On May 22, 2025, a bulldozer fell into a void above a feeder. The loose material from the coal pile collapsed around the bulldozer, engulfing the bulldozer and trapping the miner inside the cab. The bulldozer was equipped with a “submarine kit”, consisting of high-strength glass, self contained self rescuers, and two-way communication. From January 2020 to May 2025, there have been seven entrapment accidents involving bulldozers.
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Best Practices
- Maintain stability. Do not operate equipment directly over feeders and clearly mark the location of the draw holes.
- Identify and communicate significant changes in feed rate that may indicate the presence of a void in the stockpile.
- Stock equipment cabs with safety equipment. Include emergency oxygen, remote shut offs, and two-way communication. Ensure all safety devices are properly maintained.
- Install high-strength glass certified for at least 40 psi with a frame and supports designed to withstand the added loading of entrapment conditions.
- Train miners and other persons at the mine to identify and address or avoid hazards related to surface mobile equipment.
- Always wear seatbelts when operating mobile equipment and stay in the cab to ensure safety.
- Identify currently available and newly emerging feasible technologies that can enhance safety at the mine and evaluate whether to adopt them.
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Original article published by MSHA