Quality Control Technician

An individual was standing in the vicinity of a stockpile when material sloughed off from the stockpile and engulfed them.

On June 19, 2020, at 3:19 p.m., Frank J. Rockers, a 68-year-old Quality Control Technician with approximately 50 years of total mining experience, died while inspecting a 7/16-inch minus stockpile for over-sized material. As the victim paused and knelt down during his inspection, the stockpile collapsed and covered him with approximately four feet of material. The accident occurred because miners removed material from the stockpile in a manner that compromised its stability, mine management did not identify this hazard and establish safe procedures for work or travel near stockpiles, and mine management did not establish procedures for timely notification of stockpile-related hazards.

1. Harshman Construction LLC did not construct or maintain the stockpile in a manner that would prevent dangerous ground conditions as they removed material.

   Corrective action: Harshman Construction LLC developed and implemented procedures to prevent similar occurrences. These procedures include controls to ensure:

2. Harshman Construction LLC did not promptly notify miners that the stockpile area could adversely affect safety or health.

   Corrective action: Harshman Construction LLC retrained supervisors and examiners on promptly notifying miners in any affected areas of any conditions that may adversely affect safety or health.

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

Activity at time of incident

Inspect Equipment Or Mine

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Source of injury

BROKEN ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

49 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

50 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY