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).