Master Mechanic

EE entered feeder when gate would not close. While cutting out a piece of metal that was blocking the slide gate, material sloughed off and engulfed the EE.

On December 6, 2021, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Omar Thomas, a 39 year-old lead tech with over 17 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when he became engulfed in crushed limestone material while working in the confined space of a vibrating feeder and chute. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) identify and correct hazards in the workplace before work began, and 2) provide mechanical devices, or other effective means of handling materials, so that miners are not required to enter an area where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding of materials.

1. The mine operator did not identify and correct hazards in the workplace before work began.

   Corrective action: The mine implemented a training and tracking process on workplace examinations, along with an on-site audit program. These measures assure competent persons are conducting workplace examinations, correcting hazards, and eliminating exposure to identified hazards prior to work beginning in a working place.

2. The mine operator did not provide mechanical devices, or other effective means of handling materials, so that miners are not required to enter or work in a place where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding of materials.

   Corrective action: The mine operator removed the surge pile and repaired the slide gate. The mine operator also implemented a written confined space program which identifies confined spaces at the mine and the protective measures miners must take before entering confined spaces. The mine operator trained all affected employees on the new procedure.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

Source of injury

BROKEN ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

17 years

Experience at this mine

17 years

Experience in this job

17 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY