Maintenance Man

As a large piece of steel framing structure was being slid out of a cargo container, it tipped over and crushed employee.

On November 17, 2023, at 3:55 p.m., Modesto Montes, a 50 year-old miner with over four years of mining experience, died when the leg support structure of a stone saw stand that he was assisting to unload, shifted, and struck him.The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) ensure that the leg support structure was unloaded in a manner that did not create a hazard to miners from falling or shifting, and 2) provide new task training for unloading the leg support structure from a nontypical delivery method.

1. The mine operator did not provide new task training for unloading the leg support from a nontypical delivery method.

   Corrective action: The mine operator trained all miners on the new written procedures in accordance with 30 CFR 46.7(a), and the mine operator documented this training in accordance with 30 CFR 46.9.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Handling Supplies Or Material

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

METAL,(Not Elsewhere Classified)(PIPE,WIRE,NAIL)

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

4 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

4 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY