• Maintain equipment braking systems.
• Conduct pre-operational checks to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
• Know the trucks capabilities, operating ranges, load limits and safety features.
• Routinely monitor work habits and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are being followed.

	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 10th fatality charged to the coal mining industry in calendar year 2004. As of the accident date in 2003, there were five fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the third fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 2004. There was one Powered Haulage fatality at this time in 2003.

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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:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report