Bulldozer Operator

Dozer was supposed to be pushing into slot to push out to loader on top Bench, EE slid off top bench onto a shelf that was bermed off, EE then pushed a large rock over the edge and stopped. EE moved forward and slid off shelf blade first and landed on blade, EE rolled to the right and off shelf then flipped 3 times and landed on top of cab on the ground.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On March 4, 2022, at approximately 10:55 a.m., Robert Covington, a 37 year-old bulldozer operator with eight years of mining experience, died from injuries he sustained when the bulldozer he was operating traveled over the highwall and tumbled approximately 65 feet to the quarry floor. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) assure the bulldozer operator maintained control of the bulldozer, 2) barricade or post warning signs to prevent the bulldozer operator from going to Bench #2, and 3) perform a workplace examination of Bench #2 before the bulldozer operator began work on Bench #2.

1. The mine operator did not assure the bulldozer operator maintained control of the bulldozer.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator established new written procedures on slot bulldozing and trained all miners on the procedures.

2. The mine operator did not barricade or post warning signs to prevent the bulldozer operator from going to Bench #2.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator established new written procedures that require berms and appropriate signage be installed on benches. As an additional precaution, the mine operator hired a mining engineering firm to survey the quarry and provide the mine operator with a written mining plan. The plan describes the proper bench widths and heights and specifies the type of equipment that the mine operator must use to perform work.

3. The mine operator did not perform a workplace examination of Bench #2 before the bulldozer operator began work on Bench #2.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator implemented a new written procedure to assure workplace examinations are conducted before miners begin work and trained all miners on the new procedures.

Lee el informe completo (PDF)

Hallazgos del informe final de investigación de la MSHA, que sustituye la narrativa preliminar anterior.

Actividad al momento del incidente

Bulldozer

Subunidad / ubicación

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Tipo de accidente

Golpeado contra un objeto en movimiento

Fuente de la lesión

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Naturaleza de la lesión

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Parte del cuerpo afectada

HEAD,NEC

Experiencia minera total

8 years

Experiencia en esta mina

0 years

Experiencia en este puesto

9 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY