Front-End Loader

victim entered a hopper without power locked and tagged out and without fall protection

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On September 18, 2013, Lonnie Ferrell, Front- end Loader Operator, age 56, was killed when he was engulfed by material in a pug mill hopper (hopper). Ferrell used a front-end loader to place material into the hopper. He then entered the top of the hopper to remove a lump of stone that would not feed onto the belt conveyor below. The unconsolidated material that Ferrell was standing on collapsed, engulfing him. The hopper was operating at the time of the accident. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to establish policies and procedures for safely clearing a hopper. The hopper’s discharge operating controls were not deenergized and locked out before Ferrell worked on or near equipment and he did not wear a safety harness and lanyard, which was securely anchored and tended by another person, prior to entering the hopper. The hopper did not have a heavy screen (grizzly) installed to control the size of material and prevent clogging. Additionally, the hopper was not equipped with any mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material so persons can work where they are not exposed to entrapment by sliding material. Ferrell was not task trained to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures to eliminate all of the hazards before he began work on the hopper.

1. Management failed to establish policies and procedures for safely clearing a pug mill hopper. The hopper’s discharge operating controls were not deenergized and locked out before Ferrell worked on or near equipment and he did not wear a safety harness and lanyard, which was securely anchored and tended by another person, prior to entering the hopper.

   Acción correctiva: Management installed a grating designed to cover the top of the chute. It has been welded to the top of the hopper to prevent persons from accessing the hopper. This grating also prevents lumps from clogging the discharge chute.

2. Management failed to ensure that Ferrell was task trained to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures to eliminate all of the hazards before he began work on the hopper.

   Acción correctiva: Management established written policies and safe work procedures to ensure that miners are task trained when working near bins, hoppers, silos, tanks and surge piles. All miners received training regarding working near bins, hoppers, silos, tanks and surge piles. The task training included revised lockout procedures, lockout responsibility, and procedures to restore equipment and/or circuits to service. Requirements for wearing a safety belt or harness equipped with a lifeline when entering such facilities were also discussed.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Enter/Work In Bins, Silos

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

16 years

Experiencia en esta mina

14 years

Experiencia en este puesto

14 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY