MSHA reported that on March 1, a miner died at Elkhorn Stone, Pike County, Ky., when the bulldozer he was operating went over an embankment, ejecting him from the operator’s cab.
This is the 10th fatality reported in 2023, and the third classified as “Machinery.”
MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
Operators should train miners to:
- Wear a seat belt while operating mobile equipment.
- Examine ground conditions before beginning work in an area and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift.
- Operate equipment safely, and to identify and report hazards.
- Be aware of their position relative to edges of roadways and benches.