Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver

Upon information provided injury occurred while tarping load. EE fell from trailer to the ground.

On June 1, 2020, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Salvador Moreno, a 61-year-old contract truck driver, with over 13 years of experience driving tractor-trailers, but only four weeks of mine experience, fell from the top of his end-dump trailer while attempting to deploy the tarp. Moreno died later that day at a local hospital. The accident occurred because mine management did not provide adequate, site-specific hazard awareness training and policies and procedures for customer truck drivers to deploy tarps in a safe manner.

1. Management did not provide customer over-the-road truck drivers with site-specific hazard awareness training that met the requirements of 30 CFR part 46.11.

   Corrective action: Management revised its existing training plan and implemented policies to ensure all customer truck drivers receive site-specific hazard awareness training. The operator’s new site-specific hazard awareness training includes a provision that truck drivers are not allowed to exit the trucks until they have contacted mine management and obtain permission to exit their trucks. All truck drivers have been trained in these new policies.

2. Management did not have policies or procedures in place to address safe tarping practices.

   Corrective action: Management designated areas for parking so truck drivers can be observed from the crusher tower while tarps are being deployed. Mine management is now training truck drivers on the portion of the site-specific hazard awareness training plan that addresses working from elevated areas and using fall protection. This training includes procedures to request a man lift or dumping the load. Management also revised the site-specific hazard awareness training plan to provide that truck drivers exit their trucks only in designated areas.

3. Management did not provide notification of commencement of operations to MSHA in accordance with 30 CFR part 56.1000.

   Corrective action: Management has officially notified MSHA of the commencement of operations and MSHA will continue to inspect the mine for compliance and hazardous conditions.

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

Activity at time of incident

Handling Supplies Or Material

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Fall from machine

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

30 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY