Rock truck operator John Key, 52, was ascending the access ladder to the operator’s cab of a Komatsu HD 785 at Taft Coal’s Choctaw surface mine in Parrish on December 14when he slipped and fell to the ground. He landed on both feet, then fell over onto his back.
In the final report released late Monday, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration said that the victim was taken from the Walker County complex with fracture injuries to his ankle and knee.
Two weeks later, on December 28, Key was pronounced dead from medical complications due to his injuries.
A coroner’s report said the immediate cause of death was a multiple organ failure of the pulmonary, renal and cardiac systems, and an underlying cause was pneumonia and multiple injuries tied to his fractures.
Neither the office nor MSHA released any more details on Key’s passing. No autopsy was conducted for Key.
MSHA did a review of the mine’s pre-op checks and maintenance practices and found no issues. An inspection of the boarding system on the truck indicated no mechanical failures and no slipping hazards present.
Key, who had been operating the same model rock truck since January 2002, was up to date on his training and safety certifications at the operation.
“Evidence obtained through interviews indicates the victim fell while ascending the access ladder,” the agency said.
“An inspection of the ladder/mounting system was conducted and no hazards or defects were found.”
In its root cause analysis, MSHA only made reference to the slip and fall accident itself, and the operator has since developed and implemented a program of best practices to train equipment operators in safe access and maintaining, entitled “Three Points of Contact” for mounting or dismounting mobile equipment.
The Choctaw mine is owned by Taft Coal Sales and Associates, itself a subsidiary of Walter Minerals.
The mine employs 64 hourly and seven management personnel and produces about 1300 tons daily.
The most recent semi-annual safety and health inspection was completed by MSHA on October 10, 2012. The mine’s non-fatal days lost incidence rate at the mine for 2012 was 0.00, versus the 2012 national NFDL rate of 1.09 for coal mines of this type.
