UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
District 7
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT
SURFACE MINE
FATAL SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Lost Mountain Mining Company
Lost Mountain Mining Company Mine
I.D. No. 15-13937
Lost Creek, Perry County, Kentucky
April 15, 1995
By
Charlie Fields
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector/Accident Inspector
Originating Office-Mine Safety and Health Administration
HC 66, Box 1762, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906
Joseph W. Pavlovich, District 7 Manager
Overview
Abstract of Fatal Slip or Fall Accident
At approximately 8:40 p.m., on Saturday, April 15, 1995, a fatal
slip or fall of person accident occurred on a P&H, 2800 electric
stripping shovel located in the J855 pit, at the Lost Mountain
Mining Company Mine of Lost Mountain Mining Company.
Billy Warren Williams, foreman, fell 31 feet and 4 inches through
a cut-away portion of an elevated walkway located adjacent the
shovel's boom, first striking the machine power cable supporter
and finally striking the ground.
The fatal slip of fall resulted in the death of the foreman. The
accident occurred as a direct result of the failure to insure the
wearing of safety belts or lines when working from an elevated
position where a danger of falling existed.
General Information and Background
The Lost Mountain Mining Company surface mine is located at Lost
Creek, Perry County, Kentucky and is operated by Lost Mountain
Mining Company, a subsidiary of Cyprus/Amax Minerals Company.
The Principal Officials of Cyprus/Amax Minerals Company are:
W. Mark Hart ................President
Kevin S. Crutchfield .......Vice President/General Manager
Phillip C. Wolf ............... Senior Vice President/General Counsel and Secretary
The Principal Officials of Lost Mountain Mining Company are:
W. Mark Hart ................President
Kevin S. Crutchfield ...... Vice President/General Manager
Francis J. Kane ............. Vice President/Treasurer
The Principal Officials of the mine are:
Kevin S. Crutchfield ......Vice President/General Manager
Walt Reed ....................Superintendent
Thomas Lewis, Jr. .........Safety Director
The mine employs l4l employees and l8 salary employees on two
production shifts and one maintenance shift. The mine produces
l0,000 tons of coal daily, and operates six to seven days per
week.
There are, at present, five active pits. Coal seams mined from
these seams are located in the Hazard No's.7, 8 and 9 coal beds
and range independently in thickness from 40 inches to 60 inches.
Overburden is extracted from the surface by " mountain-top
removal" methods, utilizing a Marion 8050 dragline equipped with
a 60 yard bucket, a P&H Model 2800 MKII electric shovel equipped
with a 30 yard bucket and a Caterpillar Model 995 front end-
loader equipped with a 23 yard bucket. Explosives, including
ANFO, are used to blast the overburden above the coal seam. The
overburden is hauled utilizing Euclid and Wabco 170 ton haulback
trucks and Terex 85 and 120 ton haulback trucks. Coal is loaded
from the excavated pits and is transported from the pit areas,
via truck, to the preparation plant located on mine property
where the coal is processed. The clean coal is then transported,
via Highway l5, to the railway loadout facility located at
Bulan, Kentucky where it is loaded into railroad cars and shipped
to various utilities throughout the United States.
The last Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regular AAA
inspection was completed on February 15, 1995.
Description of Accident
On Saturday, April l5, l995, the evening shift had begun normally
at 7:00 p.m. with the mine foreman, Billy W. Williams giving the
miners general instructions for the work to be performed during
the on-coming shift. Records examined indicate that Williams
conducted his onshift examination of Job Site No. 7 and the shift
continued without incident up until the time of the accident.
Williams instructed Joseph K. Langhorn, mechanic and Timothy J.
Miller, Welder, to perform work on the shovel. Langhorn was
instructed to examine the saddle blocks for slack. Miller's
instructions were to replace a damaged portion of catwalk located
on the operator's right side of the boom.
Langhorn completed his examination and observed no slack in the
saddle blocks. He then dismounted the shovel and left for the
shop.
At that time, Miller then boarded the shovel and carried torches,
welder, welding hood and welding rods up to the damaged section
of catwalk. Miller then proceeded to cut away the damaged
catwalk from the frame.
Williams arrived at some time during these activities. Langhorn
soon returned to the pit and discussed the condition of the
saddle blocks with Williams.
Jerry L. Campbell, Mechanic, arrived at the jobsite in the
interim to assist Langhorn in the repair of the shovel.
Campbell, Williams and Langhorn stood on the ground and observed
Miller cutting the catwalk loose. When Miller completed cutting
the damaged catwalk, he dismounted the shovel and traveled to
his truck to obtain a bar to pry the loose material out. The
truck was parked, but located on the opposite side of the shovel
from where the other miners were standing.
At this time, Williams travelled onboard the shovel. According
to statements made during interviews, the remaining miners did
not see him do so.
Langhorn, obtained tools from his truck, placed them on the
shovel's manlift, and then returned to his truck.
Campbell had just begun walking to his truck which was parked,
near the shovel, and alongside that of the welder's truck. Both
Williams and Langhorn were out of his sight at this time.
Enroute, Campbell spoke with Miller, then proceeded and began
gathering tools. Langhorn, Miller and Campbell all stated in
interview that they then heard the sound of metal parts clashing.
Hearing the sound, Langhorn turned and saw Williams falling in
the air. At that time, Williams was located approximately five
feet above the power cable supporter. Langhorn stated that the
victim was in a "head-first" position with arms outstretched to
the front of his head. Langhorn stated he did not see William's
impact. Langhorn immediately ran to Williams, who was lying on
the ground on his back. He kneeled and asked Williams if he was
alright. Williams briefly spoke, then lowered his head.
Langhorn ran to his truck and summoned assistance from EMT's
located in another pit and called for an ambulance.
Campbell also had heard the sound of metal parts clashing, and
called to Miller. Campbell then walked to where he could see the
entire area and observed Williams on the ground. He then ran to
Williams, and observed Williams take 3 gasps of air. He
attempted to converse with him, but got no response. Campbell
began mouth to mouth resuscitation as soon as he observed that
Williams had stopped breathing.
When Miller heard the clashing noise, he travelled back up the
stairway leading to the catwalk and then saw Williams lying on
the ground. Miller immediately dismounted the shovel and went to
assist Campbell and Langhorn with the victim. With the victim
now being attended by Campbell and Miller, Langhorn then left the
scene in his truck and picked up Bulldozer Operator, Isaac B.
Williams, an EMT. He then returned to the accident site where
Williams then checked for vital signs. He found no pulse or
breathing. Isaac Williams began CPR by himself, then was
assisted by Langhorn. CPR continued until Frankie Bently,
Laborer, arrived. Bently had been contacted by portable radio,
by Langhorn, to bring the ambulance to the accident site. An-
other EMT, Johnny Miller, Dragline Operator, had seen the
ambulance rush by the dragline which he was operating in an
adjacent pit. Miller utilized his CB radio to inquire as to who
had been hurt and was told that Billy Williams had fallen from
the shovel. Miller, then also travelled to the accident site to
assist. The victim was placed into the ambulance and EMT's Isaac
B. Williams and Johnny Miller continued CPR until their arrival
at the Hazard Appalachian Regional Hospital. The victim was
pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m.
The Investigation
Avon Pratt, CMI, of MSHA's Hazard Subdistrict was notified of the
accident by Thomas Lewis of Lost Mountain Mining Company at 10:05
p.m. An investigation was begun immediately.
Physical Factors Involved
- The P&H Model 2800 MKII electric shovel was idled at the
time of the accident for maintenance.
- Weather conditions were overcast with darkness falling.
According to statements obtained in interviews, the accident
site was well illuminated. Immediately after the accident,
rain began falling.
- The damaged catwalk had been cut apart from the frame with
torches. According to statements obtained, care was being
exercised to insure that the section cut away would not fall
through and possibly strike the machine's power cable which
was located below the cut away catwalk.
- The victim fell from the boom of the shovel, a distance of
26 feet and 6 inches, striking the metal bar of the power
cable supporter, and finally striking the ground surface, a
total of 3l feet and 4 inches from the catwalk on the boom
to the ground.
