Superintendent

The victim was repositioning the block saw near the edge of bench with the saw operating in reverse when he stumbled and fell 4.5 feet to the lower bench. The saw continued in reverse and fell on top of him, resulting in fatal injuries.

On March 23, 2015, Daniel Acker, Owner/Operator, age 48, was killed while cutting stone on top of a bench using a walk-behind, self-propelled concrete saw. Daniel Acker was positioned between the saw and the ledge, when he tripped and fell. The victim and the saw went over the 4½-foot ledge, resulting in the saw falling on him. The accident occurred due to the victim’s failure to maintain control of the self-propelled concrete saw that he was operating in reverse gear while repositioning to cut stone.

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

Activity at time of incident

Cutting Machine

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

MACHINE,(Not Elsewhere Classified)-WELDR,OFC MAC

Nature of injury

CUT,LACER,PUNCT-OPN WOUND

Body part affected

LEG, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

20 years

Experience at this mine

3 years

Experience in this job

20 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY