Bulldozer Operator

A contract miner died when the compactor EE was operating overturned, pinning EE beneath the cab. As the compactor was traveling in reverse, the compactor's left tire went off a four-foot embankment causing the compactor to overturn.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On June 17, 2022, at approximately 1:10 p.m., Brian Thigpen, a 16 year-old equipment operator with three weeks of mining experience, was involved in a fatal accident when the padfoot compactor (compactor) he was operating slid down a four-foot-high bank and overturned onto its side. The accident occurred because the subcontractor did not: 1) provide new miner training to miners before the miners started working at the mine; 2) conduct workplace examinations; 3) assure that the equipment operator maintained control of the compactor; and 4) assure miners wore seat belts while operating mobile equipment. The accident also occurred because the mine operator and contractor did not provide site-specific hazard awareness training to miners before the miners started working at the mine.

1. The subcontractor did not provide new miner training before the miners started working at the mine.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator has removed Wiley and Terra from this mine and all Vulcan mining properties. The mine operator developed and implemented a written procedure to verify that contractors and subcontractors have received all MSHA-required training.

2. The subcontractor did not conduct workplace examinations.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator has removed Wiley and Terra from this mine and all Vulcan mining properties. The mine operator developed and implemented a written procedure to provide information to all contractors and subcontractors of their obligations to comply with MSHA regulations, including the requirement for workplace examinations.

3. The subcontractor did not assure the equipment operator maintained control of the compactor.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator removed Wiley and Terra from this mine and all Vulcan mining properties. The mine operator developed and implemented a written procedure to conduct a pre-job meeting using a checklist that assures contractors and subcontractors are aware of their obligation to maintain control of mobile equipment.

4. The subcontractor did not assure miners wore seat belts while operating mobile equipment.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator removed Wiley and Terra from this mine and all Vulcan mining properties. The mine operator developed and implemented a written procedure to conduct a pre-job meeting using a checklist that assures contractors and subcontractors wear seat belts while operating mobile equipment.

5. The mine operator and contractor did not provide site-specific hazard awareness training to miners before the miners started working at the mine.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator has removed Wiley from this mine and all Vulcan mining properties. The mine operator developed and implemented a written procedure to provide information to subcontractors regarding their obligation to comply with MSHA regulations and verify all MSHA-required training prior to working on the mine site. The contractor developed a written procedure to provide information to subcontractors regarding their obligation to comply with MSHA regulations and verify new miner, task, and site-specific hazard awareness training. The contractor will implement the procedure before performing or subcontracting work at any mine.

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

Surface Equipment, Nec

Subunidad / ubicación

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Tipo de accidente

Atrapado en, bajo o entre un objeto en movimiento y uno fijo

Fuente de la lesión

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Naturaleza de la lesión

CRUSHING

Parte del cuerpo afectada

CHEST (RIBS/BREAST BONE/CHEST ORGNS)

Experiencia minera total

0 years

Experiencia en esta mina

0 years

Experiencia en este puesto

0 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY