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Fatality Alert - Fatality #12 - June 20, 2010

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

fab10m12.pdf (80.25 KB)

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On June 20, 2010, a 52 year-old mechanic with 8 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface copper operation. A � ton pickup truck had parked in front of a 240 ton haul truck that was also parked. The haul truck pulled forward and struck the pickup truck fatally injuring the driver and seriously injuring another miner.

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above

Best Practices

  • Do not park smaller vehicles in a large truck's potential path of movement.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, be certain no one is in the intended path, sound the horn to warn possible unseen persons, and wait to give them time to move to a safe location.
  • Ensure all persons are trained to recognize work place hazards, specifically the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to operation of large equipment and the hazard of mobile equipment traveling near them.
  • Establish procedures that require smaller vehicles to maintain a safe distance from large mobile equipment until eye contact is made or approval to move closer is obtained from the mobile equipment operator. Provide training in these procedures.
  • Install cameras and collision avoidance systems on large trucks to protect persons.
  • Regularly monitor work practices and reinforce the importance of them. Take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions or work practices.

Additional Information

This is the 12th fatality reported in calendar year 2010 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2009, there were 13 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 2nd Powered Haulage fatality in 2010. There were 3 Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 2009.