Timberman

At approx 7:40pm, a haulage accident occurred on the surface area of mine. The EE was in the process of attaching a wire nip to a trolley pole of a ditch digger while apparently standing in front of the ditch digger. The ditch digger became energized and contacted the EE causing injury and subsequent amputation of the lower right extremity at the hip. EE was pronounced dead.

On October 17, 2011, Charles McIntire (Victim) was killed after being struck by a track-mounted ditch digging machine, powered by direct current (dc) electric trolley. McIntire exited the mine on the ditch digging machine and stopped at a break on the surface in the trolley wire. The accident location was referred to as the "Jump Area." McIntire dismounted the machine with the forward tram controls set for high-speed and did not set the park brake. He obtained a fused nip, located along the track at the outby end of the jump area, placing one end of the nip on the energized trolley wire. McIntire placed the other end of the nip on the machine's trolley pole, causing the machine to move forward suddenly, running over him.

1. Mine management's failure to implement engineering controls to prevent automatic movement of a machine upon application of electric power was a contributing factor to this accident.

   Corrective action: The mine operator was required to install and maintain an electrical interlock circuit or self-centering tram controls to prevent automatic or sudden movement of any self propelled, track-mounted equipment used at the Shoemaker Mine. Alternatively, or in addition to an interlock circuit or self centering tram controls, the operator may use a "man-in-place" switch to prevent automatic or sudden movement of track-mounted equipment.

2. The mine operator failed to provide labels or other markings on the ditch digging machine, to identify tram functions and power switch positions.

   Corrective action: The mine operator is required to provide indicating labels or markings, which identify the function of all tram and power switch positions on the ditch digging machine and all self propelled, track-mounted equipment.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

SURFACE AT UNDERGROUND

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

AMPUTATION OR ENUCLEATION

Body part affected

LEG, NEC

Total mining experience

9 years

Experience at this mine

5 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY