Mine Manager

No eye witness to accident. ATV was traveling up a + or - 15% slope and lost traction. The road has some uneven spots that might of contributed to the loss of traction. The ATV appears to not have been in All Wheel Drive which could have contributed to the loss of traction.

On May 1, 2014, William M. Hill, President, age 57, was killed when the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) he was operating rolled over. Hill was using the ATV to transport warning signs for installation around the perimeter of the mine. Hill drove up an access roadway, traveling above and out of sight of the mine’s actively drilled bench, where he encountered difficult terrain. Tire marks indicate that Hill drove the ATV uphill when the vehicle’s wheels started to spin and dig into the ground. Hill was unable to continue in the direction he had been going and attempted to turn around. When Hill backed up, he lost control of the ATV, rolling it side over side at least once before it came to rest. Hill was pinned beneath the front left fender and wheel. The accident occurred due to management's failure to provide comprehensive task training prior to a person operating an ATV to ensure the operator could maintain control of the vehicle at all times. Hill did not have the experience to operate the ATV in difficult terrain and did not complete a training course as recommended by the manufacturer of the ATV. Hill was operating the ATV in two-wheel drive (All Wheel Drive available) on a very steep roadway. He was operating the ATV in climbing and descending grades, attempting to turn on steep grade, and operating on loose terrain even though the ATV manufacturer expressly warns against operating an ATV under these conditions. A combination of these factors contributed to the ATV rolling over onto Hill. Additionally, Hill did not wear a helmet or other protective gear that may have protected him from injuries resulting from the accident.

1. Management failed to ensure that the victim, who did not have the experience to operate the ATV in difficult terrain, was provided task training to safely operate the ATV.

   Corrective action: The mine operator submitted a Part 48 training plan that was approved by the District Manager on May 13, 2014. All persons performing work at the mine were provided all required training in accordance with the approved plan. A record of all persons trained was submitted for review to MSHA.

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

Activity at time of incident

Mantrip

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

FRACTURE,CHIP

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY