Outside Foreman

Crane fell over into quarry with operator inside cab. The victim was operating crane lifting an approximately 15 ton block of granite from the pit. The boom of the crane lowered causing the crane to tip over and fall 85 feet into the pit.

Danny Roth, a 59-year old superintendent with 40 years of mining experience, died on May 13, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m. when the 90-ton crane he was operating fell into the quarry. Roth was using the crane to lift a section of granite weighing approximately 15 tons from the quarry when the boom started lowering. This caused the crane to tip over and fall approximately 80 to 85 feet into the quarry. The accident occurred because the boom pawl designed to prevent the boom from lowering was either not engaged or did not function properly.

1. The accident occurred because the boom pawl designed to prevent the boom from lowering, was either not engaged at the time of the accident or did not function properly if it was engaged.

   Corrective action: The crane involved in the accident was the only one of this model used at the quarry and the accident victim was its only operator. The mine operator trained all miners in proper examination and testing of the means and devices used to prevent accidental boom lowering according to manufacturer’s recommendations. This training included training on what to do if the boom pawl failed to operate properly.

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

Activity at time of incident

Surface Equipment, Nec

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

CRANES,DERRICKS

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

40 years

Experience at this mine

26 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY