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

On May 6, 2017 at approximately 16:55 a haul truck operator backed up to a berm to dump, the berm breeched and the haul truck and berm slid down the highwall approximately 150 ft. There were no witness to the incident.

On May 6, 2017, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Michael Ramsey, a 62-year-old miner with 14 years of mining experience, received fatal injuries when the Caterpillar 777F haul truck he was operating went over a highwall. The victim was backing up his haul truck to dump his load of overburden when the ground under the truck failed. The haul truck, with the victim inside, fell backwards over the highwall edge to the bottom of the pit containing dumped overburden. The truck traveled approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not ensure that haul truck drivers dumped their loads a safe distance from the highwall. Also, the mine operator had knowledge that unsafe dumping was a practice at the mine.

1. The mine operator did not ensure that trucks dumped a safe distance from the highwall. Also, the operator had knowledge that unsafe dump practices were a practice at the mine. The truck fell because it was too close to the highwall and the ground at the dumping place did not support its weight.

   Corrective action: The mine operator submitted a revised ground control plan, which specifically states: “Berms will not be used as a stop under any circumstances. Trucks will not dump over the highwall under any circumstances. Trucks will dump short and material will be pushed over by bulldozers in any situation where the angle of repose has not been established. The minimum distance for trucks to dump in this situation will be 25 feet from the vertical un-shot edge above any highwall. At no time shall any trucks move or work parallel within 25 feet of the highwall edge.” All truck drivers and bulldozer operators have been trained in the revised ground control plant. To ensure that the ground control plan is being followed, the mine operator has placed a bulldozer at the dump site. The bulldozer operator communicates with the truck drivers to tell them where to dump. In addition, stakes have been installed 25 feet from the highwall so that truck drivers can see where to stop their trucks.

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

14 years

Experience at this mine

10 years

Experience in this job

10 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY