On April 11, 2014, a 53-year-old scaler with 8 years of experience and a 29-year old scaler with 8 years of experience were killed at an underground limestone mine. The miners were in a basket on a boom truck scaling a pillar about 40 feet above the mine floor. Large slabs of rock fell from the rib and struck an outrigger and the back of the truck, causing the boom to fall to the mine floor.
- Establish safe work procedures and train all persons to recognize and understand these procedures.
- Discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
- Always examine, sound, and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
- Always wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
- Scale loose material from a safe position and location.
- Test for loose material frequently during work activities.
- Install ground support in roof and ribs where conditions warrant.
- Use equipment with a reach that reduces the possibility of the equipment being struck by falling material.
- Position equipment to keep outriggers and boom from being struck by falling material.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).