Fatality #2 - February 17, 2009

At approximately 12:10 p.m. on February 17, 2009, Jarod Kacer, a 27 year old truck driver was fatally injured at the Knight Hawk Coal, LLC, Prairie Eagle Mine. The victim was an over-the-road truck driver and was delivering a load of lumber to the mine on a flat bed tractor-trailer. A mine employee was using a Bobcat Versahandler forklift to unload the lumber from the trailer. The forklift operator attempted to remove two bundles of 17 foot long 2x4s from the driver's side of the trailer. When the forklift operator raised the forks, two bundles of 2x4s fell off of the passenger's side of the trailer and struck the victim, causing fatal injuries. 



The accident occurred because mine management's policies and controls were inadequate and failed to ensure that the truck load of lumber was unloaded in a manner that did not create a hazard to persons. Based on physical evidence, measurements, and interviews, it is apparent that the victim was located on the passenger's side of the trailer winding up a nylon strap that had been used to tie down the load of lumber while it was being transported. The forklift operator placed the forks under two bundles of 2x4s on the driver's side of the trailer. The forks extended partially under the bundles of 2x4s on the passenger's side of the trailer. When the operator lifted and tilted the forks, the bundles of 2x4s on the passenger's side were tipped by the forks in the opposite direction and fell from the trailer and struck the victim.