MSHA Confirms 20th Fatality of 2020

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on Oct. 14 a lead person was killed when his pickup truck was struck by a haul truck at Vulcan Materials’ Columbia Quarry, Richland, S.C.

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2020 and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:

  • Install and maintain collision avoidance/warning systems.
  • Equip smaller vehicles with strobe lights and flags positioned high enough to be seen from the cabs of haulage trucks in all lighting conditions.
  • Establish and follow communication protocols that require verbal verification for all mobile equipment operators.
  • Design haul roads to minimize congested areas and maximize visibility.
  • Do not drive smaller vehicles in a large truck’s potential path.
  • Train miners on mobile traffic patterns and policies. Do not rely on training or other administrative controls alone to prevent powered haulage or other accidents.

Related posts