Rollover Accident

msha.gov, Mar 10, 2005

On January 9, 2002, a truck rollover accident occurred at a surface mine in District 8. A 150-ton Caterpillar 785B haul truck was being operated on the second shift at the spoil area of the pit when the accident occurred. The haul truck operator was hauling dirt from the east end of the pit to the spoil area, which was near the center of the pit. The operator backed the haul truck over the berm at the dump area. After overturning two or three times while traveling approximately 240 feet down the slope, the truck landed on its wheels in the pit floor. The spoil was soft clay dirt on an approximate 30-degree angle. The operator was wearing a seat belt, and he stayed inside the cab as the haul truck overturned down the slope. A broken bone near the operator's eye and a few cuts were his only injuries. Except the passenger's side window, all of the haul truck's cab glass was broken out. Subsequent inspection of the haul truck did not reveal any deficiencies. Inspection of the dumping location indicated that the berm was inadequate to prevent over travel and overturning.