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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Northeastern District Surface Nonmetal Mine (Sand and Gravel) Fatal Machinery Accident Plourde Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. Plourde Sand & Gravel Manchester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire Mine I.D. No. 27-00094 December 3, 1997 By Charles W. McNeal Supervisory Mine Safety and Health Inspector and Elwood S. Frederick Mine Safety and Health Inspector Northeastern District Mine Safety and Health Administration 230 Executive Drive, Suite 2 Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6415 James R. Petrie District Manager General Information
Brent A. Blackey, laborer, age 23, was fatally injured at about 2:50 p.m., on December 3, 1997, when he became caught in the drive gears of a sand classifier. Blackey had a total of 1 year 4 months mining experience, all as a laborer at this operation. He had not received training in accordance with 30 CFR Part 48. MSHA was notified by a telephone call from the Hooksett, New Hampshire police dispatcher at 3:15 p.m., on the day of the accident. An investigation was started the same day. The Plourde Sand & Gravel, mine owned and operated by Plourde Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. was located near Manchester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The principal operating official was Oscar Plourde, president. The plant was normally operated one, 9 �-hour shift a day, 5 days a week. A total of 5 persons was employed. Sand and gravel was mined from a single bench pit with a front-end loader. The material was transported by truck from the pit to the plant, where it was washed, screened, and sized. Processed material was conveyed to stockpiles and sold for use primarily as aggregate. The last regular inspection of this operation was completed on May 1, 1997. Another inspection was conducted in conjunction with this investigation. Physical Factors
The accident occurred in the sand plant processing building. The equipment involved was a Telesmith sand classifier with two 24-inch screws, mounted on two, 4-inch by 20-foot long I-beams (Appendix 1, Side View of Screw classifier). The classifier was powered by a 10-horsepower electric motor, driving a 2 �-inch shaft and two pinion gears. The pinion gears were 11 � inches in diameter, and drove a set of 17 �-inch diameter ring gears (Appendix 2, Bull Gear End View). The drive shaft was located approximately 3 inches in front of the ring gears. The distance between the outside edge of the two ring gears was 12 inches (Appendix 2). The gears and drive shaft were not guarded. A belt conveyor was positioned under the discharge end of the sand classifier and extended out of the building. Several 2- by 2- by 8-foot concrete blocks under the discharge end of the classifier formed a barrier to catch any sand that might spill off the conveyor. The blocks also formed a platform to stand on to access the drive components. The distance from the ground to the top of the concrete blocks below the classifier drive gears measured 48 inches. The distance from the top of the concrete blocks to the drive gears was approximately 51 inches. A safe means of access was not provided form the ground to the top of the concrete blocks where a person would stand to service the drive components. Description of Accident
On the day of the accident, Brent A. Blackey (victim) reported for work at 6:30 a.m., his normal starting time. Shortly after arrival, Oscar Plourde, president assigned him as part of a 4-man work crew to assemble the Telesmith sand classifier. Plourde, reportedly stated to the crew that he wanted the classifier running that day. Work proceeded without unusual incident until about 2:40 p.m., when the crew had finished assembling the classifier and were ready to test it. Lawrence Jache, lead man, stated that while the crew was standing around the discharge end of the classifier, Blackey told him the drive gears looked dark and dirty. Reportedly, Jache told Blackey that they would do nothing with them until tomorrow. Jache, Larry Champagne, plant operator, and Jonathan Knox, mechanic, then went to the feed end of the classifier, while Blackey remained at the discharge end without any specific instructions. Champagne started the classifier and performed various tasks on it for about 10 minutes before beginning to feed material into it. At about 2:50 p.m., they heard the victim shout, "shut it off, shut it off." Champagne shut off the classifier and Jache and Knox went to the other end to see what was wrong. Blackey had become entangled in the drive gears, sustaining fatal injuries. They notified the mine office who in turn called 911, the local emergency assistance number. The police, fire and rescue squads arrived a short time later. The county medical examiner pronounced Blackey dead at the scene. No one observed how Blackey became entangled in the gears. A grease cartridge was found nearby and the gears were partially greased, which indicated that he had climbed onto the concrete blocks and was applying grease to the gears. Conclusion
The cause of the accident was attempting to grease the classifier drive gears while the unit was running and failure to guard the driver gears prior to putting the classifier into service. Lack of a safe means of access to the top of the concrete block platform was a possible contributing factor. Violations
Order No,. 7708674 was issued on December 3, 1997, at 3:45 p.m., under the provision of Section 103(k) of the Mine Act: This order was issued to insure the safety of persons during recovery operations and until the affected areas of the mine could be determined safe.This order was terminated on January 8, 1998, after it was determined that the plant could resume normal operation. Order No. 4434213 was issued on December 17, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., under the provision of Section 104(d)(2) of the Mine Act, for violation of 30 CFR 56.14204: On December 3, 1997, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a fatal accident occurred at this operation when an employee became caught in the pinion and bull gears of the twin 24-inch Telesmith sand washer. The victim was manually greasing these gears while they were in motion. This constitutes more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with the standard.Order No. 4434214 was issued on December 17, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., under the provision of Section 104(d)(2) of the Mine Act, for violation of 30 CFR 56.11001: On December 3, 1997, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a fatal accident occurred at this operation when an employee became caught in the pinion and bull gears of the twin 24-inch sand washer. Safe means of access was not provided to grease and service these gears. This constitutes more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with the standard.Order No. 4434215 was issued on December 17, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., under the provision of Section of 104(d)(2) of the Mine Act, for violation of 30 CFR 56.14107(a): On December 3, 1997, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a fatal accident occurred at this operation when an employee became caught in the unguarded pinion and bull gears for the twin 24-inch Telesmith sand washer. The victim was greasing the moving machinery and mine management was aware that guards were not installed. This constitutes more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with the standard.Order No. 4434216 was issued on December 17, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., under the provision of Section 104(d)(2) of the Mine Act, for violation of 30 CFR 56.18006: On December 3, 1997, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a fatal accident occurred at this operation when an employee became caught in the pinion and bull gears for the twin 24-inch Telesmith sand washer. The victim was greasing equipment and had not been indoctrinated in safe work procedures. This constitutes more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with the standard. Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:  [FAB97M60]
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