Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver fatality at Spring Creek Mine (Spring Creek Coal LLC), MT, June 23, 2014

An empty haul truck traveled in a forward direction through a dump berm and came to rest at the bottom of the angle of repose dump fatally injuring the operator.

At approximately 7:35 p.m. on June 23, 2014, Stewart R. Orcutt (Victim) was killed while operating a Komatsu 830E DC haul truck. The haul truck traveled through a berm at the Ramp 65 Ranch dump and descended approximately 75 feet before stopping abruptly against the opposite embankment in the bottom of the spoil “V.” The victim was not wearing his seat belt when the accident occurred, which resulted in him receiving fatal injuries.

1. The mine operator failed to ensure seat belts were used where there is a danger of overturning mobile equipment. The victim did not wear his seat belt.

   Corrective action: The mine operator modified its new miner and contractor training plans to emphasize the importance of the use of seat belts. The plan further emphasized the potential disciplinary actions for not wearing a seat belt.

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

5 years

Experience at this mine

5 years

Experience in this job

5 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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