Fatality #8 - May 1, 2009

Lapse in Appropriations

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE).  This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

Accident Classification: Machinery

Location: C & P SAND & GRAVEL, INC. - Texas

Mine Controller: Eleazar Cantu

Mine Type: Surface

Mined Material: Construction Sand and Gravel

Incident Date/Time: May 1, 2009 08:20 am

On May 1, 2009, Jose E. Salazar, Dredge Operator, age 59, was fatally injured when he became entangled in one of two positioning winches on a dredge. He was attempting to hand guide the cable onto the winch while it was rewinding.

The accident occurred because management had not established adequate policies and safe work procedures for performing maintenance on the dredge. The winch was not taken out of service when the winch control lever functions reversed following the installation of a new winch cable. The winch was not shut off before maintenance was performed.

FATALITY ALERT

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On May 1, 2009, a 59-year old dredge operator with 3 years of experience was fatally injured at a dredging operation. The victim was trying to manually guide the wire cable onto one of two positioning winches on the dredge when he became entangled in it.