MSHA - Bulldozer Accident - Safety Alert

"On May 22, 2025, a bulldozer fell into a void above a feeder. The loose material from the coal pile collapsed around the bulldozer, engulfing the bulldozer and trapping the miner inside the cab. The bulldozer was equipped with a "submarine kit", consisting of high-strength glass, self-contained self-rescuers, and two-way communication. From January 2020 to May 2025, there have been seven entrapment accidents involving bulldozers.

Best Practices

• Maintain stability. Do not operate equipment directly over feeders and clearly mark the location of the draw holes.

• Identify and communicate significant changes in feed rate that may indicate the presence of a void in the stockpile.

• Stock equipment cabs with safety equipment. Include emergency oxygen, remote shut offs, and two-way communication. Ensure all safety devices are properly maintained.

• Install high-strength glass certified for at least 40 psi with a frame and supports designed to withstand the added loading of entrapment conditions.

• Train miners and other persons at the mine to identify and address or avoid hazards related to surface mobile equipment.

• Always wear seatbelts when operating mobile equipment and stay in the cab to ensure safety.

• Identify currently available and newly emerging feasible technologies that can enhance safety at the mine and evaluate whether to adopt them."

https://www.msha.gov/news-and-updates/alerts-hazards/filter/bulldozer-accident-safety-alert