Barge/Boat/Dredge/Towbarge/Towboat/Leach Operator

A miner fell into the Tennessee River while attempting to take draft measurements on the barges parameter. EE had to cross from the permanent floating work-barge to the 1st empty barge EE was walking up-river on the barge. EE fell from the barge into the river workers immediately called for the Marshall County Rescue Squad.

1. Mine management failed to provide tie off equipment and task train the employees in safe use of a tie-off system that would cover the existing method of staging barges and be able to prevent an individual from falling between shifting barges.

2. Mine management failed to provide adequate illumination in the walkway areas where the staging of barges occurs.

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

Activity at time of incident

Barge, Boat, Dredge

Subunit / location

INDEPENDENT SHOPS OR YARDS

Accident type

Drowning

Source of injury

WATER

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

4 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

4 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY