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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Wednesday, December 12, 2007, a 31-year old contract truck driver with three years experience was fatally injured at a surface truck loadout area. While traveling on an 8 to 9 percent grade, the truck became stuck in loose gravel in a muddy area. A mine employee parked a rubber-tired loader approximately six feet above the truck and exited the cab to attach a tow chain to pull the truck up the grade. As the loader operator and truck driver were attaching the tow chain, the loader rolled into the truck knocking the loader operator aside and fatally injuring the truck driver.

Photo of Accident Scene Photo of Accident Scene


Best Practices
  • When parking or leaving unattended mobile equipment on a grade, block or turn the wheels into the berm and ensure that parking brakes are set.
  • Conduct thorough pre-operational checks and correct safety defects before operating equipment.
  • Ensure that equipment operators are properly tasked trained.
  • Maintain parking brake systems and purge moisture from the system according to manufacturer's recommendations. Maintain mine roads in good condition.
  • Provide contract coal haul truck drivers with the required hazard and site specific safety training for each operation that they work.
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 31st fatality reported in calendar year 2007 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2006, there were 46 fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the fourth Powered Haulage fatality in 2007. At this time in 2006, there were eight 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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