Bulldozer Operator

Employee was reclaiming highwall with dozer when the dozer flipped and rolled several times landing in the road. Employee was unconscious with labored breathing when they got to him.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a machinery accident occurred at the Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc., Mill Branch mine, located near Closplint, Harlan County, Kentucky. The bulldozer operator, David J. Middleton, who was 28 years old and had 8 years of mining experience, received multiple injuries when the Caterpillar D6T bulldozer he was operating overturned along the top of a reclaimed slope. The bulldozer traveled approximately 289 feet, overturning several times before coming to rest on its right side on the mine access road. (See Appendix D for sketch). The victim died November 14, 2011, from injuries sustained in the accident. The investigation team determined that while conducting reclamation work along the top of the slope, the bulldozer's right side track encountered a large rock in unconsolidated material. The rock slid off the edge of the working area while underneath the right side tracks of the bulldozer, causing the bulldozer to slide over the edge and begin overturning.

1. The mine operator failed to implement policies and procedures to ensure safe working conditions for equipment operators working near extreme slope conditions.

   Corrective action: The mine operator established and implemented a policy which outlines all procedures to be followed when working near extreme slope conditions. Equipment operators were given additional training in the newly implemented procedures to identify extreme conditions, operate equipment safely in extreme conditions, and recognize the limitations of equipment in extreme conditions.

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

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

5 years

Experience in this job

8 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY