FAB98C29
At 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 1998, a powered haulage accident occurred in the No. 4 track entry at the fourth crosscut inby the 001-section overcast. Basil D. Hall, a 32-year-old serviceman, with 48 weeks total mining experience, was fatally injured when he fell from a moving open personnel carrier onto the track and was run over.
Hall was riding in the open end of a J. H. Fletcher and Company Diesel Rail Runner personnel carrier, with five other miners when apparently repositioning himself to a more comfortable position, the vehicle encountered a small irregularity in the track. Hall then appeared to become unbalanced by the movement of the machine and fell over the front bumper onto the track into its path. After Hall fell, the machine traveled approximately 14 feet before coming to rest on top of him.
The accident occurred as a result of the mine operator's failure to insure that the removable guards which enclosed the open end of the diesel-powered personnel carrier were in place, thereby operating the machine in an unsafe condition. The total area of space available in the open end of the machine was approximately 40 square feet. This provided approximately 6.7 square feet of seating area for each of the six persons riding in the open end of the vehicle. This resulted in overcrowding which probably contributed to Hall repositioning himself.
The Unicorn Mining, Inc.'s, Copeland Mine, is located at Bledsoe, Leslie County, Kentucky. The mine is developed into the Copeland seam through drift openings. The mine employees 43 miners on 3 shifts, 40 underground, 3 on the surface, and operates 5 days per week with 9 hour shifts. The mine has two working sections and produces an average of 2000 tons of coal per shift. Coal is transported to the surface on conveyor belts. The 001-0 section produces coal on the third shift, is idled on the second shift and performs maintenance on the first shift. The 002-0 section produces coal on both the first and second shifts and performs maintenance on the third shift. The mine is ventilated by an 84 inch Jeffrey Aerodyne Fan, powered by a 500 horsepower electric motor. The fan produces 250,000 cubic feet of air per minute and the mine liberates approximately 66,000 cubic feet of methane per 24 hours.
The Copeland Mine was placed in producing status on September 21, 1993. Coal reserves mined are owned by Hensley Heirs, Cyprus Southern Realty, Southern Realty, and Corum-Turner. The surface is owned by Straight Creek Coal Resources and Cyprus Southern Realty.
The mine roof is supported with 42 inch minimum length fully grouted resin bolts. Entries are advanced on 60 to 90 foot centers and crosscuts are mined on 55 to 90 foot centers. A miner's representative was not designated at this mine.
The last regular (AAA) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspection was completed December 2, 1998.
The principal officers of the operation are:
| Thomas Lackey | President | |
| Camie Caldwell | Superintendent | |
| Eddie Spurlock | Mine Foreman | |
| Lonis Mitchell | Safety Director |
On Thursday, December 17, 1998, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the third shift crews entered the mine to begin their normal work duties. At the location of the 001-0 section overcast the 001-0 section production crew exited the personnel carrier. The 002-0 section maintenance crew, under the supervision of Jimmy Morgan, section foreman, and the belt maintenance crew, under the supervision of Ronnie Skeens, belt foreman, switched from the battery powered personnel carrier that had transported them from the surface to a Fletcher Diesel-Powered Rail Runner personnel carrier to continue their journey to the working section. Hall, the victim, positioned himself in the left front corner of the inby open end of the machine along with five other miners. Morgan was operating the personnel carrier. Three other miners were riding in the enclosed outby end, with a total of ten miners being transported on the personnel carrier.
The personnel carrier continued in the direction of the 002-0 section. Based upon statements obtained during the investigation of the accident, the machine had traveled approximately four crosscuts when Hall attempted to reposition himself. At approximately 11:15 p.m., as Hall was moving, the machine encountered an irregularity in the rails. This irregularity was a small, but noticeable, angular bend that was present in the track at the location of the rail joints. Hall apparently lost his balance and fell forward from the open end of the machine. Morgan stated that he saw Hall falling and applied the brakes to stop. As Hall fell, he grabbed the jacket of Freeman Crosby, section repairman, who was seated in the front of the vehicle, adjacent to him on his right. At this point, Skeens unsuccessfully attempted to grab Hall. The machine traveled approximately 23 feet as Hall was in the process of falling and approximately 14 feet after he contacted the track, running over him. Hall was caught under the machine when it came to a stop.
