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Jump to Overview DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health REPORT OF INVESTIGATION Surface Nonmetal Mine (Sand and Gravel) Fatal Falling Material Accident November 10, 2006 Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation Jammer Lake Pit - Virginia Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota Mine I.D. No. 21-00880 Investigators George F. Schorr Supervisory Special Investigator Gerald Pifer, P.E. Civil Engineer Originating Office Mine Safety and Health Administration North Central District 515 West First Street, Room 333 Duluth, MN 55802-1302 Steven M. Richetta, District Manager OVERVIEW
Christopher M. Luecken, loader operator, age 41, was fatally injured on November 10, 2006. He was struck by the head pulley work platform of a mobile radial stacker conveyor when the main truss failed. The failure of the truss caused the conveyor to buckle, allowing the head pulley section to fall to the ground. The conveyor was being prepared for movement to another location when the accident occurred. The accident occurred because management modified the manufacturer's field conveyor design and compromised the structural integrity of the conveyor. Management did not consult the manufacturer of the conveyor or follow established engineering principles when making the modifications. GENERAL INFORMATION
Jammer Lake Pit-Virginia, a surface sand and gravel mining operation, owned and operated by Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation, was located in Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota. The principal operating official was Matt Seppi, president. The mine was normally operated one, 8-hour shift per day, five days a week. Total employment was two persons. Sand and gravel was mined from a single bench open pit by front-end-loader and placed into a portable crusher. Material was then screened, washed, and stockpiled to size. Finished products were sold for use in the construction industry. Mining had ceased at this location on November 9, 2006, and the company was in the process of dismantling sections of the plant for relocation. The last regular inspection of this mine was completed on October 3, 2005. DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
On the day of the accident, Christopher M. Luecken (victim), reported for work at 7:00 a.m., his normal starting time. He usually worked at the company's Portable Crusher mine but was assigned to assist with dismantling equipment at the Jammer Lake Pit - Virginia that day. Upon arrival he met with Donald Luecken, foreman and the victim's brother, and Patrick Christensen, equipment operator, to discuss work assignments required to relocate the ¾ - inch rock conveyor. They first moved the ¾-inch rock conveyor radially, south 10 feet, to level ground with a front-end loader. A torch was used to remove a section of the hopper chute located above the tail pulley end of the conveyor. A crane was used to individually lift the north and south wheel assemblies of the conveyor off the ground to enable the conveyor wheels to be repositioned for towing. Christopher Luecken and Christensen then installed a chain to the conveyor's wheel assembly so the front-end loader could pull the conveyor from the wash plant. About 8:00 a.m., Donald Luecken used a torch to cut a steel pin that attached the ¾-inch rock conveyor tail pulley to the frame of the wash plant. Prior to completely cutting the pin, Christensen interrupted him to discuss concerns that the chain was too short and that, if the conveyor tipped, the head pulley of the conveyor could strike the front-end-loader's cab. Donald Luecken then asked Christensen and Christopher Luecken to look for additional chains. A short time later Donald Luecken walked to his pick-up truck to check for messages on his cell phone. About 8:15 a.m., Christensen and Christopher Luecken were working under the conveyor's head pulley work platform installing the extra length of chain, when the truss frame failed, allowing the truss to buckle and the head pulley platform to fall. They attempted to escape from the falling conveyor but the victim was struck by the head pulley platform. Donald Luecken heard the conveyor truss fail and returned to find his brother pinned under the head pulley platform. The front-end-loader was used to lift the head pulley work platform off the victim and emergency medical assistance was summoned. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene but could not resuscitate the victim. At 9:05 a.m., he was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's deputy coroner. Death was attributed to multiple traumatic injuries. INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT
MSHA was notified on November 10, 2006, at 10:09 a.m., by a telephone call from the St. Louis County Sheriff's department to MSHA's Hotline. Gerald Holeman, assistant district manager, was called and an investigation began the same day. An order was issued pursuant to Section 103(k) of the Mine Act to ensure the safety of the miners. MSHA's accident investigation team conducted a physical inspection of the accident site, interviewed employees, and reviewed conditions and work procedures relevant to the accident. MSHA conducted the investigation with the assistance of mine management and employees. DISCUSSION
Location of the Accident The accident occurred at the wash plant ¾-inch rock conveyor. The immediate ground had been cleared of processed materials and leveled in preparation to relocate the conveyor. The ground was frozen and firmly packed with rock material. Conveyor The Pioneer Knock-Down (KD) 30-inch Super Service (SS) conveyor was originally constructed as a stationary "fixed" conveyor system. Structural support for the original conveyor design was provided by two fixed intermediate vertical bents. The conveyor sections consisted of two parallel welded-truss frames with diagonal and lateral cross bracing. Each 10-foot-long truss section was bolted to the adjacent truss section using a lateral frame. The conveyor drive was located at the head end of the conveyor. A steel framed platform with a wooden deck provided access to the conveyor drive assembly. In April 2006, the mine operator modified the stationary "fixed" conveyor to a radial stacking conveyor. Structural steel from the original vertical bents was removed and reused for the construction of a new structural support framework and cradle truck assembly. The modified conveyor was constructed with a 15-foot-long cantilevered truss section at the head end of the conveyor. Corbel connections along the bottom chords were modified to attach the structural support framework. The tail section of the conveyor was modified to provide a pivoting base plate with a bolted rotating pivot point. The cradle truck assembly was fabricated using steel beams, structural tubing, and angles. The truck assembly was outfitted with two "manual swivel" pivoting steel wheels and pneumatic tires. The pivoting wheel assembly provided the capability to move the conveyor in either a parallel or perpendicular direction. The head pulley section of the modified radial stacking conveyor weighed approximately 1,800 pounds and the tail pulley section about 1,100 pounds. Equipment (Conveyor) Failure Scenario The modified radial stacker conveyor failed as follows: (see Appendix B)
Weather conditions were reported to be cold and clear, with a slight wind. Weather was not considered a factor in the accident. Training and Experience Christopher M. Luecken had 4 years and 1 month of mining experience, all at Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation, and had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 46. Two to three times a year, he dismantled and moved mining equipment, including conveyors. Donald E. Luecken had 8 years and 2 months of mining experience, all at Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation. He had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 46. Two to three times a year, he dismantled and assembled portable crushing equipment, including conveyors. Patrick R. Christensen had 7 years and 4 months of mining experience, all at Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation. He had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 46. Two to three times a year, he dismantled and assembled portable crushing equipment, including conveyors. Medical Analysis and Findings A sample of the victim's urine was analyzed for alcohol and drugs. The drug screen indicated prior use of marijuana. Impairment could not be assessed without observations of the victim's behavior prior to his death. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
A root cause analysis was conducted and the following root causes were identified: Root Cause: Management standards and controls were inadequate. The mine operator failed to consult with the manufacturer of the conveyor or follow established engineering principles when making modifications. The modifications completed by the mine operator compromised the structural integrity of the conveyor. Corrective Action: Management should implement a policy ensuring that modifications to equipment are made by following established engineering principles so hazards to persons are not created. CONCLUSION
The accident occurred because management failed to recognize that hazards to persons were created when they made modifications to the conveyor. Management did not consult the manufacturer of the conveyor or follow established engineering principles when making the modifications. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Order No. 6193005 was issued on October 10, 2006, under the provisions of Section 103(k) of the Mine Act:
Citation No. 6135221 was issued on December 12, 2006, under the provisions of Section 104(a) of the Mine Act for violation of 30 CFR 56.14205:
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin: APPENDIX A
Persons Participating in the Investigation Seppi Brothers Concrete Products Corporation
Gerald Pifer, P.E. ................ civil engineer |
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