Steel Worker

A contract employee was conducting maintenance duties at the number 6 cement cooler when the employee fell approximately 25 feet onto a concrete floor.

On July 26, 2021, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Michael R. Pittman, a 33 year-old ironworker with approximately eight years of experience, died when he fell 23 feet from the top of the #6 Cement Cooler to the concrete floor below. The accident occurred because: (1 the mine operator’s work practices did not provide and maintain safe access to the work area, and (2 the contractor did not confirm that employees were properly using fall protection equipment.

1. The mine operator’s work practices did not provide and maintain safe access to the work area.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a written plan to assure safe access for personnel working at the top of the coolers during gearbox changes. The plan includes extending the overhead monorail across the top of all the coolers and past the end of the catwalk. This monorail extension will allow the overhead electric-powered hoist to raise the components up, trolley across, and lower them to the floor. The mine operator trained all miners on the use of the monorail extension.

2. The contractor did not confirm that employees were properly using fall protection equipment.

   Corrective action: The contractor developed and implemented a written fall protection plan, which includes a progressive discipline policy to enforce proper use of personal fall arrest equipment, and including establishing that each potentially hazardous area has suitable anchorage points for the miners’ fall protection lines. The contractor trained the contract miners on this new plan.

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

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

UNCLASSIFIED

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

8 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY