Superintendent

A crew of 5 workers were installing an 8'x10' process door when the lifting lug on the door became detached. This resulted in the door free falling approximately 22" to the ground and ultimately falling over onto one of the crew members.

Jerry L. McClelland, Contract Superintendent for Turner Industries Group LLC (Contractor ID# HPQ), age 44, was killed while installing a door on the side of a digester filtrate tank on November 18, 2014. McClelland was standing in front of the suspended door when the lifting lug broke, causing the 2,620 pound door to fall and strike him. The accident occurred due to management’s failure to ensure persons were clear of the suspended load. Management also failed to ensure the door was securely rigged before being lifted. Furthermore, management also failed to ensure that the lug and welds were not used beyond the design capacity intended by the manufacturer where such use created a hazard to persons. The door fell because the welds attaching the lug to the door stiffener were undersized for the encountered stresses. Further, the welds were irregular in shape and contained defects, such as lack of fusion, porosity, and undercutting, which adversely affected the weld’s capacity.

1. Management failed to ensure miners stay clear of suspended loads while conducting work activities requiring items to be hoisted or swung into place before being secured.

   Corrective action: Management established safe work procedures to be followed when persons work near suspended loads. All persons working near suspended loads were provided training regarding these procedures.

2. Management failed to ensure proper rigging procedures were followed when lifting heavy loads.

   Corrective action: Management established safe procedures to be followed when rigging loads prior to lifting. All persons involved with rigging a load were provided training regarding these procedures.

3. Management also failed to ensure the lug and welds were not used beyond the design capacity intended by the manufacturer where such use created a hazard to persons.

   Corrective action: Management established safe procedures to be followed when rigging loads prior to lifting. All persons involved with rigging a load were provided training regarding these procedures.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

METAL COVERS & GUARDS

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

25 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY