Groundman

Employee was underneath Conveyor Belt and became entangled.

On December 3, 2021, at 9:19 a.m., Richard Crum, a 62 year-old ground man with 27 years of mining experience, died when he became entangled in a belt conveyor return idler. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) assure that equipment was de-energized and blocked against hazardous motion before engaging in maintenance or repairs, 2) have guards in place to prevent miners from becoming entangled in moving machine parts, and 3) assure that adequate pre-operational inspections on equipment were conducted prior to operating equipment.

1. The mine operator did not assure that equipment was de-energized and blocked against hazardous motion before engaging in maintenance or repairs.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed a new written procedure for cleaning and performing maintenance on belt conveyors. The procedure requires that the belt conveyor be de-energized, locked and tagged out, tested to assure it is de-energized, and blocked against hazardous motion, before removing guards or performing cleaning or maintenance. The mine operator trained all miners in the procedure and provided locks and tags for each miner.

2. The mine operator did not guard moving machine parts to prevent miners from becoming entangled.

   Corrective action: The mine operator installed guards on the portable crusher to prevent entanglement with moving machine parts.

3. The mine operator did not assure that adequate pre-operational inspections on equipment were conducted prior to operating equipment.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a procedure concerning pre-operational inspections. The procedure explained the purpose of pre-operational inspections, which equipment must be inspected, the items on the equipment to be inspected, and how to address safety defects. The mine operator trained the miners on this procedure.

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

Activity at time of incident

Handling Coal, Rock, Ore

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Source of injury

BELT CONVEYORS

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

27 years

Experience at this mine

14 years

Experience in this job

14 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY