Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Fatalgrams For the Coal Mine Accident on October 20, 2006

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Mine Safety and Health Administration
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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, October 20, 2006, at approximately 2:25 p.m. a 49-year old continuous mining machine operator, with 25 years of mining experience was fatally injured. A section of coal and rock measuring approximately 8.5 feet long, 4 feet thick and 4 feet in height slipped from the coal rib, because of a slip plane, and crushed him against a shuttle car.

Diagram of Accident Scene described in paragraph above

Best Practices

Conduct thorough preshift, onshift and workplace examinations to identify hazards involving roof or coal ribs.
Always pull down or support coal ribs that are unstable.
Train miners to identify slip planes and other unsafe conditions pertaining to coal ribs.
Always be alert for geological changes so that slip planes, kettle bottoms, horsebacks, or slicken sides can be detected.

	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 41^stfatality reported during calendar year 2006 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2005, there were 16 fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the fourth fatality classified as Fall of Face, Rib, Side, or Highwall in 2006. During 2005, there were no fatalities in this classification.

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


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