Mucking Machine Operator fatality at Questa Mine & Mill (Chevron Mining Inc), NM, May 17, 2013

Around 1:30 in the morning a miner was found pinned between two rail cars on the haulage level.

On May 17, 2013, Isaac A. Garcia, Mucker, age 22, was killed when he was pinned between two loaded ore cars. An electric locomotive was pulling a train of 13 cars loaded with ore up a slight grade when the eleventh car derailed and uncoupled from the tenth car. Garcia was attempting to unhook the safety chain between the two ore cars. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to ensure that established safe procedures were followed while Garcia worked between ore cars. The victim did not notify the locomotive operator that he would be positioned between the two ore cars and he did not block the ore cars against hazardous motion. Additionally, the braking systems on the locomotive were not maintained in functional condition.

1. Management did not ensure established safe work procedures were being followed while Garcia attempted to unhook the safety chain between two ore cars. The locomotive operator was not notified before Garcia went between two ore cars.

   Corrective action: Although they had been trained, management retrained all miners regarding established procedures to be followed when rail cars derail on the track. Miners will not be positioned between rail cars until they notify the locomotive operator of their intentions and he acknowledges their presence.

2. Management did not ensure established safe work procedures were followed while Garcia attempted to unhook the safety chain between two ore cars. The ore cars were not blocked against hazardous motion before the victim went between them.

   Corrective action: Although they had been trained, management retrained all miners regarding established procedures to be followed when rail cars derail on the track. Management instructed miners to block rail haulage equipment against hazardous motion before working on derailed ore cars.

3. Management did not ensure the braking systems on the locomotive were maintained in functional condition.

   Corrective action: The locomotive was removed from service.

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

Activity at time of incident

Rerail Equipment, Sprag

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Caving

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

NARO G RAIL CR,MTR-UG EQP

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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