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

The EE involved arrived 15 minutes before start time and went directly to his haul truck and started the truck. While in the shop the EE reported to another EE that he had slipped and fallen from his truck after it was started. He said he missed the bottom step and fell against the tire. He slid down the tire, striking his head on the concrete. He died on 11/27/2014.

On November 17, 2014, Robert A. Fleenor, Jr., Truck Driver, age 63, while descending the haul truck ladder, missed the last rung and ultimately landed on the ground. Fleenor reported the incident to co-workers later that morning at around 6:15 a.m. At approximately 9:30 a.m., Fleenor reported to his co-workers that he was not feeling well. A co-worker subsequently checking on him discovered him unresponsive in the cab of his truck. He was transported to a hospital and airlifted to a regional medical facility for specialized care. Mr. Fleenor died from his injuries on November 27, 2014. On March 13, 2015, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) referred the accident to the Chargeability Review Committee. On April 13, 2015, the Chargeability Review Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry. The autopsy report indicated that the manner of death was accidental and the cause of death was a left cerebral infarction due to left subdural hematoma.

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

Activity at time of incident

Getting On Or Off Equipment

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Fall from machine

Source of injury

FLOOR,WALKING SURF-NOT UG

Nature of injury

CEREBRAL HEMORAGE-NT CCUS

Body part affected

BRAIN

Total mining experience

12 years

Experience at this mine

12 years

Experience in this job

12 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY