MSHA reported that on Jan. 29, a miner died when his haul truck traveled over the edge of a stockpile and overturned. This is the second fatality reported in 2024, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.”
MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
- Examine dumping locations before work begins to identify hazardous conditions, especially after heavy rain or other significant weather changes.
- Always wear a seatbelt.
- Provide adequate illumination at dumping locations.
- Ensure dumping locations are properly designed, constructed, and maintained.
- Dump material at a safe distance from the edge and push the material over the edge with a bulldozer.
- Construct substantial berms as a visual indicator to prevent overtravel at dumping locations. Clearly mark dumping locations with reflectors and/or markers.
- Do not remove material from the toe of stockpiles when it would create instability at dumping locations.