Master Mechanic

Operator was priming Dredge pump with Jet line. When Operator closed the valve on Jet line, 2" Cam Lock broke and struck operator.

Israel J. Spears, Jr., a 28-year-old plant foreman with over four years of total mining experience, died on February 29, 2020. Spears was closing a water valve used to prime the main suction line with the jet pump when a two-inch cam lock fitting (fitting) failed, causing pressurized water to strike him. The pressurized water knocked him into the operator’s compartment and then swept him into the dredge pond where he drowned. The accident occurred because the mine operator redesigned the dredge’s water system beyond the manufacturer’s design capacity. Mine management did not evaluate the capacity of the new parts used in relation to the stresses in which the parts would be subjected. Furthermore, the mine operator did not ensure that the victim wore a life jacket or belt where there was a danger of falling into the water.

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

Activity at time of incident

Barge, Boat, Dredge

Subunit / location

DREDGE

Accident type

Struck by flying object

Source of injury

METAL,(Not Elsewhere Classified)(PIPE,WIRE,NAIL)

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

UNCLASSIFIED

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

5 years

Experience in this job

2 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY