Bulldozer Operator

Employee was trying to insert a spud pin into a spud before the spud stopped moving. Pin struck victim in the head.

On March 12, 2021, at 11:53 a.m., Jonathan S. Castloo, a 35-year-old equipment operator with approximately eight years of mining experience, was fatally injured when a 43-pound safety pin struck him. Castloo attempted to insert the safety pin into a spud beam while the beam dropped into the spud well. Castloo was unable to place the entire safety pin into the spud beam, and as a result, the safety pin struck the spud well casing causing the pin to suddenly pivot upward and strike him. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not have adequate policies or train miners on how to safely remove or install a spud beam, which includes ensuring that safety pins are securely in place.

1. The mine operator’s policies and procedures were not adequate to assure that the spud beam was safely removed or replaced, which includes ensuring that safety pins are securely in place.

   Corrective action: The mine operator implemented written policies and procedures for installing, repositioning, and removing the spud beam and safety pin. The mine operator has trained all management and miners on these written policies and procedures.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

DREDGE

Accident type

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Source of injury

METAL,(Not Elsewhere Classified)(PIPE,WIRE,NAIL)

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

FACE,NEC

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

8 years

Experience in this job

8 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY