McCraren Compliance

MSHA – Mine Fatality #9

First published by MSHA.

MINE FATALITY – On April 22, 2021, a miner was fatally injured when leaving the mine site in his personal pickup truck.  The manual swing barrier gate was partially closed.  A gate pole entered the truck’s windshield as the pickup truck approached, striking the victim and causing fatal injuries.

Accident scene where a gate pole entered the truck’s windshield as the pickup truck approached, striking the victim and causing fatal injuries.
Photo property of MSHA.gov
Best Practices:
  • Ensure that manual swing barrier gates can be secured when opened or closed to prevent unintentional movement.
  • Paint or tape swing barrier gates with reflective and distinguished markings to differentiate them from their surroundings.  Install additional lighting near barrier gates.
  • Conduct thorough travelway examinations to identify and mitigate hazards.
  • Establish safetraffic patterns with proper signage. 
  • Be alert to road conditions and always keep a clear line of sight.
  • Maintain proper speed for road conditions.
Additional Information:

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2021, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage”


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

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