Assistant Mine Foreman

Employee pulled aluminum boat over three electric conductors in dredge pond. A patch on the bottom of the boat cut into one conductor and electrocuted the employee. The employee died as a result of the accident.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

Kyle Martin, Assistant Plant Manager, age 28, was killed on July 21, 2014, when an aluminum boat he was riding in became stuck in shallow water on top of 480 volt energized power conductors. Martin paddled the boat approximately 300 feet from a dredge operating in a pond to reach the power conductors to move them away from the shoreline. The conductors had been installed from the motor control center along the bank of the pond, in the pond, and then to the dredge. Martin was electrocuted when he got out of the boat and attempted to pull it across the conductors. Sharp edges along the bottom of the aluminum boat penetrated the conductor’s insulation. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to ensure that the individual power conductors supplying power to the dredge were provided with an outer jacket to protect them from mechanical damage exposing miners to an electrical hazard. None of the persons at the mine were trained to perform electrical tasks. Martin had not received task training in the health and safety aspects of the task he was assigned, specifically working near energized conductors.

1. Management failed to ensure that the individual power conductors supplying power to the dredge were provided with an outer jacket to protect them from mechanical damage thereby exposing miners to an electrical hazard.

   Acción correctiva: Management discontinued using the dredge as a mining method. An open pit excavation system will now be used to mine the material. The dredge and the associated electrical conductors have been removed from service.

2. Management failed to task train any miners, including the victim, to perform electrical tasks.

   Acción correctiva: Management established safe operating procedures by hiring an electrical contractor trained and experienced in electrical work. All miners are trained on the new safe operating procedures.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Barge, Boat, Dredge

Subunidad / ubicación

DREDGE

Tipo de accidente

Contacto con corriente eléctrica

Fuente de la lesión

CONDCTR,ELCT,CBL,TROL POL

Naturaleza de la lesión

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Parte del cuerpo afectada

BODY SYSTEMS

Experiencia minera total

11 years

Experiencia en esta mina

11 years

Experiencia en este puesto

1 year

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY