Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978
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U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978 |
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www.msha.gov |  |
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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Thursday October 24, 1996, a plant foreman with 23 years mining experience was killed when he became entangled in a belt conveyor drive unit. The foreman was working with several other miners repairing a broken chain between the drive motor and drive roller. A nearby "Jog" switch was used to de-energize the drive motor and the guarding had been removed from around the drive. The chain was repositioned on the sprockets by the crew. The foreman, positioned standing on the belt conveyor structure beside the drive roller sprocket, was using a hammer to drive a master link into the chain. The drive motor unexpectedly became energized and the plant foreman was entangled in the drive unit. The electrical power to the drive had not been locked out and tagged, and the drive unit had not been blocked against motion. This is the 27th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of October 24, of last year, there had been 36 fatalities. This death is the eighth classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1996.  For more information:
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MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C27]