Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health Report of Investigation: Surface Nonmetal Mill (Limestone). Fatal Falling Material Accident, January 17, 2009, Specialty Rock Products Incorporated, Specialty Rock Products, Inc, Princeton, Caldwell County, KY. Mine I.D. No. 15-17075

摘要

Juan Nieves-Banuelos, leadman/mill operator, age 48, was fatally injured on January 17, 2009, when he was engulfed in a crushed limestone mill feed hopper (hopper). Nieves-Banuelos had placed material into the hopper with a front-end loader and entered the top of the hopper to dislodge bridged material that would not feed onto the belt conveyor below. The accident occurred because management failed to establish safe work procedures that prevented persons from being exposed to the hazard of falling material. Management was aware that the hopper frequently experienced blockages of material. They had not trained miners how to remove such blockages or provided a safe means to clear the blockages. Miners were not familiar with the hazards at the mine. Persons performing the tasks were not provided with required new miner training.