# Presentation: 315203

## This presentation is for illustrative and general educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for the official MSHA Investigation Report analysis nor is it intended to provide the sole foundation, if any, for any related enforcement actions. 

## GENERAL INFORMATION

- Operator:		Hopkins County Coal, LLC
- Contractor:	General Mine Contracting, Inc. (BSI)
- Mine:		East Volunteer
- Accident Date:	July 7, 2006
- Classification: 	Machinery
- Location: 		Dist. 10, Hopkins County, KY
- Mine Type: 	Surface Mine Facility
- Employment:	15
- Production:	Under Construction

## ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION

- At 8:05 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2006, a 35-year old Millwright was fatally injured while operating a JLG Lift, Model E300A. The accident occurred while the victim was repositioning the platform of the lift beneath the second floor of the preparation plant. The victim was caught between a metal cable tray and the handrail over the platform control panel resulting in fatal injuries.

- Hydraulic Oil Puddle

## ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

_*Causal Factor*_: An effective communication policy was not in place to ensure that known safety defects would be reported and corrected.
_*Corrective Action*_: Hopkins County Coal, LLC, East Volunteer, updated their safety program with protocol for reporting defects and/or hazards. A copy of the instructions was given to all company and contractor employees. A copy of the Safety Program was posted at the mine site. This program is included in the company’s hazard training.
_*Causal Factor*_: An adequate procedure was not in place to assure that the JLG E300A Lift was being maintained in safe operating condition.
_*Corrective Action*_: Hopkins County Coal, LLC, East Volunteer, updated their safety program with protocol for reporting and repairing defects and/or hazards. A copy of the Safety Program was posted at the mine site. This program is included in the company’s hazard training.

## ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS cont’d.

_*Causal Factor*_: Electrical examinations were not conducted on the JLG E300A Lift.
- _C__*orrective Action*_: Hopkins County Coal, LLC, East Volunteer, conducted the required examinations and recorded the results.

## ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

**§104 (a) citation, number 6689310**, citing 30 CFR, section 77.404 (a), was issued to Hopkins County Coal, LLC
- “The JLG Lift, Model E300A, serial number 0300055879, was not being maintained in a safe operation condition. The main telescoping switch is defective in that, whenever the switch has been engaged and then is released the boom, at times, continues to telescope either in or out. This condition contributed to the occurrence of this fatal accident.”
**§104 (a) citation, number 6689309**, citing 30 CFR, section 77.502, S & S, was issued to Hopkins County Coal, LLC
- “Electrical equipment (aerial man lifts) are not
- being examined and tested by a qualified person to assure safe operating conditions.“

## BEST PRACTICES
Conduct pre-operational checks on all equipment. All defects affecting safety should be reported to a responsible person for correction. 
Remove any malfunctioning equipment from service immediately. 
Always look in the direction of movement and exercise caution in close work areas. 
Do not use tram functions to position platform close to obstacles. Use boom function instead. 
Do not use high speed drive when in restricted or close quarters. 

- Conduct pre-operational checks on all equipment. All defects affecting safety should be reported to a responsible person for correction.
- Remove any malfunctioning equipment from service immediately.
- Always look in the direction of movement and exercise caution in close work areas.
- Do not use tram functions to position platform close to obstacles. Use boom function instead.
- Do not use high speed drive when in restricted or close quarters.