METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 6, 1998, a 60 year old customer who was employed by a real estate company, drove a small dump truck into the plant yard for a load of sand. The front end loader operator had loaded the truck earlier in the day, but was momentarily not available for the second load. The victim backed his truck to the stockpile and began to load by hand (shovel). The stockpile, which was approximately 60 feet high, sloughed while he was shoveling and he was buried.
Best Practices
Stockpiles should be trimmed to eliminate steep faces.
Outside truck drivers should remain in the their trucks while on mine property.
This is the fifth fatality reported in calendar year 1998 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1997, there were eight fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as "Handling Material" in 1998. There were no "Handling Material" fatalities in the same period in 1997.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report