Maintenance Man

Employee fell off the back of #62A loader landing on upper back/neck/shoulder.

On September 15, 2016, Gregory R. Duff, Mechanic (age 60), was injured while working on a front end loader. Duff had completed his assigned tasks and was dismounting the machine when he fell. He impacted the ground with his head, neck, and shoulders and was unconscious for several minutes. He was transported to Renown Hospital in Reno, Nevada and placed on life support. Duff died as a result of his injuries on September 26, 2016. The accident occurred because management failed to ensure that policies and procedures on maintaining three points of contact while using ladders were followed.

1. The victim traveled down the ladder from the rear left fender of the loader without having both hands free.

   Corrective action: All miners were retrained in accessing ladders and steps. The operator implemented a safe procedure to raise and lower tools.

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

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Fall from machine

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

CEREBRAL HEMORAGE-NT CCUS

Body part affected

BRAIN

Total mining experience

20 years

Experience at this mine

7 years

Experience in this job

20 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY