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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, March 12, 2007, a 47 year-old miner with 29 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface mine. The victim was operating a hydraulic excavator that rolled over a bench when it was repositioned during spoil loading operations, trapping him.

Photo Showing Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above


Best Practices
  • Ensure that the size of the bench is compatible for the type of equipment used and the operation performed.
  • Conduct a thorough visual examination of highwalls and spoil banks immediately before any work is performed and thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Provide rollover protection for equipment where conditions warrant.
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 4th fatality reported during calendar year 2007 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2006, there were 21 fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the first fatality classified as Machinery in 2007. At this time in 2006, 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:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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