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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, May 12, 2000, a 29 year old continuous mining machine operator, using a radio remote control, positioned himself between the mining machine and right rib as he trammed the machine out of the working face. Fatal crushing injuries resulted when the victim was caught by the trailing cable support bracket, which protruded about 17 inches from the right rear side of the machine. The mining height at this location was 41 inches.

Fatalgram Photo

Best Practices

  • When a continuous mining machine is being trammed by remote control, the continuous mining machine operator and all other persons must be outside the machine's turning radius and away from pinch points at all times.

  • Adequate task training to assure safe operation of equipment requires training and observation of all tasks required to be performed by the equipment operator. Proper follow up is required to assure the training is understood and implemented.
More Information
E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program 		Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.


This is the twelfth fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1999, there were twelve fatalities. This is the third machinery fatality reported in the coal mining industry in 2000. There was only one machinery fatal reported in the same period in 1999.

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This bulletin is part of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) program to alert the mining industry in a timely manner of a tragic loss of life in the mines. We encourage you to consider the above information as you make safety decisions for or recommendations to your company or constituency. The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.

For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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