Bulldozer Operator

Miner suffered a fatal injury after being pinned underneath the raised cover of a Metso Lokotrack crusher.

1. The contractor failed to ensure that raised equipment was blocked against motion. The upper frame of the crushing unit was in the raised position without using the safety arms to secure the upper frame in the raised position.

   Corrective action: RCI established an additional written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to emphasize key aspects of their current task training program. The SOP explains that if employees need to reach into the crusher, all power must be first locked out and tagged properly. The SOP requires both safety arms to be in place when the upper frame is in the raised position, or that the inspection door is used if reaching into or inspecting the crusher. RCI retrained all employees by using the new SOP.

2. RCI failed to maintain the crusher in a safe operating condition.The right cylinder for lifting the upper frame had an oil leak that allowed the hydraulic pressure bleed off allowing the frame to lower unintentionally. Also, there was an accumulation of scoria present on and around the pin for the right safety arm so that it could not be used.

   Corrective action: RCI established an additional written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to emphasize key aspects of their current task training program. The SOP addresses identifying safety issues to maintain equipment and repair/eliminate oil leaks. Also, the crushing unit was removed from the mine site for repairs. The crusher was inspected by an MSHA inspector to assure safe operating condition prior to it being used again at a mine.

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

Activity at time of incident

Crusher, Breaker

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

METAL COVERS & GUARDS

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY