Bulldozer Operator

A Cat D9L bulldozer ee had been operating ran over ee. The bulldozer ran over the edge of the refuse bank and came to rest at the bottom of the embankment. The victim was pronounce dead at the scene. The reason why the victim was outside the bulldozer when the accident occurred is under investigation.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2017, Andrew J. Oxenrider, a 28-year-old equipment operator, with seven years and nine months of total mining experience was fatally injured while operating a Caterpillar D9L bulldozer on a refuse bank. The accident occurred when the victim, who was working alone, was run over by the bulldozer. Investigators believe that shortly before the accident, the victim exited the bulldozer onto the slope of the refuse bank and into the bulldozer’s push path near the edge of the refuse bank. Because the manufacturer’s parking procedure was not followed, the bulldozer moved downhill after the victim exited it. When the bulldozer hit the victim, he was positioned between the track and blade. The bulldozer did not stop but traveled over the edge of the refuse pile and came to rest at the bottom of the embankment. There were no witnesses to the accident. The fatal accident occurred because the manufacturer’s braking procedure was not followed. Also, the mine operator did not adequately task train the victim in accordance with its approved training plan, which included training on the safe operating procedures outlined in the CAT D9L operator's manual for parking the bulldozer on a grade. In addition, the mine operator did not maintain the braking system of the bulldozer in a safe operating condition.

1. The mine operator did not provide adequate task training to the victim. The operator’s approved training plan required training on the provisions in the bulldozer’s operating manual but the operator did not have a copy of the manual. In addition, investigators learned that the parking procedures for parking on a grade were not discussed and performed during task training.

   Corrective action: The mine operator adequately trained equipment operators on the safety aspects and safe operating procedures of their machines, according to the operating manuals and approved training plan. The task training included supervised practice during nonproduction or supervised operation during production.

2. The mine operator did not develop a suitable ground control plan. The ground control plan did not address the hazards associated with mining a refuse bank.

   Corrective action: The mine operator has developed a ground control plan to address the hazards associated with mining on a refuse bank.

3. The mine operator did not provide adequate experienced miner training, as outlined in its approved training plan. The training plan requires training on the ground control plan, which was inadequate at the time of the accident

   Corrective action: The mine operator trained all equipment operators on the provisions of the ground control plan that were added after the fatal accident.

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

Activity at time of incident

Bulldozer

Subunit / location

CULM BANK/REFUSE PILE

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

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

7 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

7 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY