Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver

The pile gave away.

On June 8, 2017, James H. Mangus, Jr. (age 56), truck driver, was fatally injured when his truck overturned due to a stockpile foundation failure. The accident occurred because management did not have proper procedures in place to ensure: berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks or similar impeding devices were provided at dumping locations; dumping locations were visually inspected before work commenced; loads were dumped at a safe distance back from the edge where the bank or area was unstable; task training was given when a miner was assigned a task and had no past or similar experience with; seat belts were worn in all haulage trucks.

1. The operator's procedures and controls were inadequate. The mine operator failed to ensure berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks or similar impeding devices were provided where there was a hazard of over traveling or overturning.

   Corrective action: The mine operator has installed berms and trained miners in the requirements of the standard and instituted policy to ensure future compliance. They have implemented procedures closing stockpiles with physical barriers when material is being removed.

2. The mine operator failed to ensure dumping locations are visually inspected before work begins at those locations.

   Corrective action: The mine operator implemented a policy ensuring visual inspections occur before work begins at dumping locations and as ground conditions warrant. Mine management has included this in their work place examination.

3. The mine operator failed to ensure miners were dumping loads at a safe location back from the edge of an unstable area.

   Corrective action: The mine operator has implemented a policy and has trained miners to ensure all loads will be dumped at safe location.

4. The mine operator failed to provide task training for miners performing stockpiling activities.

   Corrective action: The mine operator provided task training to miners who perform stockpiling and work on dump sites.

5. The mine operator failed to ensure miners wore seat belts when operating haulage trucks.

   Corrective action: Miners were re-trained in the requirements of seat belt usage.

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

3 years

Experience at this mine

3 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY