On Friday, September 23, 2016, a 46-year-old miner was fatally injured in a vehicle accident that occurred along a portion of a mine’s access/haul road. The victim (passenger) and a coworker (driver) were traveling down an inclined portion of the road when the driver apparently lost control of the pickup truck, causing it to strike the road berm and roll over in the roadway.
- Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment, including personal trucks and automobiles.
- Operate vehicles and equipment at safe speeds, maintain control at all times, and adjust speed for the prevailing conditions (road grade, visibility, inclement weather, etc).
- Avoid using hand-held cell phones or texting while operating any mobile equipment.
- Ensure that traffic rules, speed limits, and warning signs are posted in visible locations along the roadway. Ensure the rules are obeyed.
- Ensure that access roads on mine property used by miners in personal vehicles are maintained and are free of hazards.
- Provide proper training to all employees on roadway hazards.
- Maintain steering and braking systems in good repair and adjustment.
NOTE: This fatality was later determined to NOT be mining related and was removed, reducing 2016 Coal Fatalities to 8.