Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver

The driver was operating a articulated truck hauling dirt from the back of the lake. Driver lost control of the vehicle for an undetermined reason and drove the vehicle over the berm and into the lake. Operator was removed from the truck and transported to local hospital then later moved to Kearney then transferred to Omaha Hospital where he died on 3/19/15.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On March 17, 2015, Michael Jay Nickels, Haul Truck Driver, age 44, was injured operating an articulated haul truck. Nickels was operating on an elevated haul road that was on the embankment adjacent to the mine’s dredge pond when he drove off into the pond. The rescue team extricated Nickels from the truck and administered CPR. Nickels succumbed to his injuries and died on March 19, 2015. The accident occurred because mine management failed to install a berm along the elevated roadway where a drop-off hazard existed and failed to conduct workplace examinations to identify and correct hazardous conditions. Mine management also failed to ensure that the victim maintained control of the truck he was operating at all times and failed to ensure that the victim was wearing a seat belt.

1. Management failed to install a berm along an elevated roadway where a drop-off hazard existed for heavy mobile equipment travel.

   Acción correctiva: Management constructed adequate berms where the roadway hazardous drop-off existed.

2. Management failed to complete a workplace exam to identify and correct hazardous conditions in the working area.

   Acción correctiva: Management will develop a thorough training procedure on complete workplace examinations under variable workplace conditions.

3. Management failed to ensure that the equipment operator maintained control of the haul truck at all times.

   Acción correctiva: Management shall develop a task training process that will monitor newly trained equipment operators when new to the operation.

4. Management failed to ensure that the equipment operator wore his seat belt when operating the haul truck.

   Acción correctiva: Management retrained employees on the requirement of wearing seat belts while operating equipment. Management will monitor truck drivers to ensure seat belts are worn.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunidad / ubicación

DREDGE

Tipo de accidente

Ahogamiento

Fuente de la lesión

WATER

Naturaleza de la lesión

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Parte del cuerpo afectada

BODY SYSTEMS

Experiencia minera total

0 years

Experiencia en esta mina

0 years

Experiencia en este puesto

0 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY