Surface Traprock – A loader operator was travelling down a 14% sloped roadway in a small articulated open -station loader which was equipped with ROPS and a seat belt. The operator was cleaning a shallow drainage ditch and rebuilding the washed – out berm behind the ditch. While watching the left side of the bucket and trying to maintain grade alignment with the roadway, a 1’ by 1’ by 2’ rock slid between the right side of the bucket and the front tire. The operator did not see the rock and when the right front tire ran over the rock, it caused the loader to tip to the left. The loader landed on the left side in the roadway. The operator was wearing his seat belt and was not injured. (Source: MineEx Safety Alert)
