Bulldozer Operator

Preliminary investigation shows that the employee was fatally injured as the result of a collision with another haul truck. Investigation is ongoing. EE slid backwards and striking the cab of a parked Caterpillar 795 haul truck on the drivers side.

On December 28, 2015, Douglas Paul Hicks, Haul Truck Operator, age 42, was killed while attempting to access a common parking area referred to as the Area 34 road rock pad (rock pad). The rock pad and access road were completely covered with snow and ice and extremely slippery. Hicks lost control of his haul truck while trying to climb an incline portion of an access road to the rock pad and slid back down until the road leveled off. A second haul truck entered the area, lost control, and slid back down the incline. The tail section of the second truck collided with Hick’s haul truck. A third haul truck entered the area, also lost control, and slid back down the incline colliding with the second haul truck, pushing the tail section further into Hick’s haul truck. The accident occurred because the haul truck operators failed to maintain control of their individual pieces of mobile equipment. There were no signs posted at the entrances of the rock pad to warn mobile equipment operators of potentially hazardous conditions that would affect their ability to negotiate the area safely. Finally, management failed to adequately examine the rock pad for conditions that adversely affected the miners who were accessing this parking area.

1. Management failed to complete a workplace exam to identify and correct hazardous conditions in the working area.

   Corrective action: Management will develop a thorough training procedure on complete workplace examinations under variable workplace conditions.

2. Management failed to ensure that the equipment operator maintained control of the haul truck at all times.

   Corrective action: Management shall develop a task training process that trains equipment operators on driving under adverse conditions.

3. Management policies and controls were inadequate and failed to ensure that haul truck operators were provided with a safe driving surface to all working places at the mine.

   Corrective action: Management should conduct a risk assessment of all working areas that can be affected by adverse weather conditions.

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

3 years

Experience at this mine

2 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY