Utility Man

Forklift turned over - The miner was operating a forklift, traveling on a decline toward the mine entrance, when the forklift went out of control. The forklift struck a concrete support for the belt conveyor and overturned, killing him.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

Darold D. Abbott, Jr., Utility Miner, age 52, was killed on October 24, 2012. Abbott was operating a lift truck, traveling down a decline ramp toward the mine entrance, when he lost control of the vehicle. The lift truck traveled across the haul road, striking a concrete support for a belt conveyor. The lift truck rolled to the right side, landed on its top, and came to rest on its left side. The victim was wearing a seat belt. The accident occurred due to management's failure to ensure the lift truck was being used as intended by the manufacturer because it was designed to be used on improved surfaces not on rough surfaces as the decline ramp. Additionally, Abbott had not been task trained to operate the lift truck and lost control of the lift truck while traveling down the decline ramp. He was descending an approximate 17% grade while carrying an empty trash dumpster with the load downgrade.

1. Management policies and procedures failed to ensure the lift truck was being used as intended by the manufacturer because it was designed to be used on improved surfaces not on rough surfaces as the decline ramp. The manufacturer's operator manual for this lift truck states "The lift trucks are NOT intended for use on public roads. The cushion tire lift trucks are designed for use indoors on smooth dry surfaces" and "DO avoid slippery surfaces!"

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator evaluated the conditions and safety practices to identify equipment that is designed to operate on the grades subjected to on the decline ramp. The mine operator purchased a lift truck, capable of operating on the decline ramp within the design of the manufacturer, to pick up the trash inside the mine. Additionally, warning signs were posted at the approaches of the decline ramp.

2. The victim had not been task trained to operate the lift truck. He was descending an approximate 17% grade while carrying an empty trash dumpster with the load downgrade.

   Acción correctiva: All persons assigned to operate the new lift truck on the decline ramp were task trained to operate the vehicle and trained to look for the warning signs posted at the approaches of the decline ramp.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Fork Lift

Subunidad / ubicación

SURFACE AT UNDERGROUND

Tipo de accidente

Golpeado contra un objeto en movimiento

Fuente de la lesión

FORKLIFTS,STACKERS,TRCTR

Naturaleza de la lesión

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Parte del cuerpo afectada

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Experiencia minera total

19 years

Experiencia en esta mina

19 years

Experiencia en este puesto

19 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY