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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Sunday, September 16, 2007, a 53-year old contractor with 33 years experience was fatally injured when he fell approximately 350 feet down a mine air shaft. There was no scheduled work to be performed across the railing near the shaft. The concrete floor was being sanded in preparation for installing automatic closing doors between two fans inside the fan housing.

Photo of Accident Site


Best Practices
  • Use appropriate fall protection equipment when a fall hazard exists.
  • Identify hazards prior to performing work and take appropriate precautious.
  • Establish and train personnel in safe work procedures.
  • Never approach an open shaft without appropriate or adequate fall protection.
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 29th fatality reported in calendar year 2007 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2006, there were 38 fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the fifth fall of person fatality 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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