Outside Foreman

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.

1. 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