Bulldozer Operator

OUR EMPLOYEE WORKING AT MOUNTAIN AGGREGATES QUARRY MINE SITE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE OPERATING A DOZER ON AN ACCESS RD IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT LEFT THE ACCESS RD AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.

On March 1, 2023, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Joshua Coleman, a 38 year-old bulldozer operator with over 13 years of mining experience, died when the bulldozer he was operating traveled over an embankment. The bulldozer overturned several times down the embankment before landing on an inactive logging road 303 feet below the active pit. Coleman was ejected from the bulldozer. The accident occurred because the mine operator and the contractor did not: 1) ensure that the bulldozer operator maintained control of the equipment while it was in motion, and 2) ensure miners wore seat belts while operating mobile equipment.

1. The mine operator and the contractor did not ensure that the bulldozer operator maintained control of the bulldozer.

   Corrective action: The mine operator and the contractor developed and implemented a new written procedure for all equipment used to move material over a highwall or steep embankment that requires using the double-blade method of pushing material. One blade of material will be left at the edge and pushed over with the following blade of material. This will allow the equipment to remain at a safe distance from the edge of the highwall or embankment at all times. The mine operator trained all miners in this new written procedure.

2. The mine operator and the contractor did not ensure miners wore seat belts while operating mobile equipment.

   Corrective action: The mine operator and the contractor held safety meetings with all miners and contractors to retrain them on policies and requirements regarding seat belt use.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Bulldozer

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

SURFACE MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

13 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY