Outside Foreman fatality at Fitch Road Pit (Eagle Peak Rock and Paving), CA, September 26, 2012
On September 26, 2012, an outside foreman was fatally injured in a machinery accident at Fitch Road Pit (Eagle Peak Rock and Paving), CA.
Miner was kneeling on left track of dozer attempting to adjust the throttle linkage when the dozer went to full throttle and began moving forward, sending the miner to the front of the dozer, resulting in him being run over and crushed by the machine.
On September 26, 2012, Loren A. Bucher, Foreman, age 79, was killed when he was run over by the dozer he had been operating. Bucher exited the cab and was positioned on the left track checking the engine throttle linkage when the dozer moved forward. The dozer was parked on a 6% grade and left running in 1st gear forward with the dozer blade and ripper in the up position. The accident occurred due to management's failure to ensure that Bucher blocked the dozer against hazardous motion before performing repairs on it. The blade and ripper on the dozer were not lowered to the ground, the transmission lock lever was not set to ensure the transmission was in neutral, and the parking brake was not set.
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Management failed to ensure that the victim followed safe work practices before performing maintenance work on a dozer. The blade and ripper on the dozer were not lowered to the ground, the transmission lock lever was not set to ensure the transmission was in neutral, and the parking brake was not set.
Corrective action: Management provided additional training to persons regarding the proper procedures to follow to ensure that equipment is blocked against hazardous motion before maintenance is performed.
Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.
- Activity at time of incident
- Bulldozer
- Subunit / location
- STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
- Accident type
- Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
- Source of injury
- SURFACE MINING MACHINES
- Nature of injury
- CRUSHING
- Body part affected
- TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS
- Total mining experience
- 18 years
- Experience at this mine
- 18 years
- Experience in this job
- 38 years
- Degree of injury
- FATALITY
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Accident record:
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Mine record:
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