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Fatality Alert - Fatality #4 - February 18, 2008

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

PDF Version

fab08c04.pdf (99.2 KB)

COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, February 18, 2008, a 51-year old outside service technician (contractor) with one year of experience was fatally injured while placing concrete barriers along a mine access road. A rubber-tired boom truck was being used to move the concrete barriers into place. The victim was electrocuted while standing on the ground, touching a suspended concrete barrier, when the boom came in contact with an energized 14,500 volt overhead power wire. The operator of the boom truck was treated and released. 

Photo of Accident Scene Described in the Paragraph Above

Best Practices

  • Ensure that booms or masts of equipment are not operated within 10 feet of any energized overhead powerline.
  • Identify hazards associated with tasks prior to work assignments.
  • Ensure that one person on the ground is designated to give signals to the crane operator and watch placement and proximity of the mast.
  • Use non-conducting tag lines to steady loads when operating cranes where overhead power lines are present.

Additional Information

This is the fourth fatality reported in calendar year 2008 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2007, there were three fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the first Electrical fatality in 2008. At this time in 2007, there were no fatalities in this classification.