Maintenance Man

A scraper and a service truck collided head-on while traveling in opposite directions on a haul road. The impact ignited a fire to both equipment and resulted in fatal injuries to the service truck driver.

On Friday, February 11, 2011, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Roy Lee Black (victim), a 55- year-old serviceman with 30 years mining experience, was killed in a powered haulage accident at the J21 Pit, Ramp 38 area of the Kayenta Mine. The accident occurred as Black was driving a combination fuel/service truck on a two-way haul road between ramps 40 and 38 after servicing equipment around the mine site. Several scrapers were operating on the same haul road as part of a topsoil removal operation. The traffic pattern was two-way, right-hand traffic. A scraper was being driven, traveling in the opposite direction on the haul road and on the wrong side for the right-hand traffic pattern. The scraper and the fuel/service truck collided. Because of a blind intersection, scraper operators drove on the left side (left-hand traffic pattern) of the haul road when entering the haul road. Traffic approaching on the same side of the haul road (right-hand traffic pattern) could not be seen because of a high berm. The road was not marked adequately with signage to ensure that the equipment operators knew which vehicle had the right of way. The operation of the scraper's bowl control lever was not working properly and contributed to the operator not having full control of the vehicle. Intermittently, the control lever would stick and not activate the bowl to lower or raise. Management's lack of proper procedures for contacting the personnel working in that area before entering the area was also a contributory factor.

1. The traffic pattern of the topsoil removal operations caused the scrapers to stay to the left side when entering the east side of the haul road because of the high berm and possible traffic approaching from the right side. The road was not marked clearly with signage to ensure that equipment operators clearly knew which vehicle had the right of way.

   Corrective action: Mine management has ordered and received sign brackets that are placed on skids for mobility. The mine management has also ordered the manufacturing of signs indicating traffic pattern in the work area, the radio channel used by the work crew. Mine management has also instructed any driver entering the area to announce on the company radio to the work group that they are entering the area. The signs are also designed to indicate traffic rights of way, yielding responsibilities, and stopping requirements.

2. The operator of the scraper had problems with the operation of the lever that raises and lowers the bowl, causing him to look back to ensure its operation and distracting him from maintaining full control of the vehicle. The operator failed to report this condition to the maintenance department or his immediate supervisor for repair.

   Corrective action: Mine management has reiterated through safety contacts the requirement of reporting any defects developing during the operation of the equipment to management. Equipment operators were instructed to park the equipment if there are defects affecting the safe operation of the equipment.

3. Management did not have procedures in place for persons who desire to enter a work area to contact personnel already working in that area. The mine has several work areas that communicate on different radio channels and changing radio channels could distract the operator of mobile equipment.

   Corrective action: On February 20, 2011, Mine Manager, Barry Grass, issued a memorandum to Supervisor of Training, Joe Holgate, to institute a comprehensive program to be included in the annual refresher training outlining radio channels in use on the mine property, where the channels are used, and the requirement to use the correct channel when entering the different work groups. Miners will be required to announce their presence on the appropriate channel when entering a different work area. The next annual refresher training was held on March 16, 2011.

4. The work place examination for the daily on-shift examination was not conducted by a certified person. Management was aware of a planned absence by the regularly assigned certified examiner, but took no initiative to ensure an adequate work place examination was completed.

   Corrective action: On March 1, 2011, Skanska supervisors and Kayenta Mine Reclamation Project supervisors were called to a meeting with Barry Grass, Production Manager at the mine. They were informed that when absences occur by any member of the team, there will be sufficient communication to ensure coverage for the required workplace examinations.

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

Activity at time of incident

Utility Truck, Water Trucks

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Contact with hot objects or substances

Source of injury

FLAME,FIRE,SMOKE,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

BURN OR SCALD (HEAT)

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

30 years

Experience at this mine

30 years

Experience in this job

30 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY