Skip to content
PDF Version

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On October 30, 2003, a 22-year-old equipment operator, with 1� years experience, was fatally injured at a surface stone operation. The victim was following a front-end loader in his personal pickup truck on a single lane mine road. The front-end loader stopped and backed over the pickup, fatally injuring the driver.

Photo of Accident Scene Photo of Vehicle in Accident

Best Practices

  • Check all mirrors prior to moving mobile equipment to be certain no one is in your intended path.
  • Ensure that all persons are clear before moving equipment. Sound your horn to warn unseen persons that you are about to move and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Establish procedures that require smaller vehicles to maintain a safe distance from large mobile equipment until eye contact is made or approval obtained from the equipment operator. Provide training in those procedures.
    • 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 22nd fatality reported in calendar year 2003 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2002, there were 37 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the fifth fatality classified as powered haulage in 2003. There were 14 powered haulage fatalities in the same period in 2002.

    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