|
|
A to Z Index |
Find It! in DOL |
[skip navigational links]
Search MSHA's Website
 |
|
Printer Friendly Version (Contains All Graphics)
Jump to Overview MAI-2008-21
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health REPORT OF INVESTIGATION Surface Metal Mine (Copper) Fatal Fall of Material Accident October 29, 2008 Ames Construction Inc. Contractor ID No. U82 and Bob Orton Trucking Contractor ID No. V856 at Copperton Concentrator Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. Magna, Salt Lake County, Utah Mine ID No. 42-01996 Investigators Shane P. Julien Mine Safety and Health Inspector Phillip L. McCabe Mechanical Engineer Originating Office Mine Safety and Health Administration Rocky Mountain District PO Box 25367 DFC Denver, CO 80225-0367 Richard Laufenberg, District Manager OVERVIEW
William L. Kay, delivery truck driver, age 81, was fatally injured on October 29, 2008. Kay was unfastening a load of pipe from a flatbed trailer when one 50-foot section of pipe rolled off and struck him. He was preparing to unload nine sections of pipe from the trailer. The accident occurred because contractor management policies and controls were inadequate and failed to ensure that the truck load of pipe was unloaded in a manner that did not create a hazard to persons. GENERAL INFORMATION
Copperton Concentrator, a surface copper mine facility, owned and operated by Kennecott Utah Copper Corp., was located in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. The principal operating official was Andrew Harding, chief executive officer. The facility employed 782 persons working two, 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week. Copper ore was drilled, blasted, and transported by conveyor to the concentrator for processing. The finished products were sold to commercial industries. Ames Construction, Inc., located in West Valley, Utah, was contracted by Kennecott Utah Copper Corp., to maintain the mine tailings (waste) area. The principal operating official was Doug Lunsford, superintendent. Bob Orton Trucking, located in Panguitch, Utah, was contracted by WL Plastics, Inc., to deliver several hundred feet of 28" high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe from Cedar City, Utah to the mine. The principal operating official was Bob Orton, owner. The pipe was to be used for an ongoing tailings maintenance project. The last regular inspection at this operation was completed on July 17, 2008. DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
On the day of the accident, William L. Kay (victim) arrived at the mine at 7:30 a.m. with a truck load of pipe. Kay checked in at the mine office and met three employees, James Hilton, Greg Davis, and Juan Florez, miners of Ames Construction. Hilton, Davis, and Florez traveled in a service truck to escort Kay's truck to the pipe stockpile at the mine tailings area where the pipe was to be unloaded. After arriving at the pipe stockpile, Davis and Hilton went to the shop to get a forklift to unload the pipe from the flatbed trailer. Kay remained at the pipe stockpile area and Florez went to a nearby restroom. Florez returned to the area and observed Kay retrieving tools from a toolbox located near the truck's cab. About 7:50 a.m., Florez walked to a pile of wooden timbers located on the opposite (passenger) side of the truck. Florez did not realize that Kay stayed on the driver's side of the truck and began loosening nylon ratchet-type load straps that were securing the load of pipe to the trailer. Shortly after that, Florez heard wood breaking and the pipe hitting the ground. He went to the back of the trailer and saw Kay lying on the ground. Florez contacted Doug Lunsford, superintendent, to report the accident. An emergency response team from Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. was dispatched to the scene. Efforts to resuscitate Kay were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Salt Lake County Coroner. Death was attributed to blunt force trauma. INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was notified of the accident at 8:15 a.m., on October 29, 2008, by a telephone call from Jacob Rukavina, senior safety and health advisor, to MSHA's emergency call center. Ronald Pennington, supervisory special investigator, was notified and an investigation was started the same day. An order was issued under the provisions of Section 103(k) of the Mine Act to ensure the safety of the miners. MSHA's accident investigation team traveled to the mine, conducted a physical inspection of the accident scene, interviewed employees, and reviewed documents and work procedures relevant to the accident. MSHA conducted the investigation with the assistance of mine and contractor management and employees and the Utah Highway Patrol. DISCUSSION
Location of the Accident The accident occurred at the tailings pipe stockpile, located on the north side of the tailings ponds. The victim's truck was parked facing east on relatively dry and level ground. Weather The weather at the time of the accident was mostly clear with a slight westerly wind and a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather was not considered to be a factor in the accident. High Density Polyethylene Pipe The High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipe was used to convey liquids and waste material at the tailings ponds. The 1-¾ inch thick wall pipe had a 28-inch outside diameter. Each pipe section was 50 feet long and weighed 3,000 pounds. The pipe that struck the victim was positioned on the trailer 12 feet above the ground. A typical trailer load of pipe consisted of nine sections arranged in three rows of three sections each. Two pipe sections in each row were banded together by the manufacturer. Three 2-¼ inch by 3-inch wooden timbers, referred to as dunnage, were placed between each row of pipe to provide stabilization. Chock blocks were typically provided to prevent the sections of pipe from rolling. However, none of the wooden timbers on the trailer involved in the accident were provided with chock blocks. The load of pipe was secured to the trailer with several nylon ratchet-type straps each rated for 12,000 pounds of weight. Truck and Trailer Information The Kenworth tractor involved in the accident was an over-the-road truck. The Ravens trailer was an over-the-road flatbed semi trailer. The truck and trailer were of the type commonly used on public highways. After the accident the Utah Highway Patrol, Motor Carrier Division, inspected the truck and trailer. Violations were found for insufficient load tie-downs, no means to prevent cargo from rolling, and an inoperable reverse lamp. Loading and Unloading Procedures Two different warning labels were attached to the pipe specifying instructions for the proper handling and transportation of the pipe. However, these instructions for unloading the pipe were not followed. Typically, a forklift would be used to unload the pipe. The operator of the forklift would position the forks under a row of pipe to prevent movement and then the nylon straps would be released. On the day of the accident, the nylon straps were removed prior to positioning the forklift. The chocks normally located on the dunnage to prevent the pipe from rolling were not provided. Training and Experience William L. Kay, victim, had 55 years of over-the-road truck driving experience. Kay had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 48. However, the training record was unavailable and a non-contributory citation was issued. Greg Davis, miner, had 8 years of mining experience. Juan Florez, miner, had 1 year of mining experience. James Hilton, miner, had 12 years of mining experience. All three miners had received training in accordance with 30 CFR, Part 48. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
A root cause analysis was conducted and the following root cause was identified: Root Cause: Contractor management policies and work procedures were inadequate and failed to ensure that a truck load of pipe was unloaded in a manner that did not create a hazard to persons. Corrective Action: Contractor management should establish policies and controls to ensure that pipe can be unloaded from trucks in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons. CONCLUSION
The accident occurred because contractor management policies and controls were inadequate and failed to ensure that the truck load of pipe was unloaded in a manner that did not create a hazard to persons. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Issued to Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. Order No. 6320219 was issued on October 29, 2008, under the provisions of Section 103(k) of the Mine Act.
Issued to Ames Construction Inc. Citation No. 6328009 was issued on December 11, 2008, under provisions of Section 104(a) of the Mine Act for a violation of 56.9201:
Issued to Bob Orton Trucking Citation No. 6328010 was issued on December 11, 2008, under provisions of Section 104(a) of the Mine Act for a violation of 56.9201:
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin: APPENDIX A
Persons Participating in the Investigation Kennecott Utah Copper Corp.
Frank Klobchar ............... safety and health manager
Andy Anderson ............... Western region safety manager Doug Lunsford ............... superintendent
Phillip L. McCabe ............... mechanical engineer |
 Back to Top |
www.msha.gov | www.dol.gov |
|
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
|
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor Arlington, VA 22209-3939 |
Phone:
(202) 693-9400 Fax-on-demand: (202) 693-9401 Technical (web) questions: Webmaster On-line Filing Help: MSHAhelpdesk@dol.gov or call (877) 778-6055 Contact Us | |
