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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Western District Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health Accident Investigation Report Surface Metal Mine Fatal Powered Haulage Accident Dan F. Halstead & Son Trucking, Contractor ID No. BXQ Located at Mineral Ridge Resources Inc. Silver Peak, Esmeralda, Nevada Mine ID No. 26-02302 September 16, 1997 By Thomas E. Barrington Mine Safety and Health Inspector Timothy B. Hannifin III Mine Safety and Health Inspector Western District Office Mine Safety and Health Administration 2060 Peabody Rd., Suite 610 Vacaville, Ca. 95687 James M. Salois District Manager GENERAL INFORMATION Steven Showell, contract truck driver, age 58, was fatally injured on September 16, 1997, at approximately 9:15 p.m., when a semi-tractor truck ran over him. The victim was hired the day of the accident and was about to receive his site specific training at the time of the accident. He had been a truck driver for approximately 15 years. Gary Saunders, safety coordinator for Mineral Ridge Resources Inc., notified MSHA of the accident at 11:30 p.m. An investigation was started the following day. Mineral Ridge Resources Inc.'s mine, operated on the "Mary Drinkwater" historic mine site in Silver Peak, Nevada, was a multi-bench, open pit mine. The company was a subsidiary of Cornucopia Resources, Inc., located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The mine was normally operated two, twelve-hour shifts, seven days per week. A total of 91 employees were employed, including contractors. Ore was blasted from the benches and loaded into haul trucks with front end loaders. The material was then crushed and placed on leach pads. Gold was recovered from the leach process and refined on site. Dan F. Halstead & Son Trucking was contracted to haul water, approximately 25 miles, from a spring in the Fish Lake Valley area to a holding pond adjacent to the mine operation. Halstead had been transporting the water for four weeks prior to the accident. The last regular inspection for the mine was completed on June 6, 1997. Physical Factors Involved Involved in the accident was a 1973 Kenworth model W 900, serial number 129394, tractor and Onca 5,500 gallon water tanker trailer. The total weight of the tractor and trailer, loaded, was estimated at 64,000 lbs. The service brakes on the 1973 Kenworth semi tractor and trailer are air supplied/spring released. Primary application is controlled by a foot valve to the tractor brakes on the two drive axles. The tractor brakes are provided with Anchorlok spring canisters. Situated on the steering column, under the steering wheel, a control valve called a "Johnson Bar" when pulled towards the operator, applies air pressure that actuates the trailer service brakes. The "Johnson Bar" applies service brakes to the trailer on much the same principle as the foot pedal applies the brakes to the tractor. Parking brakes on the tractor were applied by the spring portion of the Anchorlok canister. An air toggle switch mounted on the dash releases the high tension spring in each canister which applies the mechanical force to the dual brake assemblies. This is the only approved park brake on the Kenworth tractor. The trailer emergency brakes have a separate actuating device. The knob states, "Emergency brake only. Pull to set. Not a park brake." The trailer is supplied air through an "RT4" valve mounted to its frame above the trailer's front duals. Testing during the investigation found an air leak in the RT4 valve. This leak caused the trailer brakes to release in 52 seconds. On the day of the accident the trailer brake system was tested and the gland connection between the tractor and trailer had fittings replaced and was spot welded in place to prevent vibration prior to Showell driving from Lund, Nevada to the mine site. Tire chocks were attached to the tractor adjacent to the operator's door. The accident occurred on Mineral Ridge Resources Inc.'s west access road. The west access road began at the property fence and ran southeast to northeast down a slight grade. About two hundred feet inside the mine property is the west side security office. The access road had a 5 percent grade at the security office. The grade increased to 7� percent before leveling off about 550 feet away. The road sloped side to side and was provided with proper drainage and an adequate berm. Description of Accident On the date of the accident, Steven Showell (victim), contract truck driver, reported for work in Lund, Nevada at about 1:30 p.m., his regular scheduled starting time. He was assigned to drive a 1973 Kenworth semi-tractor truck and water trailer from Lund to the mine site, approximately 250 miles away. He was to stop for a load of water from a spring in Fish Valley before arriving at the mine site. Arriving at Silver Peak, Nevada, Showell met Paul Walker, site leadman. Walker took Showell and a second driver, Bill Shepard, to the fill site and gave them task training on equipment pre-operation inspection; how to load; and other aspects of the job. After his truck was loaded, Showell was instructed to stop at the mine security office and receive "site specific" training before he could continue into the mine. At approximately 9:15 p.m. Showell arrived at the mine and informed Ann Martino, security guard, that he needed to be given site specific training. Walker and Shepherd proceeded to the mine holding pond to unload. Showell set the trailer brake but did not activate the tractor park brake. He placed the tractor's transmission in neutral and left the engine running. The wheel chocks attached to the tractor were not used. Upon entering the office, Showell and Martino noticed the tractor/trailer had begun rolling down the road. Showell ran after the tractor/trailer in an attempt to stop it. Martino saw that Showell had caught up to the truck and was hanging onto it while it continued down the hill. Martino went back inside and called for help on the mine's two way radio system. She then got into the emergency response vehicle and, while en route to the truck, saw Showell in the west side drainage ditch approximately 125 feet from security office. The truck had come to a stop about 350 feet from the security office on the right side of the road on top of a berm. Martino called Brice Gubler, process superintendent, at his home in Silver Peak and had him call for the Silver Peak ambulance. Shannon Long, crusher operator, and Paul Hoey, laborer, responded to the radio call and along with Martino found no vital signs on the victim. Showell was pronounced dead at the scene by Esmeralda Deputy Coroner at 10:45 p.m. The cause of death was listed as "Blunt Force Trauma, caused by being run over by a tractor trailer." Conclusions The primary cause of the accident was the failure to set all park brakes and chock the tractor/trailer wheels while parked on a grade. Contributing to the cause was the mechanical defect of the trailer brakes, which allowed the brakes to release after 52 seconds. Violations The following orders were issued during this investigation: Order/Citation No. 04524394 Issued on September 17, 1997, under the provisions of Section 103(K) of the Mine Act. Order No.7951694 Issued on September 9, 1997, under the provisions of Section 107(a) of the Mine Act for violation of 30 CFR 56.14101(a)(3). Order No. 7951695 Issued on September 9, 1997, under the provisions of Section 104(a) of the Mine Act for violation of 30 CFR 56.14207. //s// Thomas E. Barrington Mine Safety and Health Inspector //s// Timothy B. Hannifin III Mine Safety and Health Inspector Approved by: Felix A. Quintana, Acting District Manager Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:  [FAB97M51]
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