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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at approximately 8:30 a.m., a 21-year old utility man/scoop operator, with 20 months of mining experience, was fatally injured while operating a battery-powered tractor (shield hauler). While backing the battery tractor into a crosscut, the rear tires of the machine ran over a 14-foot length of metal channel. This caused one end of the channel to raise, enter the operator's compartment, strike and fatally crush the victim.

Photo of Accident Scene


Best Practices

  • Examine active roadways as often as necessary to ensure safety, particularly when hauling loose materials.


  • Maintain all roadways free of materials that may pose a hazard to equipment operators, passengers or miners.


  • Emphasize safe operating procedures for equipment and maintenance of roadways in all training programs.
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 second fatality reported during calendar year 2005 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2004, there were eight fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the first fatality classified as powered haulage in 2005. There were three fatalities in this category at this time in 2004.

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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