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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 16, 2004, a 74-year-old, customer truck driver with 50 years experience was fatally injured at a bulk loading facility at a cement operation. The victim had positioned his trailer and lowered the air powered access walkway, with enclosed handrails, to open a trailer hatch lid. The hatch lid caught on the handrails and prevented the walkway from retracting. He attempted to dislodge the hatch lid with a pry bar. During this task, the access walkway retracted and he fell 11 feet to the ground.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Establish traffic patterns that ensure safe alignment of vehicles with access equipment.
  • Establish operating procedures for customers to safely perform tasks.
  • Post these procedures in a prominent place for customers to review.
  • Train customers in the established procedures.
  • Monitor customers to ensure that procedures are followed.
  • Customers---Notify mine management when any problems are encountered with machinery or equipment.
    • More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
    Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

    This is the 8th fatality reported in calendar year 2004 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2003, there were seven fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 4th fatality classified as Fall of Person in 2004. There were two Fall of Person fatalities in the same period in 2003.

    The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


    For more information:
    Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report