Fatality #2 - January 12, 2008

COAL MINE FATALITY - On Saturday, January 12, 2008, a fall of highwall accident resulted in fatal injuries to a shovel operator with 22 years of mining experience. The shovel was located parallel to and approximately 40 feet away from the toe of the highwall which was approximately 45 feet high. During a normal work break, the shovel operator climbed off the shovel. While the shovel operator was positioned between the toe of the highwall and the shovel, the highwall collapsed and pushed the victim against the track of the shovel. After returning to the pit and finding the shovel operator missing, a haul truck driver radioed for assistance. The shovel operator was found mostly covered in the sandy loam type material from the highwall. The victim was recovered but CPR was unsuccessful.