Accident Report: Fatality Reference
PDF Version
COAL MINE FATALITY - On February 3, 2017, a 54-year-old truck driver received hip and leg fractures when he jumped from the cab of his truck as it was overturning. The victim positioned the truck on the dump pad and began raising the bed. Material in the bed was frozen or compacted and created an uneven load. As the bed reached full extension, the truck fell over. Due to complications associated with his injuries, the victim passed away 7 days later.
Best Practices
- Stay in the cab when problems are encountered while operating the truck. Do not jump.
- Always wear a seatbelt when operating mobile equipment.
- Establish safe work procedures for dumping a loaded truck and train all employees.
- Use techniques to prevent material from freezing or sticking in truck beds.
- After dumping, remove compacted material from the truck bed before more material is added.
- Assure all loads are evenly distributed.
- While dumping, use mirrors to see if the truck bed begins to lean and, if it does, immediately lower the bed.
- Examine work areas and routinely monitor work habits to ensure that safe work procedures are followed.
- Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed.
Additional Information
This is the second fatality reported in 2017 in the coal mining industry and it is classified as powered haulage. As of this date in 2016, three fatalities were reported in the coal mining industry, one of them involving powered haulage.