All the miners exited the personnel carrier after it came to a stop. After visually observing the extent of Hall's injuries, it was apparent that there was no need to check for vital signs or administer medical assistance. Immediately, the crews began recovery operations utilizing a jack under the front bumper in an attempt to raise the vehicle from Hall. It was determined that a scoop that was located at the end of the track, approximately ten crosscuts away would be needed. Leman Asher, roof bolting machine operator, was dispatched to bring it to the accident location. After the scoop arrived, it was used to raise the machine, and Hall was removed from beneath the vehicle. Hall was placed on a stretcher, moved into the open end of the machine and transported to the surface.
On the surface, Hall was pronounced dead by Leslie County Coroner Greg Walker at 2:00 a.m. on December 18, 1998. He was then transported to Walker Funeral Home in Hyden, Ky.
At approximately 1:05 a.m., on December 18, 1998, D.F. Parks, MSHA Coal Mine Safety & Health (CMS&H) Inspector in Barbourville, Ky, were notified by Lonis Mitchell safety director that an accident had occurred. Parks immediately notified John Pyles Assistant District Manager for Enforcement. Pyles dispatched Billy Parrott accident investigator and John Arrington Supervisory CMS&H Inspector to investigate the accident. The team arrived at the mine at approximately 3:00 a.m. at which time the investigation started. Pyles also traveled to the mine and later dispatched Don McDaniel, accident investigator, to the mine that morning. A 103(K) Order was issued by Parrott at 3:00 a.m. on December 18, 1998 to ensure the safety of the miners until an investigation could be conducted. MSHA and the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals conducted a joint investigation with the assistance of mine management and miners. Stan Michalek, MSHA Pittsburgh Technical Support, provided technical assistance in the investigation and Tom Grooms, Office of the Regional Solicitor, Nashville, Tennessee, provided legal assistance in the investigation.
The investigation revealed the following factors relevant to the occurrence:
Examination of records indicated that all required training had been conducted in accordance with Part 48, Title 30 CFR. Hall had completed his Initial 40-hour New Miner training on April 1, 1998, and his Newly Employed, Inexperienced Miner training April 2, 1998. Hall also received New Task training for a brattice person on April 6, 1998, and for a belt person on April 7, 1998. Removable safety guards, installed by the manufacturer, which are required when miners are being transported in the open end of the personnel carrier, had been removed prior to the accident. However, it could not be determined when or by whom these guards had been removed. These safety guards, consisted of a railing and post system designed to provide protection for persons riding in the front open end compartment. They were to be removed only when needed to facilitate the transportation of materials in that end of the vehicle.
Based upon statements obtained during interviews, it appeared that Hall was in the process of repositioning himself when the irregularity in the track was encountered. The lateral movement of the machine caused by the irregularity in the track, apparently resulted in Hall becoming unbalanced. When Morgan observed Hall falling from the machine, he instinctively applied the brakes to stop the vehicle. This sudden decrease in the speed of the vehicle further increased Hall's unbalanced state. Additionally, because of the distance between the front wheels and the front of the vehicle, any movement experienced by the front wheels, when they encountered the irregularity in the track, would be magnified at the front of the vehicle.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
The J. H. Fletcher & Co. Diesel Rail Runner personnel carrier had been equipped with removable safety guard rails that are required when persons are being transported in the open end. These had been removed and had not been reinstalled prior to the machine's use as a personnel carrier. The guards, which consisted of a railing and post system, were designed to provide protection for persons riding in the front open end compartment and were to be removed only when needed to facilitate the transportation of materials in that end of the vehicle.
The accident occurred as a result of the mine operator's failure to insure that the removable safety guards which enclosed the open end of the personnel carrier were in place, thereby operating the machine in an unsafe condition. The total area of space available in the open end of the machine was approximately 40 square feet. This provided approximately 6.7 square feet of seating area for each of the six persons riding in the open end of the vehicle. This may have resulted in overcrowding which may have also contributed to Hall repositioning himself.
Submitted by:
Billy A. Parrott
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector
Stan Michalek
Pittsburgh Technical Support
Approved by:
John M. Pyles
Assistant District Manager for Enforcement
CMS&H, District 7
Joseph W. Pavlovich
District Manager
CMS&H, District 7
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:
FAB98C29
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