METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 10, 1999, a 28-year old miner with 2 years and 4 months mining experience was fatally injured at an underground gold mine. The victim parked his 22-ton haul truck in a dead-end drift and shut off the lights while remaining at the operating controls, perhaps to take a break. A 33-ton haul truck backed into the parked vehicle.
Best Practices
Headlights should be on while persons are in the cab of mobile equipment underground.
Visible warning devices should be used when parked equipment creates a hazard.
Mobile equipment with restricted visibility to the rear should not be backed up until the operator has visually checked that it is safe to do so.
This is the first fatality reported in calendar year 1999 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1998, there were no fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 1999. There were no Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 1998.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report