Sand and Gravel

MNM Fatality – 7/9/20

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On July 9, 2020, a mine superintendent was electrocuted while attempting to reverse the polarity of a 4,160 VAC circuit by switching the leads inside an energized 4,160 VAC enclosure that contained a vacuum circuit breaker and disconnect.

Best Practices: 

  • Follow these steps before performing electrical work inside a high voltage enclosure:
    1. Locate the high voltage visual disconnect away from the enclosure that supplies incoming electrical power to the enclosure.
    2. Open the visual disconnect to provide visual evidence that the incoming power cable(s) or conductors have been de-energized.
    3. Lock-out and tag-out the visual disconnect yourself. Never rely on others to do this for you.
    4. Ground the de-energized conductors.
  • Verify circuits are de-energized using properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers.
  • Ensure properly qualified miners perform all work on high voltage equipment.
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained personal protective equipment, including arc flash protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt and pants.
  • Train miners on safe work practices for high voltage electrical equipment and circuits.

Additional Information: 

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2020, and the first classified as “electrical.”

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

MNM Fatality – 6/13/20

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On June 13, 2020, a dragline was found submerged in 25 feet of water where a miner had been using it to remove material from a pond. Divers attempted to locate the dragline operator, and after two days the dragline was extricated from the pond. The victim was recovered from the engine compartment behind the operator’s cab.

Best Practices: 

  • Maintain control of operating mobile equipment.
  • Keep all exits clear in cabs, including alternate and emergency exits, and make sure the doors open freely before beginning work.
  • Retrofit older models of equipment with current automatic braking systems.
  • Ensure all controls and brakes are set to the appropriate position for the task.

Additional Information: 

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Machinery”

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

MNM Fatality – 6/1/20

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On June 1, 2020, a contract truck driver died after falling from the top of his trailer.  The victim received first aid/CPR at the scene and passed away after being transported to a local hospital.

Best Practices: 

  • Discuss work procedures; identify all potential hazards to do the job safely.
  • Train everyone to recognize fall hazards and ensure that safe work procedures are discussed and established.
  • Include safe truck tarping requirements in site-specific hazard training.
  • Provide truck tarping safe access facilities where needed.
  • Provide an effective fall arrest secure anchorage system. Ensure that people wear and attach fall protection connecting devices where there is a danger of falling.
  • Use automatic tarp deploying systems to prevent people from working from heights.

Additional Information: 

This is the 8th fatality reported in 2020, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

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

MNM Fatality – 5/2/20

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On May 2, 2020, a miner entered a dredged sand and gravel bin through a lower access hatch to clear an obstruction. The miner was clearing the blockage with a bar when the material inside the bin fell and engulfed him.

Best Practices: 

  1. Lock-out, tag-out. Never enter a bin until the supply and discharge equipment is locked out.
  2. Train miners to recognize and safely remove all potential hazards before beginning work and when clearing blocked hoppers.
  3. Equip bins with mechanical devices such as vibrating shakers or air cannons to loosen blockages, or provide other effective means of handling material so miners are not exposed to entrapment hazards by falling or sliding material.
  4. Follow manufacturer recommendations for clearing out blockages.
  5. Establish and discuss policies and procedures for safely clearing bins.
  6. Install a heavy screen (grizzly) to control the size of the material and prevent clogging.

Additional Information: 

This is the 7th fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Handling Material.”

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

2019 Fatality #25 / MNM #14

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Francis E. Tatro, a 69-year-old front-end loader operator with over 37 years of total mining experience, died from aspiration pneumonia on January 8, 2020.  Tatro suffered injuries and hospitalization as a result of an accident on July 30, 2019.  Tatro was operating a front-end loader when the front-end loader’s bucket contacted the ground, causing the front-end loader to abruptly stop. The force of the impact resulted in Tatro, who was not wearing a seat belt, striking the front window, which caused serious injury, including paralysis to the arms and legs. 

Best Practices: 

1. Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
2. Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
3. Know the hazards. Be certain anyone operating front-end loaders is aware of safe operating practices and potential hazards.

Click here for: Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 2/27/20

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On February 27, 2020, a miner died when an unsecured 20’x8’x1″ steel plate standing on edge fell and struck him. The steel plate was being used to cover the end of a feeder to allow an equipment operator to build an earthen ramp to the feeder.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.
  • Identify and control all hazards.
  • Task train everyone on safe job procedures and to stay clear of suspended loads.
  • Require all workers to stay out of the fall path of heavy objects/materials that have the potential of becoming off-balance while in a raised position.
  • Monitor routinely to confirm safe work procedures are followed.
  • Be aware of your environment. Factors such as wind, snow, and icy surfaces can affect the stability of an object.
  • When securing an object, identify the location of its center of gravity.

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

MNM Fatality – 2/29/20

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On February 29, 2020, a plant foreman was priming the main suction pump on a dredge when a two-inch coupling on the waterjet pipe failed, knocking the victim into the water. Divers retrieved his body several hours later. The victim was not wearing a life preserver.

Best Practices: 

  • Wear a life preserver where there is a risk of falling into the water.
  • Identify all possible hazards and ensure appropriate controls are in place to protect miners before beginning work.
  • Provide swimming training for everyone that works around water.

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

2019 Fatality #10 / MNM #6

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On June 24, 2019, a 34-year-old contractor with 10 years of experience, received fatal injuries when he fell beneath the wheels of a tractor-trailer. Miners were using a bulldozer to pull the tractor-trailer, which had become stuck in the sand. As the tractor-trailer began to be pulled, the victim was seen walking toward the side of the truck. The victim died at the scene from crushing injuries after being run over by the truck wheels.

Best Practices: 

  • Do not allow people to ride in any area of a vehicle that is not equipped with a seat belt.
  • When approaching large mobile equipment, do not proceed until you communicate and verify with the equipment operator your planned movement and location. 
  • Stay in the line of sight with mobile equipment operators. Never assume the equipment operator sees you.
  • Ensure, by signal or other means, that all persons are clear before moving equipment.

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

2019 Fatality #7 / MNM #4

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Fatality #8

On May 18, 2019, a 34-year-old plant operator with 8 years of experience received fatal injuries when he was ejected from a man lift basket. The victim was tramming while elevated at 28 feet. The miner was wearing a fall protection harness with a retractable lanyard but it was not secured/tied off to the man lift basket. 

Best Practices: 

  • Always stay connected/tie off.  Always attach the lanyard of the approved fall protection device to the designated attachment point.
  • Use boom functions instead of tram functions to position the platform close to obstacles.
  • Ensure that persons are properly task trained regarding safe operating procedures before allowing them to operate mobile equipment.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Ensure that access gates or openings are closed.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On July 31, 2018, a 62-year old foreman with 40 years of experience, was fatally injured while dismantling a portable crusher. The front-end loader was placing a 20-foot long steel tube onto the screen feed conveyor. The front-end loader operator lowered the bucket and crushed the victim against the conveyor structure.

Best Practices

  • Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.
  • Use cranes with appropriate rigging and tag lines to position components.
  • When working near equipment, make eye contact with the equipment operator and directly communicate your intended movements.
  • Wear a reflective vest or clothing while working.
  • Ensure all persons are trained to recognize workplace hazards – specifically, the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to operation of large equipment.
  • Prior to starting the task, train miners on proper maintenance procedures and discuss steps that will be taken to safely perform the job.

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