Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver

The IE was hauling overburden in a Cat 793 end dump to a fill area. The front area on the end dump caught fire. The IE parked the truck on the fill and exited the end dump. The IE sustained multiple burn injuries as a result of the exit. IE passed away on 09/12/18. Ultimate cause of death is pending the coroner's report.

On Friday, September 7, 2018, at approximately 3:44 a.m., Robert A. Grostefon, a 60-year-old contract employee with 1 year of total mining experience, was injured after a fire ignited on the Caterpillar 793C haul truck he was operating. Grostefon received burns while exiting the cab of the haul truck. Grostefon died due to complications from his injuries on September 12, 2018. The likely cause of the fire was a steering hose rupture on the Caterpillar 793C haul truck, company number 2-170, causing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to spray onto hot surfaces of the engine, resulting in a fast-growing fire. The mine operator did not ensure the fire suppression system was properly installed and maintained so that it could mitigate the fire as the haul truck operator escaped. Additionally, the mine operator did not ensure the primary egress stairs and the alternate egress ladder were properly installed and maintained so that it could mitigate the fire as the haul truck operator escaped. Additionally, the mine operator did not ensure the primary egress stairs and the alternate egress ladder were properly installed and maintained, impeding Grostefon’s ability to escape the fire.

1. The mine operator and Cintas did not ensure the fire suppression system on the Caterpillar 793C haul truck, company number 2-170, was installed and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

   Corrective action: The company number 2-170 haul truck has been removed from service. The mine operator implemented a written program to ensure ANSUL fire suppression systems on rock trucks are properly installed and maintained. In accordance with the program, an ANSUL certified vendor examined these fire suppression systems and all deficiencies are in the process of being repaired. Also, manual fire suppression systems will be replaced with automatic fire suppression systems.

2. The mine operator did not ensure the primary egress stairs and the alternative egress vertical ladder were properly installed and maintained on the Caterpillar 793C haul truck, company number 2-170, to allow miners to escape safely in an emergency situation.

   Corrective action: The mine operator removed all of the Power Step boarding ladders from the Caterpillar 793 end dumps and replaced them with a fixed boarding ladder that is similar to the one installed by the original equipment manufacturer. The mine operator examined all alternative vertical egress ladders on end dumps and repaired/replaced any deficiencies to make sure they are readily accessible as per the original equipment manufacturer’s design. The mine operator has trained miners on the installation, maintenance, and preoperational examination of the alternative egress vertical ladder.

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

Activity at time of incident

Escaping A Hazard

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Contact with hot objects or substances

Source of injury

FLAME,FIRE,SMOKE,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

BURN OR SCALD (HEAT)

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

1 year

Experience at this mine

1 year

Experience in this job

1 year

Degree of injury

FATALITY