Maintenance Man

Employee was found on the floor of the #2 slurry tank. Employee had significant head injuries and was pronounced dead by the Justice of the Peace. The accident scene is currently under a Section 103(k) order and subject to MSHA investigation.

Roderick Barnes, Maintenance Worker, age 46, was fatally injured on May 10, 2016. Mr. Barnes went to the top of the slurry tank to jog the rake system and fell 50 feet through an unprotected 3-foot by 4-foot opening in the walkway into the empty slurry tank below. The accident occurred because management’s policies, procedures, and controls failed to adequately ensure that effective barricades and readily visible warning signs were provided where hazards were not immediately obvious; failed to provide protection around openings through which persons may fall, and failed to use fall prevention and protection devices where there was a danger of falling.

1. Management’s policies and work procedures were inadequate and failed to ensure that openings through which persons may fall were protected.

   Corrective action: The open hole was covered and Management established the following mandatory policies and controls:

2. Management’s policies and work procedures were inadequate and failed to ensure that barricades and warning signs were provided where hazards were not immediately obvious.

   Corrective action: Management established the following mandatory policies and controls:

3. Management’s policies and work procedures were inadequate and failed to ensure the use of fall prevention and protection were used where there was a danger of falling.

   Corrective action: Management developed a written fall protection policy and trained all affected miners on the use of appropriate fall protection and the mandatory policy for use of those systems.

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Fall from machine

Source of injury

FLOOR,WALKING SURF-NOT UG

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

8 years

Experience in this job

6 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY