Transit Man

A miner sustained fatal injuries when the personnel carrier on which the miner was a passenger overturned. Another miner riding on the personnel carrier accidentally actuated the emergency stop causing the personnel carrier to drift backwards down a grade.

On March 22, 2023, at approximately 8:50 a.m., Cecil Barker, a 62 year-old surveyor with over 17 years of mining experience, died when a battery powered personnel carrier on which he was riding overturned. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) maintain the Company No. 2 Stryker personnel carrier in safe operating condition, 2) conduct adequate pre-operational examinations, and 3) ensure the number of miners traveling on each personnel carrier did not exceed the available number of seats when transporting miners.

1. The mine operator did not maintain the Company No. 2 Stryker personnel carrier in safe operating condition.

   Corrective action: The mine operator examined all personnel carriers to ensure they were maintained properly, particularly the braking systems. The mine operator also conducted task training with all miners on the pre-operational examinations of all personnel carriers in the mine. This training included procedures for removing equipment from service when identifying safety defects. The mine operator also installed a second independent front brake system and brass tags that identify the type of oil required for each master cylinder on all rubber-tired personnel carriers in the mine and trained miners on the proper oil required for each master cylinder.

2. The mine operator did not conduct adequate pre-operational examinations.

   Corrective action: The mine operator conducted task training with all miners on the pre-operational examinations of all personnel carriers in the mine. This training included procedures for removing equipment from service when identifying safety defects.

3. The mine operator did not ensure the number of miners traveling on each personnel carrier did not exceed the available number of seats when transporting miners.

   Corrective action: The mine operator updated the written procedure requiring that all passengers on personnel carriers do not exceed the number of designated seats available. The mine operator trained all miners on the new procedures.

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

Activity at time of incident

Mantrip

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

CHEST (RIBS/BREAST BONE/CHEST ORGNS)

Total mining experience

17 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

17 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY