Electrical Safety Alert

Always Stay Out of the Line of (Electrical) Fire
Three Miners Electrocuted in Ten Days

On January 27, 2023, two truck drivers were electrocuted after an overhead power line came in contact with their trucks. They exited the cabs of their trucks and came in contact with electrical energy.

On February 6, 2023, a haul truck driver raised the truck bed into an overhead power line. The driver exited the truck to extinguish a fire on the truck’s tire and was electrocuted when he tried to reenter the truck.

Best Practices:
• Do not stage, park or position trucks, cranes, or other equipment under overhead power lines.
• Post warning signs at all approaches to overhead power lines; install barricades where necessary.
• Establish safe approaches and create safe zones for raising and lowering truck beds, booms, and masts.
• If your truck, boom, or mast contacts an overhead power line:
o Remain inside the vehicle
o Call emergency response personnel
o Inform others to stay away
o Exit the truck only if it is on fire. To exit, jump from the truck landing with both feet together. Do not touch the truck and ground at the same time. Then, shuffle both feet as close as possible for at least 30 feet as you move away from the truck.

LEARN MORE

Miners and mine operators can find safety and health information on MSHA.gov.