Master Mechanic

EE entered feeder when gate would not close. While cutting out a piece of metal that was blocking the slide gate, material sloughed off and engulfed the EE.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On December 6, 2021, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Omar Thomas, a 39 year-old lead tech with over 17 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when he became engulfed in crushed limestone material while working in the confined space of a vibrating feeder and chute. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) identify and correct hazards in the workplace before work began, and 2) provide mechanical devices, or other effective means of handling materials, so that miners are not required to enter an area where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding of materials.

1. The mine operator did not identify and correct hazards in the workplace before work began.

   Acción correctiva: The mine implemented a training and tracking process on workplace examinations, along with an on-site audit program. These measures assure competent persons are conducting workplace examinations, correcting hazards, and eliminating exposure to identified hazards prior to work beginning in a working place.

2. The mine operator did not provide mechanical devices, or other effective means of handling materials, so that miners are not required to enter or work in a place where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding of materials.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator removed the surge pile and repaired the slide gate. The mine operator also implemented a written confined space program which identifies confined spaces at the mine and the protective measures miners must take before entering confined spaces. The mine operator trained all affected employees on the new procedure.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Machine Maintenance

Subunidad / ubicación

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Tipo de accidente

Atrapado en, bajo o entre material o edificaciones en colapso

Fuente de la lesión

BROKEN ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Naturaleza de la lesión

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Parte del cuerpo afectada

BODY SYSTEMS

Experiencia minera total

17 years

Experiencia en esta mina

17 years

Experiencia en este puesto

17 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY