Quality Control Technician

Co-worker was in the process of shutting down the generators, to do maintenance to the power cables. At that time employee started to unguard the power cables on the switch van out of the vision of co-worker. He refused to have the power checked by two other co-workers. Moments later he was electrocuted.

James Hussey, quality control person, age 38, was killed on September 13, 2011, while working on an energized electrical circuit. Hussey was attempting to reverse the polarity on an energized power cable at a control trailer when he received a fatal electrical shock. The accident occurred because management procedures failed to ensure that persons de-energize an electrical circuit prior to performing work on it. The system was not locked out, tagged out, or tested to verify it was de-energized.

1. Management policies and procedures failed to ensure that persons were specifically trained to verify that electrical circuits were de-energized and locked out prior to performing work on them.

   Corrective action: Mine management implemented a Standard Operating Program including a new lock out, tag out, and verification system for all of their portable operations. All persons have been trained regarding the new policies and procedures. A company electrician will be at the site any time a plant is set-up, taken down, or when electrical work is performed to ensure that all safety procedures are followed.

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

Activity at time of incident

Electrical Maintenance

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Contact with electrical current

Source of injury

GENERATORS

Nature of injury

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

3 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

2 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY