating this machine.

Best Practices

• Assure all tram control switches are in the off position and the brake is set before applying a DC power jumper to the machine.
• Always attach a nip on the machine first, then attach the nip on trolley wire, while standing in a safe location.
• Ensure adequate task training is provided to equipment operators which cover all machine controls, functions and hazards related to the machine operation and any safe operating procedures related to the specific equipment operation.
• Use self-centering tram/power controls to limit unexpected machine movement.

On Thursday September 1, 2011, a 29-year-old contract driller with 1 year, 3 months of experience was killed at a surface coal mine. The victim was attempting to separate a pipe connection when he was struck by a tong wrench. The rig was being used to drill a water well. The crew was working to free the drill stem that was stuck in the drill hole when the accident occurred.

• Stand a safe distance from areas of potential high energy release.
• Know the radius of machinery that pivots.
• Establish and follow safe work procedures.
• Ensure all components are adequately blocked and secured to prevent unintended motion.
• Know the limitations of equipment used for blocking motion and ensure that they are used within their specified limitations.
• Ensure all components are in good repair.
• Establish and follow communication procedures.

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, a 37-year old mechanic with 14 years of mining experience and 1½ years of experience as a mechanic, was killed while removing a counter weight fuel tank assembly from a front-end loader. He was positioned beneath the front-end loader when he removed 14 of the 16 mounting bolts that secure the counter weight. When the victim attempted to remove the next to last bolt, the remaining two bolts failed allowing the 11,685 pound counterweight to fall on him. The counter weight had not been blocked to prevent it from falling.

• Install blocking materials before removing mounting bolts from machinery components which can fall during disassembly.
• Follow known safe maintenance procedures.
• Follow the equipment manufacturers recommended maintenance procedures when performing repairs to machinery.
• Train new mechanics in the health and safety aspects and safe work procedures related to their assigned tasks.

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

On Friday, February 11, 2011, a 55 year old miner with 30 years of mining experience was killed when the fuel and grease service truck he was operating collided head on with a scraper. The two pieces of equipment were traveling in opposite directions. The impact resulted in a fire that engulfed the fuel truck.

Best Practices

• Inform others when driving a vehicle into a work area.
• Optimize traffic rules to maximize safe road travel.
• Obey established traffic rules and signage that apply to the area.
• Follow established communication procedures.
• Ensure signage is in place and easily observed.
• Maintain control of equipment at all times.
• Ensure all safety systems are maintained, including brakes and steering.

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