Safety Alert
Highwall Failure Accident
On September 30, 2024, a miner sustained permanently disabling injuries while operating a Caterpillar 992K front-end loader (FEL) beneath a highwall. A roughly 50-ft. section of highwall fell onto the FEL crushing the cab and pinning the miner’s legs under the dashboard.
Best Practices
- Develop and follow procedures for the safe control of all highwalls where miners work and travel in close proximity to the highwall.
- Train miners to recognize highwall hazards.
- Conduct highwall examinations and eliminate hazards (loose rocks, overhangs, trees, etc.) prior to working or traveling near the highwall. Examine highwalls from multiple perspectives (bottom, sides and top/crest). Examine highwalls more frequently after rain events and periods of freezing and thawing.
- Use auxiliary lighting during low light conditions to conduct highwall examinations and illuminate active work areas.
- Never park equipment, perform maintenance or store materials beneath the highwall.