On May 16, 2024, a miner died when the excavator he was operating traveled over a 200-foot highwall.
Best Practices
- Reduce fall hazard exposure by limiting the distance equipment can safely operate near the edge of highwalls.
- Examine benches to identify hazards related to insufficient bench width, locations of other equipment, loose material, etc.
- Discuss highwall hazards with miners and train miners to recognize these hazards.
- Address hazards in the mine’s Surface Mobile Equipment Safety Program. Include safe work practices for weather conditions (fog, heavy rain, or snow) that could reduce visibility.
Additional Information
This is the seventh fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Machinery.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)