MSHA MINE FATALITY – On June 10, 2019, a 22-year-old contractor with 3 years of experience, was fatally injured when he was pinned between a front-end loader and a concrete block. The victim was working in a conduit trench, preparing to install a junction box. The plant manager was using a front-end loader above to back fill the trench. The front-end loader over travelled the edge and toppled into the trench.
Best Practices:
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and eliminate or control all hazards associated with the task being performed.
- Train and monitor persons on safe work positioning.
- Keep mobile equipment a safe distance from the edge of unstable ground, open excavations, and steep embankments.
- Operating speeds should be consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, and the type of equipment used.
- Assure equipment operators are familiar with their working environment. Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.
Additional Information:
This is the 10th MSHA fatality reported in calendar year 2019. As of this date in 2018, there were 9 MSHA fatalities reported. This is the 4th Powered Haulage accident classification fatality in 2019. There were five fatalities classified as a Powered Haulage accident during the same period in 2018.