Bulldozer Operator

D-10T Dozer was slot dozing un-shot muck to assist a loader in Phase W-A. After working parallel to the pit crest for approximately an hour, the dozer reversed abruptly to the right and backed over the pit edge berm. The dozer fell approximately 300' landing on a catch bench below.

On November 8, 2020, at approximately 5:11 a.m., Robert Larson, a 58-year-old Bulldozer Operator with approximately 41 years of mining experience, died when the bulldozer he was operating backed off a highwall and tumbled approximately 300 feet to a bench below. The accident occurred because mine management: 1) did not follow their company policy that prohibited work in certain areas while it was dark; 2) did not perform working place examinations prior to work being performed; 3) did not provide sufficient illumination for safe working conditions; and 4) did not place barricades or warning signs to warn of extreme fall hazards.

1. Mine management did not follow their written safety work policy prohibiting material to be cleared on the edge of highwalls when it is dark.

   Corrective action: Smoky Valley Common Operations has retrained all miners on this policy.

2. Mine management did not perform workplace examinations in the area of the accident after blasting was performed on November 4, 2020.

   Corrective action: Smoky Valley Common Operations has developed written policies and procedures to ensure that workplace examinations of assigned work areas will be conducted and documented in accordance with 30 CFR § 56.18002. The company has trained their competent persons in the policies and procedures.

3. Mine management did not provide sufficient illumination to provide safe working conditions in and on the assigned work areas of the 5415 and 5454 benches of the WA2 Phase of the pit highwall.

   Corrective action: Round Mountain Gold Corporation has implemented written policies and procedures to place sufficient illumination to provide safe working conditions at all work areas. They have trained their managers and competent persons in the policies and procedures.

4. Mine Management did not provide barricades or warning signs to demarcate the extreme fall potential at the edge at the pit highwall.

   Corrective action: Round Mountain Gold Corporation has placed reflective signs and barricades thirty feet from the edge of the pit highwall to demarcate the extreme fall potential. The Company has instituted a written policy to post warning signs and barricades along the edge of the pit highwall. The company has trained their managers, competent persons, examiners and miners in the policy.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

41 years

Experience at this mine

21 years

Experience in this job

21 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY