Security Guard

Security guard fell or slipped from the cab of his personal vehicle into a shallow diversion ditch at the base of a berm along a roadway. He was found with his face submerged in approx 12" of water. The death was drowning & that a contributory condition was marked alcohol intoxication. The case was not determined to be chargeable until December 22, 2014.

On Friday, April 18, 2014, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Tommy E. Reynolds, a 58-year old security guard, was found face down in approximately 12 inches of water and sediment in a diversion ditch at the Law River Company, LLC, Crown Hill Dock. A pickup truck the victim had been operating was found “high-centered,” from front to back, on a road berm that was constructed around the diversion ditch. The vehicle was found with the driver’s side door open, the headlights on, the engine running, and the transmission in gear. The victim apparently drove the truck onto the road berm where it became stuck. Evidence indicates that the victim exited the driver’s side and slipped or fell into the diversion ditch, where he drowned.

1. A substance abuse screening program which is conducted to check for alcohol or drug abuse on a regular basis, but unannounced, was not in place for security personnel employed at this operation. The victim’s blood alcohol content was found to be 0.27% at the time of his death.

   Corrective action: The contractor has put into effect a Drug and Substance Abuse Policy for its employees, including the contract employees utilized at this facility.

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

Activity at time of incident

Getting On Or Off Equipment

Subunit / location

OFFICE WORKERS AT MINE SITE

Accident type

Drowning

Source of injury

WATER

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

12 years

Experience at this mine

12 years

Experience in this job

12 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY