Barge/Boat/Dredge/Towbarge/Towboat/Leach Operator fatality at Barry Industrial Sand, Inc. (Barry Industrial Sand, Inc), TX, September 9, 2022

Dredge operator was missing and eventually found at bottom of lake.

On September 9, 2022, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Elisha McMahon, a 62 year-old lead man with approximately 30 years of mining experience, drowned when he fell from the rear walkway of the dredge he was operating into the water. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not ensure that the miner wore a life jacket where there was danger of falling into water.

1. The mine operator did not ensure that the miner wore a life jacket where there was danger of falling into water.

   Corrective action: The mine operator halted mining operations and submitted a notice of closure of mining operations in writing to MSHA.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Drowning

Source of injury

WATER

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

30 years

Experience at this mine

30 years

Experience in this job

22 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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