Bulldozer Operator

Employee was mobilizing dozer to work site for following day via haul road. Cause of accident unknown. Employee went over embankment and was found approx. halfway down mountain. Details unknown at this time. Employee found deceased. No eye witnesses.

On February 26, 2023, at 1:08 p.m., Billy Mapes, a 73 year-old contract bulldozer operator with approximately 53 years of mining experience, died when he was ejected from the operator’s cab of the bulldozer he was operating. The bulldozer traveled over the edge of Haul Road 3 and rolled 375 feet down an embankment before coming to rest. The accident occurred because: 1) the mine operator did not conduct an examination of the working area, and 2) the contractor did not ensure that the bulldozer operator wore a seat belt while operating the bulldozer.

1. The mine operator did not conduct an adequate examination of the working area.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure that requires all examiners, including contract examiners, to communicate the findings of all examinations of work areas to mine management on the day the examinations are completed prior to conducting work. The records of the examinations will be maintained in the mine office. The mine operator trained all miners and contractors on the new procedure.

2. The contractor did not ensure that the bulldozer operator wore a seat belt while operating the bulldozer.

   Corrective action: The contractor developed and implemented a new written procedure that includes increased emphasis on compliance with the regulation requiring seat belts. This new procedure includes increased frequency of safety meetings to ensure compliance.

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

53 years

Experience in this job

53 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY