The rural Gilbert man killed in an accident Friday at the Mittal Steel USA Minorca Mine still was training to use the 20-ton Omega crane he was operating.
According to the report by St. Louis County Inspector of Mines Barry Lesar, Donovan Dunblazier, 49, who had worked at the mine for 30 years, had been classified as a heavy equipment operator for five months before the accident, with "intermittent crane training that had not been completed for this unit at the time of the accident."
Such on-the-job training is not unusual, said Bob Bratulich, United Steelworkers District 11 director.
"Whether they are operating shovels or driving trucks, it's quite common," Bratulich said. "I would assume that if it was during the [usual] six-month training period, it's possible he was operating on his own, but there were people there somewhat overseeing the work."
According to the report, Mittal Steel's on-site crane trainer was working with Dunblazier as he prepared to make his fourth lift of the day with the crane. Dunblazier was lifting about 1,280 pounds of steel spiral-weld pipe into place.
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Mittal's on-site crane trainer was "monitoring the crane operation from various places nearby" as Dunblazier worked. According to the report, when Dunblazier rotated the crane's boom to one side, the trainer saw the setup was not correct and told Dunblazier that the stabilizing outriggers must be set down during the lift.
While the trainer was checking the crane's tires for evidence of imbalance, he "heard Don rev the engine and start to extend the boom for unknown reasons," according to the report. As the trainer yelled for Dunblazier to drop the load, the crane began to tip over. Dunblazier came out of the crane's cab as it tipped and was pinned under the crane as it landed. It was not known whether Dunblazier had been wearing a seat belt.
The report recommended that Mittal company employees review the incident at safety meetings, emphasize the importance of using seat belts and staying in the equipment cab in case of an incident, and "insist on the use of outriggers while performing any side lifts."
