Beltman

Death

On Thursday, January 26, 2017, Ray Hatfield Jr., a 42-year-old miner with over 23 years of mining experience was fatally injured when he became entangled in the shaft of the moving conveyor belt drive tandem roller for the section belt. The victim was positioned between a guard and the conveyor belt drive when he came in contact with the shaft of the belt drive tandem roller. The guards around this belt drive were inadequate because they were not securely fastened and could be easily removed. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not have effective programs, policies, or procedures in place to ensure that power was de-energized and machinery was blocked against motion prior to performing work in close proximity to conveyor belt drives. This photo shows the space that existed between the guard and the roller at the time of the accident. It also shows the stud bolts extending from the inby tandem roller shaft. These bolts are similar to the bolts that extended from the outby roller shaft where the accident occurred.

1. The mine operator did not have effective programs, policies, or procedures to ensure that belt drives at the mine were adequately guarded. The inadequate area guard with a "door" at the No. 3 belt drive created a hazardous condition that allowed a hazardous practice for miners working on, and/or being in close proximity to, the moving belt drive without first de-energizing it and blocking it against motion.

2. The mine operator failed to ensure that persons conducting examinations at this mine have been adequately trained to perform thorough examinations that will identify hazards. Citations and orders have been issued during this investigation because examiners did not identify violations of mandatory standards.

   Corrective action: Certified foremen have attended a training course on their roles and responsibilities as foremen and how to recognize hazards.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Conventional Stoping

Accident type

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Source of injury

BELT CONVEYORS

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

23 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY