Accident Report: Fatality Reference
PDF Version
METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On March 17, 2015, a 44-year old haul truck driver with 4 days of experience was injured at a dredge operation. He was operating a loaded articulated haul truck along an elevated roadway next to a dredge pond. After traveling about 125 yards from the loading point, the haul truck drifted into the water. The victim was removed from the truck, transported to a hospital, and then transferred to a trauma center where he died on March 19, 2015.
Best Practices
- Task train mobile equipment operators adequately and ensure each operator can demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
- Provide and maintain adequate berms or guardrails on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists.
- Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
- Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
- Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
- Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
- Conduct adequate work place examinations using competent persons and promptly correct hazardous conditions that adversely affect safety and health.
- Ensure that all exits from cabs on mobile equipment are maintained and operable.
Additional Information
This is the 5th fatality reported in calendar year 2015 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2014, there were 4 fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the 1st Powered Haulage fatality in 2015. There was 1 Powered Haulage fatality in the same period in 2014.