Maintenance Man

EE DID NOT UTILIZE LOTO OR FALL PROTECTION. PER VIDEO & EYEWITNESS, EE WAS WORKING ON ELECTROMAGNET ABOVE CONVEYOR BELT #2. EE STEPPED ON THE BELT FOR THE ELECTROMAGNET THAT TURNS ON EVERY 15 MIN FOR A FEW REVOLUTIONS. THE BELT ENERGIZED AROUND THE TIME EE STEPPED ON IT & THE BELT SWEPT EE OFF THE TOP OF THE ELECTROMAGNET. EE FELL APROX. 20-25 FT STRIKING HEAD & OTHER BODY PARTS.

On June 8, 2023, at 4:06 p.m., David Ayick, a 60 year-old miner with 28 years of mining experience, died when he fell approximately 16 feet from a belt conveyor while performing maintenance work. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) ensure the Eriez Magnet Belt Conveyor was de-energized and blocked against hazardous motion before the miner performed maintenance, and 2) provide safe access to the Eriez Magnet Belt Conveyor.

1. The mine operator did not ensure the Eriez Magnet Belt Conveyor was de-energized and blocked against hazardous motion before the miner performed maintenance.

   Corrective action: The mine operator retrained all miners in 1) blocking machinery and tools against hazardous motion during maintenance and repairs, and 2) lock-out tag-out procedures.

2. The mine operator did not provide safe access to the Eriez Magnet Belt Conveyor.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure to provide safe access for performing maintenance, repairs, and adjustments to the Eriez Magnet Belt Conveyor. The mine operator installed new work platforms and provided ladders to access the areas while performing maintenance and repairs. The mine operator trained miners on the use of this safe access.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Fall from machine

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

28 years

Experience at this mine

28 years

Experience in this job

20 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY