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).