Powered Haulage

Coal Fatality – 10/2/23

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On October 2, 2023, a miner died after he was pinned between a shuttle car and a coal rib.

Best Practices

  • When working around mobile equipment, communicate your presence and intended movements to equipment operators. Wait for acknowledgement before moving. 
  • Avoid “Red Zone” areas where equipment operators cannot readily see you. 
  • Increase the visibility of miners by using reflective clothing and/or strobe light devices.

Additional Information

This is the 35th fatality reported in 2023, and the tenth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 9/17/23

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On September 17, 2023, contractor driller helper died while driving a service truck to transport a rod handler on the bed.  The service truck left the road, overturned, and the driver was ejected.  The passenger, who was wearing his seat belt, was injured, treated and released from the hospital.

Best Practices

  • Wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct pre-operational inspections and correct any safety defects before operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of equipment. 
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.

Additional Information

This is the 33rd fatality reported in 2023, and the ninth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf).

Delisted by MSHA after Investigation revealed accident did not occur within MSHA’s jurisdiction.

MNM Fatality – 9/12/23

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On September 12, 2023, a haul truck operator died after his haul truck backed through the berm at a dump point and became submerged in a pond.

Best Practices

  • Construct substantial berms or similar impeding devices at dumping locations where there is a hazard of overtravel or overturning.
  • Do not travel into or onto berms. 
  • Dump material from a safe location and push the material over the edge with a bulldozer.
  • Conduct workplace and ground condition examinations before work begins.
  • Mark dump locations with reflectors, signage, or other indicators.

Additional Information

This is the 32nd fatality reported in 2023, and the eighth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 8/30/23

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On August 30, 2023, a belt foreman died when a belt conveyor take-up unit component broke and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Examine work areas for hazards found during the shift. Report hazards and defects immediately and do not work in unsafe conditions.
  • Ensure there are no obstructions in the travel path of the belt conveyor take-up system prior to tensioning.
  • Examine any belt or linkage assembly for signs of deformation such as cracking, lateral deflection or distorted connections.
  • Train miners to recognize and avoid potential hazards from sudden releases of stored energy.

Additional Information

This is the 30th fatality reported in 2023, and the sixth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 5/22/23

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On May 22, 2023, a miner died when the haul truck he was operating overturned, when the edge of the bank at a dump point gave way.  The haul truck landed on the roof of the cab. 

Best Practices

  • Conduct workplace and ground condition examinations before work begins in an area.
  • Dump material from a safe location and push the material over the edge with a bulldozer.
  • Ensure dump locations on unconsolidated material are properly designed, constructed, and maintained.   
  • Construct substantial berms as a visual indicator to prevent overtravel.  Clearly mark dump locations with reflectors and/or markers.
  • Never load material from the toe of a stockpile that is directly below an active dump point.  This may lead to an over steepened and unstable slope.
  • Wear a seatbelt.  Install advanced systems that restrain miners during roll-overs.

Additional Information

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2023, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 5/2/23

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On May 2, 2023, a miner died when he was struck by a mobile radial stacker conveyor.

Best Practices

  • Provide safe access to all working places by identifying hazards around belt conveyor systems.
  • Deenergize, lock out, tag out, and block equipment from hazardous motion before performing maintenance or repairs.
  • Provide remote e-stops to allow for safe access around moving equipment.
  • Train miners to work around moving equipment, including the hazards associated with the work to be performed. 

Additional Information

This is the 18th fatality reported in 2023, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

Coal Fatality – 3/22/23

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On March 22, 2023, a miner died when the personnel carrier he was riding overturned.  Another miner riding on the personnel carrier accidentally actuated the emergency stop causing the personnel carrier to drift backwards down a grade.  The personnel carrier struck a coal rib and overturned, pinning the victim beneath it.  The victim was not riding in a designated seating area.

Best Practices

  • Maintain steering and braking components.
  • Perform functional tests of brakes and other safety devices during the pre-operational examination.
  • Tag out and remove equipment from service when defects affecting safety are found.
  • Do not exceed the maximum designed seating capacity of personnel carriers. 
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with roadway conditions.
  • Task train miners on all equipment they operate.

Additional Information

This is the 14th fatality reported in 2023, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 3/9/23

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On March 9, 2023, a truck driver died when the tractor’s rear wheels ran over him.  A front-end loader struck the tractor-trailer from behind, causing the tractor to move forward.

Best Practices

  • Do not leave mobile equipment unattended unless the transmission is in the park position, and parking brakes of all units in a combination vehicle are set.
  • Chock or turn wheels of mobile equipment into a bank when parked on a grade.
  • Never position yourself in hazardous areas around mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2023, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 1/17/23

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On January 17, 2023, a miner was fatally injured when his personal car collided with a customer truck. Both vehicles were traveling toward each other in opposite directions on an icy mine access road.

Best Practices

Operators should:

  • Clear roadways of ice and snow or require traction devices to assure safe operation of mobile equipment.
  • Alert drivers to reduce speed on wet or icy roads. 
  • Maintain control of equipment while it is in operation.

Additional Information

This is the second fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 12/6/22

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On December 6, 2022, a miner died when the diesel tractor he was operating struck a pillar.  The miner was thrown from the tractor and crushed under the rear tire of the tractor.

Best Practices

  • Make sure miners wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  • Make sure miners maintain control of equipment while it is in operation.
  • Train miners in the safe performance of their assigned tasks.

Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2022, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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