Bulldozer Operator

A miner was servicing a floating pump. While working, the pump capsized, trapping the miner underwater.

On March 22, 2022, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Tony Killian, a 44 year-old heavy equipment operator, with over six years of mining experience, died when a pump raft he was working on capsized, causing him and another miner to fall into a stormwater retention pond. Killian became entangled with the pump raft, causing him to drown. The accident occurred because the mine operator: 1) did not provide safe access for miners to repair the pump and pump raft equipment, 2) did not properly train miners working on pump raft equipment and safe work procedures, and 3) used pump raft FVT-1 beyond the designed capacity intended by the manufacturer by allowing miners to use pump raft FVT-1 as a work platform while performing maintenance and repairs.

1. The mine operator did not provide safe access for miners to repair equipment on pump raft FVT-1.

   Corrective action: The mine operator will provide safe access on pump raft FVT-1 or any other pump rafts before miners repair pump equipment. The mine operator developed a new written procedure requiring miners to remove pump rafts from the water before performing maintenance or repairs and trained miners on this procedure. Additionally, the mine operator will comply with all warning labels and follow the known safe procedure.

2. The mine operator did not properly train miners assigned to work on pump raft equipment on safe work procedures.

   Corrective action: The mine operator updated the task training section of their training plan to include task training on pump raft and pump equipment maintenance and repair. The mine operator provided training on health and safety aspects of tasks and safe work procedures to all miners required to work on pump raft and pump equipment.

3. The mine operator used pump raft FVT-1 beyond the designed capacity intended by the manufacturer by allowing miners on pump raft FVT-1 while performing maintenance and repairs.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed a new written procedure requiring miners to remove pump rafts from the water before performing maintenance or repairs. The mine operator trained all miners on the procedure. Additionally, the mine operator will comply with all warning labels and follow the known safe procedure.

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

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Drowning

Source of injury

WATER

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

6 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

6 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY