Metal/Nonmetal

Fatality #17 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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[Note: The Fatality Alert for this first appeared 10/16/19. As noted below the incident didn’t become a fatality until the victim died on 6/27/19.]

On June 15, 2018, a miner fell from a man basket when the weldment securing the basket to the shovel failed. The miner died of his injuries on June 27, 2019.

Best Practices

  • Check for damage. Routinely examine metal structures for signs of weakness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, damaged/loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Replace cracked equipment fast. Small cracks in equipment can quickly grow into a complete fracture. Take cracked mechanical components out of service immediately.
  • Know the limits. Consult with the manufacturer to determine the service/fatigue life of mechanical systems or parts.

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

2019 Fatality #16 / MNM #10

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On Friday August 15, 2019, a 44-year-old contract electrician with 10 weeks of mining experience was electrocuted when he contacted a 120V cable while working inside a fire suppression system’s electrical panel.

Best Practices: 

  • Ensure miners receive proper training on all electrical related tasks. 
  • Ensure that circuit breakers and switches are properly labeled.
  • Properly lock-out and tag-out electrical circuits prior to working on them.
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained personal protective equipment while troubleshooting or testing energized circuits. 
  • Use properly insulated tools when performing electrical work.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits have been de-energized prior to performing electrical work. 

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

2019 Fatality #14 / MNM #9

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On Friday, August 2, 2019, a 39-year old contract equipment operator, with 16 years of experience, was killed while descending the main haul road in a fuel/lube truck. The victim radioed that the truck’s brakes did not work and after traveling approximately one mile down a 7% grade, struck a runaway truck ramp’s berm causing it to overturn. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt.

Best Practices: 

  • Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Promptly remove equipment from service if defects affecting safety are found.  Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained. 
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Ensure that berms are adequate for the vehicles present on site.  Runaway truck ramps should be constructed to accommodate out of control mobile equipment traveling at a high rate of speed.  The length, width, grade, and approach to the runaway truck ramp should be sufficient for the mobile equipment used on the haul road.

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

2019 Fatality #12 / MNM #8

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On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, a 32-year old general manager/owner was killed when he was struck by a hydraulic breaker. The victim and the excavator operator were in the process of positioning the excavator for a motor exchange when the hydraulic breaker attachment fell off the excavator and hit the victim.

Best Practices: 

  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Make sure machine implements are securely attached to prevent unintentional disconnection.
  • Stay clear of suspended loads and raised equipment.
  • Any repairs to equipment should be made to OEM specifications
  • Always position yourself in a safe location and away from potential “red-zone” areas.  Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.

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 #9 / MNM #5

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On June 10, 2019, a 22-year-old contractor with 3 years of experience, was fatally injured when he was pinned between a front-end loader and a concrete block. The victim was working in a conduit trench, preparing to install a junction box. The plant manager was using a front-end loader above to back fill the trench. The front-end loader over travelled the edge and toppled into the trench.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures.  Identify and eliminate or control all hazards associated with the task being performed.
  • Train and monitor persons on safe work positioning.
  • Keep mobile equipment a safe distance from the edge of unstable ground, open excavations, and steep embankments.
  • Operating speeds should be consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, and the type of equipment used.
  • Assure equipment operators are familiar with their working environment. Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.

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).

2019 Fatality – Rescinded 6/6/19

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2019 Fatality #7

On May 13, 2019, a 57-year-old truck driver with 12 years of experience was fatally injured when his haul truck rolled over. The haul truck was ascending a haul road when it slowed, stopped, and rolled backwards over 300 feet. The haul truck then ran up a hill, which caused it to roll over.

Best Practices: 

  • Task train mobile equipment operators adequately and ensure each operator can demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Load trucks within the safe operating range based on the load rating of the truck, the road grade, and weather conditions.
  • Exercise caution when approaching grades and operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s service and maintenance schedules.

Rescission Date:  June 26, 2019

The Acting Chair of MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee reviewed the death certificate, autopsy report, and MSHA’s accident investigation findings and determined that the miner died from natural causes.  The  fatality is not chargeable to the mining industry.

[Since MSHA in their infinite wisdom is no longer counting MNM vs. Coal that confuses the number on every fatality for 2019 after this. I have attempted to go back and change those already posted so they correspond to the numbers MSHA references, but you may notice some text within the fatalgram that references old numbers. – Randy]

MNM Fatality – May 13, 2019

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Fatality #6

On May 13, 2019, a 59-year-old supervisor with 40 years of experience was fatally injured when the stationary crane he was operating fell 85 feet into the quarry.

Best Practices: 

  • Ensure all safety devices are functional.
  • Conduct a visual inspection of the equipment, load, and rigging prior to placing equipment in operation..
  • Conduct a visual inspection of site conditions and potential hazards.

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

2019 Fatality #4 / MNM #2

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On March 7, 2019, a 46-year-contractor with three years of experience was fatally injured when he lost his balance and fell backwards through a narrow gap between two log washers and landed on a cable tray approximately 12 feet below.  The victim was changing drive belts on a log washer motor when his wrench slipped off of a bolt he was tightening, causing the loss of balance.

Best Practices: 

  • Always use fall protection equipment, safety belts and lines, when working at heights and near openings where there is a danger of falling.
  • Always be aware of your surroundings and any hazards that may be present.
  • Have properly designed handrails, guards, and covers securely in place at openings through which persons may fall.
  • Train personnel in safe work procedures regarding the use of handrails and fall protection equipment during maintenance and construction activities and ensure their use.
  • Conduct workplace examinations in order to identify and correct hazards prior to performing work.

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