- According to the statements obtained during interviews,
neither the victim, nor the welder, Miller, had utilized
safety belts while working from an elevated position,
despite an obvious falling hazard.
- An examination of the operator's training materials
indicated that Lost Mountain Mining Company's Safety Rules
and Procedures Handbook clearly states on Page 3 "Safety
belts or life lines shall be used, by employees, when
exposed to hazardous falls."
- There were no eye witnesses to pinpoint the exact position
from which the victim fell.
- The victim's hard hat was found lodged behind the crowd
motor housing adjacent to the boom of the shovel.
- No other physical evidence in the form of smudges, clothing
fibers, etc. was found on or around the boom of the shovel
to assist investigators in determining the victim's exact
position prior to the fall. Heavy rains may have been a
factor in washing away such evidence.
- The guardrail's spacing for the right side of the catwalk
platform measured 33" in length. The height of the
guardrails measured 20" at 90 degrees from the framing of
the catwalk to the bottom guardrail and 42" to the top
guardrail. The center guardrail's spacing was 25" from the
right hand sides first corner post of the platform. The
forward guardrails measured l6" in length with the center
guardrail being 20" from the framing and the top guardrail
being 42". On the left side of the catwalk, at the top of
the steps leading to the catwalk platform, there is no
guardrail. The distance from the step to this end of the
framing on the left side is 28 l/2".
- The cut-away metal portion of the damaged catwalk, weighing
approximately 50 lbs., was found lying on the framing of the
power cable supporter to the right of the position of the
victim's initial impact, indicating that the portion of the
catwalk had been dislodged by the victim in such a manner as
to cause the victim to lose his balance at the work
location.
- Statements obtained during interviews indicated that the
portion of the catwalk fell first, prior to the victim,
which resulted in the sound of metal parts clashing.
- Injuries sustained by the victim as indicated in the Autopsy
Report, including abrasions and lacerations, closely
resemble the pattern of the edge of the cut-away material
indicating the victim's contact with the cut-away edge of
the metal material in the framing.
- Results obtained from the Report of Autopsy do not indicate
either abrasions or lacerations of the hands or forearms
which suggests that the victim did not try to grab or to
prevent his fall. However, statements obtained during
interview indicated that the victim was wearing gloves at
the time of the accident.
- In the distance of the fall, 26.5 feet, the duration of the
victim's fall would have been less than two seconds.
- Statements obtained during interviews indicate that prior to
impact the victim was in a "head-first" position.
- Measurements of the frame, angle bracing and cut-away
portion of the catwalk indicate that both the victim and the
cut-away portion of the catwalk could pass through the
narrower opening at the base of the angle bracing.
- Located directly beneath the frame and portion of catwalk
are a gear casing, drain line and valve. These are of
sufficient dimension to deflect the grating to the victim's
right, and would allow the victim to pass through the angle
bracing unobstructed.
- Results of the Report of Autopsy indicate that neither drugs
nor alcohol was a factor. However, statements obtained
during the course of the investigation indicated that the
victim may have received less than 5 hours of sleep prior to
the shift on which the accident occurred.
Conclusion
It is the consensus of the investigating team that based upon the
location and type of injuries received and statements obtained
during the course of interviews that the victim fell head-first
through the opening in the catwalk while attempting to remove the
cut-away grating. The accident occurred as a direct result of
the failure to insure the wearing of safety belts or lines when
working from an elevated position.
Enforcement Actions
- A Section l03(k) Order was issued to ensure the safety of
other persons in the mine until an investigation by MSHA was
conducted.
- A Section l04(a) Citation was issued, to the operator, for
failure to insure the wearing of safety belt(s) or line(s)
when working from an elevated position despite a danger of
falling. This was a violation of 75.l7l0(g).
Respectfully submitted by:
Charlie Fields
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector/Accident Investigator
Approved by:
Edward R. Morgan
Acting Subdistrict Manager Hazard, KY Subdistrict
Joseph Pavlovich
District 7 Manager
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:
 [FAB95C11]
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