Lee Mackey, a 56-year-old crusher maintenance mechanic, was killed on 14 March 2018 while helping to install a discharge chute assembly on a vibrating screen deck. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a Report of Investigation of the fatality at Geneva Rock Products’ Hansen Pit in Utah.
A crane operator lowered the discharge chute assembly into place which became wedged between the steel structures of the vibrating screen deck. Mackey and colleague Louis Jacobson climbed over the handrails of the vibrating screen deck and across the elevated belt conveyors to try and free the suspended chute assembly. The discharge chute assembly shifted and hit Mackay – causing a fatal head injury. Emergency services arrived at the scene and carried out CPR and used a defibrillator, but confirmed Mackay’s death at 1:32pm.
MSHA carried out an investigation of the incident with the help of mine management, miners, and their representatives, and the Draper City Police Department.
Through a route cause analysis, the accident investigation team confirmed management did not have the policies, procedures and controls for miners removing and installing discharge chute assemblies on vibrating screen decks.
The workforce have been retrained using new policies, procedures and training materials with a focus on not working underneath suspended loads.
