Maintenance Man

On 9/21/16, evidence suggests that the victim, an experienced mechanic, may have been attempting to remove or loosen the top drive power head, spindle cap on the drill machine to replace damaged seals by attempting to use a pipe wrench and hydraulics of the drill machine, which are controlled by levers in cab next to platform. Victim struck in torso by pipe wrench. No eyewitness.

On September 21, 2016, Donald L. Layton (victim), a 52 year old Contract Drill Operator/Mechanic, was fatally injured at a limestone mine while performing maintenance on a truck-mounted rotary drill. Layton was attempting to remove the spindle cap from the rotary drill using a modified pipe wrench and the machine’s drill hydraulics. When he activated the drill lever, the wrench swung in a counterclockwise direction and struck him, piercing his abdomen. The accident occurred due to the contractor’s failure to develop and implement safe procedures for maintenance on the rotary drill.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Source of injury

WRENCH

Nature of injury

CUT,LACER,PUNCT-OPN WOUND

Body part affected

TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

30 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

4 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY