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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Rocky Mountain District Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health Accident Investigation Report Surface Metal Mine Fatal Powered Haulage Accident Cyprus Sierrita Corporation (mine) I.D. No. 02-00144 Cyprus Sierrita Corporation Green Valley, Pima County, Arizona March 19, 1996 By Wayne Wasson Supervisory Mine Safety and Health Inspector Joseph Quartaro Mine Safety and Health Inspector Rocky Mountain District Mine Safety & Health Administration P.O. Box 25367 DFC Denver, CO 80225-0367 Robert M. Friend District Manager GENERAL INFORMATION Alfred M. Wade, electrician, age 44, was fatally injured on March 19, 1996, at 5:36 a.m., when a haulage truck in the pit ran over the light truck he was driving. Wade had a total of 13 years, 6 months mining experience, with 7 years, 39 weeks at this mine and 3 years, 39 weeks as an electrician. MSHA was notified by a phone call from Linda Moler, safety technician, at 8:10 a.m. on the day of the accident. An investigation was started the same day. The Cyprus Sierrita Corporation mine, owned and operated by Cyprus Sierrita Corporation, was located 30 miles southwest of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Copper and molybdenum ore was drilled, blasted, loaded on trucks by electric-powered shovels, and transported to various on site locations for crushing, prior to processing. The mine normally operated two, 12-hour shifts a day, 7 days a week. A total of 749 persons was employed. Principal operating officials were: J.G. Clevenger, President Wade had received annual refresher training according to 30 CFR Part 48 on April 4, 1995. The last regular inspection was completed at this operation on February 23, 1996. PHYSICAL FACTORS INVOLVED The accident occurred on the 3850 level of the Sierrita Pit near No. 43 shovel. The area was approximately 312 feet by 250 feet, relatively flat, and there was ample space to turn vehicles to the left or right. The haulage truck involved in the accident was a 240-ton, Model 793B Caterpillar, Serial No. 1H100144. It weighed 161.8 tons empty. Due to the size and configuration of the truck, blind areas extended several feet on the right side of the truck, limiting the operator's vision (Appendix 3). The victim's truck was a Model F250 Ford, Serial No. 1FTEF25H7-NLA93295. A flatbed had been installed and the truck was used primarily for maintenance purposes. Procedures governing right-of-way in congested areas and moving haulage trucks to the blind side had been established at this operation in June 1995. They required employees to call the equipment operators in the area if visual/signal contact is not acknowledged before entering and to call by radio for clearance from other equipment when turning a parked haulage truck to the blind side. The procedures were not followed during the accident. The radio in the electrician's truck was on a different channel than the one used by the haulage operators in the area. DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT Alfred Wade (victim) reported for work on the second shift at 7:00 p.m., his usual starting time. He performed various tasks until approximately 5:00 a.m. the next morning, when John Urquhart, maintenance technician, radioed him to help change bucket teeth on No. 44 shovel. They completed the job and the used teeth were loaded onto the bed of Wade's truck for transport to the metal scrap dump. After loading the bucket teeth, Wade drove up the ramp toward No. 43 shovel on his way to the scrap dump. Urquhart followed him in a separate vehicle, about one minute behind. Reyes Madero, haulage truck driver, had been dispatched to No. 44 shovel on the 3800 level. However, it was not operating at the time, so he was reassigned to No. 43 shovel on the 3850 level. He parked near other trucks that were in line at the No. 43 shovel and waited to be loaded. Wade approached the No. 43 shovel area at the time Madero received instructions by the dispatcher to return to No. 44 shovel. Wade crossed the loadout area and was about to pass Madero's truck when Madero pulled out and turned right. Urquhart, who was following Wade, topped the 3850 ramp and saw Madero's truck run over Wade's truck. Terry Tommazoli, waiting in line, also saw the accident and called the dispatcher. Madero was unaware that he had run over Wade's truck. After traveling approximately 300 feet beyond the point of impact, he heard the call and stopped. Local emergency response personnel were summoned, arrived a short time later, and removed Wade from mine property. CONCLUSION Established traffic control rules were not followed. The haulage truck driver was not aware of Wade's presence and did not determine if any vehicle was in his blind spot before turning. Wade did not contact any of the haulage equipment operators as he entered the congested area where they were all parked. VIOLATION Citation No. 4670022 Issued on 4/11/96, under the provisions of Sec. 104(a) for violation of 30 CFR 56.9100(a): /s/ Wayne J. Wasson Wayne J. Wasson Supv. Mine Safety and Health Inspector /s/ Joseph Quartaro Joseph Quartaro Mine Safety and Health Inspector Approved by: Robert M. Friend District Manager Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:  [FAB96M08]
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