Bulldozer Operator

Employee had worked an entire day operating a John Deere 750C Dozer along side another experienced dozer operator. At approximately 5:25pm the employee was last seen crossing over a dirt pile. A few minutes later that same employee saw the 750C dozer blade first in a ditch with the tracks still running and employee lying face up behind the machine.

On April 24, 2014, James Gibson III, contract Dozer Operator, age 50, was killed when the dozer he was operating went out of control, traveled over a five foot windrowed berm, and went into a drainage canal. Gibson was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the operator’s seat and ejected from the cab into the dozer’s upright exhaust pipe. He landed on the ground, five feet behind the dozer. The accident occurred due to contractor management’s failure to ensure that the victim maintain control of the dozer at all times while he was operating it. Additionally, contractor management did not ensure that the victim wear a seat belt at all times while operating the dozer.

1. Contractor management did not ensure that the victim maintained control of the dozer at all times.

   Corrective action: Contractor management established procedures to ensure that mobile equipment operators maintain control of dozers at all times while operating them in the pit. The procedures require that dozer operators do not use higher speed transmission settings within the pit thus restricting their speed. The dozers are now restricted from traveling directly over the berms. All mobile equipment operators were trained regarding the new procedures.

2. Contractor management policies, procedures, and controls did not ensure the victim wore his seat belt when operating the dozer.

   Corrective action: Contractor management developed a new policy regarding requiring the use of seat belts. All mobile equipment operators received additional training regarding the required use of seat belts when operating mobile equipment. Contract management will monitor all equipment operators, including dozer operators, to ensure seat belts are worn.

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 stationary object

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Experience in this job

15 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY