Powered Haulage

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On June 21, 2012, a 49-year old customer truck driver with no mining experience was killed at a surface stone mine. He was driving a loaded dump truck, traveling down a grade, when the truck lost its brakes and went out of control. The victim jumped out and the truck ran over him. A passenger in the truck also jumped out and was treated at a hospital and released.

  • Ensure that mobile equipment operators are task trained adequately and demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems in good repair and adjustment.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks to ensure the service brakes will stop and hold the mobile equipment prior to operating.
  • Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load-limits and safety features.
  • Operators of self-propelled mobile equipment shall maintain control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Slow down or shift to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Do not attempt to exit or jump from moving mobile equipment.
  • Provide adequate site specific hazard training to all customer truck drivers.

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

Fatality #11 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Saturday, July 14, 2012, a 25-year old water truck driver with 31 weeks of experience was killed at a surface mine. The victim was driving a water truck down a grade in an active work area of the mine when he lost control of the truck. The truck struck a berm on the right side of the roadway, traveled across the roadway, struck an embankment on the left side of the roadway and overturned, ending up facing opposite the original direction of travel. The victim was found ejected from the truck.

  • Train all employees thoroughly on proper work procedures, hazard recognition and avoidance, and proper use of roadway berms.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before being placed into service.
  • Never operate a truck or other mobile equipment without using a seat belt.
  • Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load-limits, and maintain the brakes and other safety features properly.
  • Construct roadway berms to appropriate strengths and geometries. Ensure all grades and haulage roads are appropriate for the haulage equipment being used.
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times, making allowances for the prevailing conditions (low visibility, inclement weather, etc).
  • Observe all speed limits, traffic rules, and ensure that grades on haulage roads are appropriate for haulage equipment being used.
  • Always select the proper gear and downshift well in advance of descending the grade.
  • Maintain equipment braking and steering systems in good repair and adjustment. Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained.
  • Monitor work habits routinely and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are followed.
  • Do not attempt to exit or jump from a moving vehicle .

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

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On May 28, 2012, a 51-year old shift operator with 13 years of experience was killed at a cement operation. The victim was found near the plant’s crane bay building after being struck by a front-end loader. He was walking from the lunchroom toward the locker area.

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.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel and use all mirrors and cameras to ensure no persons are in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of intended movement and give them time to move to a safe location.
  • Operate the mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
  • Ensure that backup alarms and lights on mobile equipment are maintained and operational.
  • Post signs to warn persons in areas where mobile equipment travel.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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Best Practices

  • Ensure that mobile equipment operators are task trained adequately and demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and ensure the service brakes are properly maintained and will stop and hold the mobile equipment prior to operating.
  • Operators of self-propelled mobile equipment shall maintain control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Ensure that equipment manufacturer’s load limits are not exceeded.
  • Slow down or drop to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Ensure that equipment operators maintain adequate communications.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On January 27, 2012, a 69 year-old mobile equipment operator with 48 years of experience was killed at a cement operation. The victim was cleaning a tailpiece with a skid steer loader. He backed the loader in a drainage ditch, traveled in reverse about 150 feet, and went into a 5½-foot deep water hole.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Equipment operators should be familiar with their working environment at all times.
  • Ensure that safety precautions are taken based on different weather and lighting conditions.
  • Keep mobile equipment a safe distance from the edge of water or embankments.
  • Barricade or post warning signs at all approaches in areas where health or safety hazards exist that are not immediately obvious to all persons. Warning signs shall be readily visible, legible, and display the nature of the hazard and any protective action required.
  • Provide and maintain berms or guardrails on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists of sufficient grade or depth to cause a vehicle to overturn or endanger persons in equipment.
  • Monitor personnel’s work activities routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.
  • Operate equipment in a manner that maximizes visibility. Use a spotter when visibility of the work or travel areas is limited.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #20 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Monday, November 7, 2011, a 47 year old mine foreman, with approximately 26 years of mining experience, was killed when he was pinned between a battery-powered, rubber-tire personnel carrier and a coal rib. The personnel carrier had become stuck in reverse and the victim was positioned on his knees in front of the personnel carrier. When the operator placed the directional switch in forward, the personnel carrier traveled forward, striking the victim. A wooden crib block had fallen onto the control pedals and restricted their use.

