Sandstone

MNM Fatality – 9/18/24

renewcomerLeave a comment

On September 18, 2024, a miner died when a front-end loader struck him after he exited his truck.

Best Practices

• When approaching mobile equipment, communicate your intended movements with equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
• Wear high-visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
• Truck drivers should not exit their trucks during loading.
• Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
• Train miners in the safe operation of mobile equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual.

Additional Information

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2024, and the tenth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 2/6/23

renewcomerLeave a comment

This fatality never had an alert posted individually by MSHA but was mentioned in this Electrical Saety Alert. The following text is from the Final Report.

On February 6, 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Javier Regalado-Cano (Regalado), a 61 year-old haul truck driver with over a year of mining experience, was fatally injured when he received an electrical shock. While Regalado was operating a haul truck, he raised the bed of the haul truck into the energized 13,800-volt phase-to-phase power lines (power lines). Regalado exited the haul truck and extinguished a fire on the haul truck’s left rear dual tires. Regalado received an electrical shock when he contacted the energized haul truck while reentering it. 

The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) install warning devices for the power lines, and 2) de-energize or take other precautionary measures when mobile equipment was operating near energized power lines. 

Additional Information

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 12/15/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On December 15, 2020, a (contractor*) miner (age 58 with 22 years mining experience*) was fatally injured while changing the rear tire on a front-end loader (at a mine in Pikeville, KY with 9 employees*). The victim was underneath the front-end loader when it fell.

Best Practices: 

  • Securely block raised equipment to prevent movement.
  • Do not rely solely on hydraulic jacks.
  • Perform equipment maintenance requiring lifting or raising equipment on a level and solid ground.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for changing tires.
  • Establish safe operating procedures for all work.
  • Ensure all workers are trained in safe operating procedures.

Additional Information: 

This is the 29th fatality reported in 2020, and the ninth classified as “Machinery.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 8/27/19

renewcomerLeave a comment

On August 27, 2019 a miner was splitting and sorting rock in a quarry when lightning was observed in the distance. The miner was seeking shelter when he was struck by lightning.

Best Practices: 

  1. Train miners to take action after hearing thunder, seeing lightning, or perceiving any other warning signs of approaching thunderstorms.
  2. Use the established emergency communications system to provide miners with warnings when lightning is in the area.
  3. Identify locations for substantially built safe lightning shelters.
  4. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Fatality #22 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

renewcomerLeave a comment

m22On November 25, 2014, a 67-year-old truck driver with 10½ years of experience was killed at a sandstone mine.  The victim backed a haul truck to the edge of the overburden dumpsite and started to raise the truck’s bed to dump a load of material.  The bank failed, causing the truck to overturn and fall 30 feet below. The victim died en route to the hospital.

Best Practices

  • Task train all persons to understand safe job procedures.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.
  • Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Examine dumping locations for stability prior to dumping the first load and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift.  Where trucks are loaded out of the stockpile or ground conditions may fail to support the weight of the truck, dump loads a safe distance back from the edge.
  • Maintain berms or similar impeding devices at dumping locations where there is a hazard of overtravel or overturning.
  • Travel in a straight line when backing a truck toward a dump location.  Do not approach on a turn.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #10 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

renewcomerLeave a comment

On June 12, 2010, a 46-year-old contractor welder was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. He was preparing to weld on an overhead ventilation duct. The victim was using a ladder to access the duct when he fell over a handrail approximately 45 feet to the ground.

Best Practices

  • Always use fall protection when working where a fall hazard exists.
  • Position ladders to ensure their stability and to eliminate trip hazards.
  • Always face the ladder when climbing or working from a ladder.
  • Do not lean to reach items while standing on a ladder.
  • Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder when climbing.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)