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

Employee received fatal injuries while operating haul truck which over-turned backwards off a stockpile.

On May 22, 2023, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Darrell Huff, a 70 year-old stockpile driver with over 49 years of experience, died when the ground under his haul truck collapsed, causing the haul truck to overturn backwards, coming to rest at the base of the manufactured sand stockpile. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) establish mining methods to ensure stability of the dump site, 2) ensure miners dumped a safe distance back from the edge of the unstable area of the stockpile, 3) conduct adequate workplace examinations, and 4) ensure mobile equipment operators wore seat belts.

1. The mine operator did not establish mining methods to ensure stability of the dump site.

   Corrective action: The mine operator has abandoned the manufactured sand stockpile from future stockpile dumping. It will only be used to loadout customer trucks from the bottom of the pile. The mine operator also developed and implemented a new written procedure to ensure stability of dump sites that includes constructing stockpiles on a solid base, and prohibiting dumping above areas where material is being removed to load customer trucks. The mine operator trained all miners on this procedure.

2. The mine operator did not ensure miners dumped a safe distance back from the edge of the unstable area of the stockpile.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure requiring miners to dump a safe distance back from the edge of stockpiles and the material to be pushed over the edge by a loader, bulldozer, or excavator. The mine operator trained all miners on the procedure.

3. The mine operator did not conduct adequate workplace examinations.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure for conducting workplace examinations in around stockpiles. The mine operator trained miners responsible for conducting workplace examinations on the procedure.

4. The mine operator did not ensure mobile equipment operators wore seat belts.

   Corrective action: The mine operator retrained all miners in the requirement for seat belt usage under 30 CFR 56.14131(a).

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

49 years

Experience at this mine

49 years

Experience in this job

49 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY