Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government.

Fatality Alert - Fatality #6 - May 21, 2009

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

fab09c06.pdf (93.23 KB)

COAL MINE FATALITY - On May 21, 2009, a 32-year old foreman/truck driver with 15 years of experience was fatally injured when the loaded rock truck he was operating traveled over the edge of a dump site. The truck rolled over, landed on its top at the toe of an approximate 60-feet high slope, and crushed the cab. 

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above

Best Practices

  • Construct adequate berms at the edges of all elevated dump sites, and ensure they are properly maintained.
  • Conduct examinations of dump sites (using a certified person) at least once each working shift, and more often, if necessary for safety.
  • Provide training to all dump-point workers on recognizing dump-point hazards, taking appropriate corrective measures, and using safe dumping procedures.
  • Instruct personnel to wear seat belts.
  • Any time there is uncertainty about the safety of the dump area, dumping should be conducted a safe distance from the edge. Also, a driver can dump short and allow a bulldozer to push the load over the edge.

Additional Information

This is the sixth fatality reported in calendar year 2009 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2008, there were ten fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the third Powered Haulage fatality in 2009. At this time in 2008, there were two fatalities in this classification.