Bulldozer Operator

Operator working at site pushing material and apparently went over earthen wall into water.

Joe Donald Trevathan, Dozer Operator, age 68, died on July 10, 2013, while operating a dozer. The dozer was pushing overburden in a direction parallel to a pond located 130 feet away. The dozer veered hard to the right and then traveled in a straight line, with the blade raised, toward the pond. The dozer reached the side of the pond and slid sideways to the right approximately 20 feet into the pond. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted an investigation regarding chargeability of the accident as a mine-related fatality. The accident investigators determined the dozer functioned properly and could not determine what caused the dozer to veer off the path of travel and travel in a straight line for approximately 130 feet. Trevathan did not lower the dozer blade or attempt to make an emergency stop before the dozer entered the water. Information was forwarded to MSHA's Fatality Review Committee (Committee). Based on the results of MSHA's investigation and a review of the available medical documentation, the Committee determined on September 30, 2014, that Trevathan’s death should be charged to the mining industry. The autopsy report and death certificate indicated Trevathan died of a cardiac dysrhythmia due to hypertensive heart disease with submersion in water.

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

Activity at time of incident

Bulldozer

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Unclassified, insufficient data

Source of injury

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

23 years

Experience at this mine

23 years

Experience in this job

23 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY