West Region

Vacaville District

Stakeholder’s Meeting

James Peck

District Manager

U.S. Dept. of Labor

Mine Safety & Health Administration

Vacaville District

Vacaville, CA

707-447-9844

Peck.james@dol.gov
Topics

• Recent Fatal Accidents CY 2022

• Recent Vacaville District Non-Fatal Powered Haulage Accidents

• Powered Haulage Best Practices

• Take Time, Save Lives
Recent Fatal Accidents CY 2022

• January 7, 2022, Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1, Knox, Indiana. A continuous mining 

machine operator died when he was pinned between the continuous mining 

machine and a coal rib.

• January 7, 2022, 1366 Laurel, Fayette, Pennsylvania. A miner was killed when a 

large portion of the roof collapsed on the front-end loader he was operating.

• January 11, 2022, Colmar, Bell, Kentucky. A large tree fell from a highwall striking 

the cab of a pick-up truck, resulting in a fatal injury to the truck driver and a 

serious injury to the passenger.

• January 14, 2022, Ohio County Mine, Marshall, West Virginia. Accident 

Classification: Slip or Fall of Person
Recent Vacaville District Non-Fatal 

Powered Haulage Accidents
11/23/21 – Fire – Non-Injury – Hydraulic leak in the engine compartment. The front 

tire blew. The truck is a loss, fortunately the operator wasn’t injured.
10/25/2021 – Fire – Non-Injury – Right rear brake overheated on the haul truck 

resulting in a fire.
10/18/21 – OTR Truck Roll-Over – Injury Accident – Driver lost control of the vehicle while 

leaving the mine site.
9/10/21 – Dump failure – Non-Injury – The dump edge gave way while the truck was 

dumping.
8/3/21 – Fire – Water truck caught fire – Driver escaped without injuries.
8/9/21 – Dump Site Failure – Non-injury – Dump edge gave way while the driver was 

dumping.
7/25/2021 – Dump site – Roll-over accident – The outer edge of the dump site gave 

way, causing the truck to tip over.
11/19/2020 – Entanglement in head pulley – Miner’s right arm was amputated.
Powered Haulage Best Practices
Stop Powered Haulage Accidents:

Fatalities and accidents involving mobile equipment: shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders, 

haulage equipment, service and pickup trucks continue to occur at a disproportionate high rate.

Best Practices: 

• Know where in the workplace others are and communicate with them: use radios, mirrors, cameras, 

headlights, strobe warning lights, horns, and buggy-whip flags. 

• Stay clear of mobile equipment blind spots.

• Set mobile equipment parking brakes and chock the wheels when vehicles are unattended: Don’t stand, 

walk or work directly downhill of parked vehicles. 

• Stay clear of moving vehicles.

• Establish safe traffic patterns and rules: post signage, ensure rules are followed, adhere to speed limits 

and approach intersections with caution.

• Use proximity detection/collision avoidance systems.

• Ensure that seat belts are maintained in good condition and worn at all times.

• Ensure that conveyors are de-energized, locked, tagged and blocked against motion before removing 

guards or beginning work.

• Make sure miners and mine operators are trained in best practices.
Miners continue to die in rollover accidents.

Fatalities occurred when vehicles flipped over backwards, rolled over, and tipped over on their sides.

Deceased miners were operating haul trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front end loaders, and service trucks 

while working or traveling near the edge of dump sites, elevated roadways, embankments, ponds, and 

excavations.

Best Practices: 

• Examine and maintain the workplace: dump sites, roadways, ramps and berms. Unload on level, 

stable ground behind the dump berm or block, well back from the edge or with spotter assistance.

• Maintain control of the vehicle: operate at safe speeds, especially on curves, and when turning or 

cornering; center the vehicle in the travel lane; avoid distractions.

• Establish traffic rules: post signage where necessary and ensure these rules are followed.

• Maintain vehicles in good condition: brakes; wheels and tires; steering/operating controls; lights; 

windows; and wipers.

• Ensure that seat belts are maintained in good condition and worn at all times: remain inside the 

cab; never attempt to jump clear; consider the use of four-point seat belt systems and new 

technology that provides early warning of tipping
Conveyor Belt Entanglement Incidents Are Life Altering and Frequently Fatal 

Follow These Best Practices:

• Never perform work on a moving conveyor belt. Don’t let others do so.

• Never clean or otherwise contact idlers, head, tail, bend or take-up pulleys during conveyor 

operation.

• Ensure that conveyor power is disconnected before performing maintenance or repairs.

• Follow proper Lock-Out, Tag-Out, Try-Out (LOTOTO) procedures. If you don’t know what they are . . . 

ASK!

• Never cross under or over a conveyor unless at a designated and protected point.

• Do not touch, climb, walk or ride on a moving conveyor belt.

• Keep tools, clothing, body parts, and long hair away from moving conveyor belts.

• Know the location of emergency shut-off devices for conveyors and how to use them.

• Test emergency shut-off devices frequently
Seat Belt Safety –Best Practices

Promote a Safety Culture:

• Seat belts save lives.

• You expect your loved ones to wear their seat belts. They expect you to do the same.

• Be a buddy. Insist that coworkers also wear their seat belts

Equipment Operators:

• ALWAYS wear your seat belt.

• Wear your seat belt to the job, at the job, and from the job.

• Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a collision, tip-over, or rollover.

• In the event of a collision, tip-over, or rollover your seat belt will keep you in the protected space of the machine 

cab or vehicle.

• Never jump from a moving vehicle. Remain in the seat with your seat belt secured.

• Inspect the seat belt and mounting hardware before operating the equipment.

• Replace any damaged or worn parts.

• You are responsible for buckling up. Make the right choice. ALWAYS wear your seat belt
Take Time - Save Lives

The top priority at MSHA is keeping miners safe. This year we have seen an increase in fatalities and injuries, many of 

which could have been prevented with proper training and attention to tasks. It is up to mine operators to ensure that 

miners are fully trained and able to take time to follow best safety practices that can prevent deadly accidents.

Please see the link on the MSHA Website for additional:

Take Time, Save Lives | Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
Questions?