Best Practices

  • Never transport supplies or extraneous materials in a vehicle or on top of equipment that is not appropriate for the task.
  • Never obstruct the vision of the equipment operator with the load.
  • Do not operate a vehicle with debris, loose material, or trash in the operator’s compartment.
  • Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Be aware of your location in relation to movement of equipment, especially in lower coal seams.
  • Train miners to use effective means of communication between themselves and equipment operators.
  • When operating mobile equipment, ensure that other workers are in a safe area before moving the equipment.v
  • Conduct Task Training for each type of personnel carrier or equipment being operated.
  • For more information on preventing these types of accidents:
    http://www.msha.gov/Safety_Targets/UGEquipCoal/EquipOpUGCoal.asp
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On December 8, 2011, a 41 year-old crusher operator with 8 years of experience was killed at a surface stone operation. A set of wheels was to be placed on a conveyor to transport it from the mine. A front-end loader was being used to lift the conveyor when the loader bucket suddenly dropped, allowing the frame of the conveyor to strike one of the tire assemblies. The tire assembly then shifted, striking the victim.

Best Practices

  • Inspect mobile equipment before placing it in operation for the shift.
  • Correct safety defects on equipment in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.
  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task.
  • Ensure that persons are task-trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On October 31, 2011, a 42 year-old muck haul leadman with 3½ years of experience was killed in an underground platinum mine. The victim was operating a 4-yard loader in a drift when the loader struck the left rib. At that time, a spieling (rebar anchored in the rib for ground control) that was protruding from the rib, penetrated the front side window, entered the cab, and struck him.

Best Practices

  •  Operators of self-propelled mobile equipment shall maintain control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Maintain all roadways free of materials that may pose a hazard to equipment operators. This includes materials on the floor and protruding from the ribs, back, or walls.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Slow down or drop to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Trim protruding spielings.
  • Keep mobile equipment operator’s stations free of materials that can impair the safe operation of the equipment.
  • When clearances on roadways are restricted, install warning devices in advance of the area and conspicuously mark it.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #11 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Thursday, July 21, 2011, at approximately 9:05 p.m., an office worker was killed at a surface coal operation when she was struck by a pickup driven by a vendor. As part of a wellness program instituted at the mine, the victim was walking along a rural road on the permit area for the mine when the pickup struck her from behind. The vendor was accessing the mine for routine maintenance.

Best Practices

  • Maintain complete control over vehicles and equipment while in operation.
  • Stay alert for unexpected pedestrians when driving in rural areas.
  • Drive at speeds relative to changing light and conditions.
  • Walk in designated pedestrian areas or facing traffic.
  • Wear highly visible reflective clothing when walking on roadways.
  • Ensure there is no oncoming traffic when crossing roadways.
  • Post signs and appropriate speed limits in areas where pedestrians may be present.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #10 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Monday, July 11, 2011 a 26-year-old supply motor operator, with 6 years 1 month of mining experience, was killed while transporting materials using a diesel powered 15-ton locomotive. When the locomotive approached a low, steel, over-cast beam, the victim placed his head outside of the operator’s compartment and was struck by the steel beam and the locomotive’s canopy.

Best Practices

  • Keep all body parts within the operator’s compartment while the equipment is in motion.
  • Ensure that all track mounted equipment has adequate clearance throughout mine.
  • Always look in the direction of equipment movement and exercise caution in low clearance work areas.
  • Conduct proper workplace and travelway examinations to identify and mitigate the hazards presented by low clearances.
  • Install warning signs that tell operators to reduce speed in low clearance areas.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).