Bulldozer Operator

Bulldozer operator was preparing a drill bench on top of an approx. 50' highwall. Operator was pushing consolidated material over the edge of the highwall. The bulldozer traveled over the edge of the highwall and fell to the pit bottom. Operator was found unresponsive. 1st aid and CPR were performed until the coroner arrived and pronounced the victim dead at 1404 hours.

On Monday, September 15, 2014, at approximately 12:40 pm., a 53-year old bulldozer operator sustained fatal injuries when the bulldozer he was operating traveled over the highwall and fell 50 feet into the pit. The victim had been assigned to level a bench for drilling. The bulldozer operator failed to maintain full control of his equipment while it was in motion in close proximity to the edge of the highwall. The victim was not wearing his seat belt.

1. The mine operator failed to ensure that the bulldozer operator maintained full control of his machine while in motion and while working in close proximity to the edge of an existing highwall.

   Corrective action: The mine operator retrained all personnel on maintaining full control of their machine at all times and on the proper techniques of preventing over travel of a highwall or any areas of the mine where the machine may fall and/or turnover. A record of the training conducted was provided to MSHA.

2. The mine operator failed to ensure that seatbelts were used where there is a danger of overturning equipment.

   Corrective action: The mine operator retrained all personnel on wearing the machine’s seat belt at all times where there is a danger of overturning equipment when the machine is in motion. A record of the training conducted was provided to MSHA.

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

Activity at time of incident

Bulldozer

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

28 years

Experience at this mine

15 years

Experience in this job

12 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY