Maintenance Man

An employee suffered fatal injuries after he fell down the hoist-well from the 3rd floor onto the basement floor of the preparation plant. The employee was on a ladder when it slipped or shifted causing the employee and ladder to fall over the handrails and down the hoist-well. Employee was transported to the ER by EMS.

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, at 11:58 a.m., Clyde W. Dolin, a 57-year old mechanic with 39 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when the 14-foot fiberglass extension ladder he was using became unstable and slid across an I-beam, causing him to fall through the preparation plant hoist well to a concrete floor 39 feet below. The victim was preparing to utilize a torch to cut and remove a 12-inch steel I-beam (trolley beam) that was located above the 3rd floor of the preparation plant and adjacent to an opening in the hoist well. The I-beam was no longer useful and was being removed to prevent it from interfering with the movement of material and supplies that were hoisted into the plant.

1. Management did not ensure that complete ladders being used and were of substantial construction, maintained in good condition, and/or used according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

   Corrective action: Extension sections of ladders, which were found separated from the bases, were removed from the plant. A formal fall protection training program was developed and submitted to MSHA. The affected miners were given training in the selection, inspection, and safe use of ladders. New ladders in proper working order were purchased and placed into service.

2. Management failed to provide a safe means of access to the working area. The ladder section being used to access the I-beam where work was being performed was not secured at its top to prevent it from slipping or falling.

   Corrective action: All miners, including management, received classroom instruction and hands on application of properly securing ladders.

3. Management failed to ensure safety belts and lines were being worn where there was a danger of falling.

   Corrective action: Classroom and hands on instruction was conducted where each employee, including management, inspected, correctly adjusted, and secured fall protection harnesses.

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

Activity at time of incident

Climb Scaffolds, Ladders

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Fall from ladders

Source of injury

FLOOR,WALKING SURF-NOT UG

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

39 years

Experience at this mine

13 years

Experience in this job

35 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY