Master Mechanic

Operator was priming Dredge pump with Jet line. When Operator closed the valve on Jet line, 2" Cam Lock broke and struck operator.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

Israel J. Spears, Jr., a 28-year-old plant foreman with over four years of total mining experience, died on February 29, 2020. Spears was closing a water valve used to prime the main suction line with the jet pump when a two-inch cam lock fitting (fitting) failed, causing pressurized water to strike him. The pressurized water knocked him into the operator’s compartment and then swept him into the dredge pond where he drowned. The accident occurred because the mine operator redesigned the dredge’s water system beyond the manufacturer’s design capacity. Mine management did not evaluate the capacity of the new parts used in relation to the stresses in which the parts would be subjected. Furthermore, the mine operator did not ensure that the victim wore a life jacket or belt where there was a danger of falling into the water.

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

Golpeado por objeto proyectado

Fuente de la lesión

METAL,(Not Elsewhere Classified)(PIPE,WIRE,NAIL)

Naturaleza de la lesión

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Parte del cuerpo afectada

UNCLASSIFIED

Experiencia minera total

8 years

Experiencia en esta mina

5 years

Experiencia en este puesto

2 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY