Utility Man

Forklift turned over - The miner was operating a forklift, traveling on a decline toward the mine entrance, when the forklift went out of control. The forklift struck a concrete support for the belt conveyor and overturned, killing him.

Darold D. Abbott, Jr., Utility Miner, age 52, was killed on October 24, 2012. Abbott was operating a lift truck, traveling down a decline ramp toward the mine entrance, when he lost control of the vehicle. The lift truck traveled across the haul road, striking a concrete support for a belt conveyor. The lift truck rolled to the right side, landed on its top, and came to rest on its left side. The victim was wearing a seat belt. The accident occurred due to management's failure to ensure the lift truck was being used as intended by the manufacturer because it was designed to be used on improved surfaces not on rough surfaces as the decline ramp. Additionally, Abbott had not been task trained to operate the lift truck and lost control of the lift truck while traveling down the decline ramp. He was descending an approximate 17% grade while carrying an empty trash dumpster with the load downgrade.

1. Management policies and procedures failed to ensure the lift truck was being used as intended by the manufacturer because it was designed to be used on improved surfaces not on rough surfaces as the decline ramp. The manufacturer's operator manual for this lift truck states "The lift trucks are NOT intended for use on public roads. The cushion tire lift trucks are designed for use indoors on smooth dry surfaces" and "DO avoid slippery surfaces!"

   Corrective action: The mine operator evaluated the conditions and safety practices to identify equipment that is designed to operate on the grades subjected to on the decline ramp. The mine operator purchased a lift truck, capable of operating on the decline ramp within the design of the manufacturer, to pick up the trash inside the mine. Additionally, warning signs were posted at the approaches of the decline ramp.

2. The victim had not been task trained to operate the lift truck. He was descending an approximate 17% grade while carrying an empty trash dumpster with the load downgrade.

   Corrective action: All persons assigned to operate the new lift truck on the decline ramp were task trained to operate the vehicle and trained to look for the warning signs posted at the approaches of the decline ramp.

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

Activity at time of incident

Fork Lift

Subunit / location

SURFACE AT UNDERGROUND

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

FORKLIFTS,STACKERS,TRCTR

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

19 years

Experience at this mine

19 years

Experience in this job

19 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY