METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY- On June 27, 1999, a 64-year-old quarry owner with 18 years mining experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim and his son had traveled to the mine to transport a front-end loader they had purchased from the mine operator. They placed the loader on a lowboy trailer and were removing the wheels. After removing the lug bolts for a rear wheel, they stopped to mark the position of the wheel on the hub. The wheel, which was not secured, fell and crushed the victim.

Best Practices

• Maintenance should not be performed unless components are blocked against hazardous motion.
  
  
• The manufacturer's guidelines for removing wheels should be reviewed and followed.

This is the 20th fatality reported in calendar year 1999 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1998, there were 27 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as Handling Material in 1999. There was one Handling Material fatality in the same period in 1998.

For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report