Fatality #32 - April 11, 2010

COAL MINE FATALITY - On April 11, 2010, a 61-year old contract iron worker/mine fireboss with 20 years of mining experience was fatally injured while installing pre-fabricated metal stairs on the side of a fan housing. The stair stringer had been hoisted into place and clamped at the top with two "locking pliers-type" C-clamps. The bottom of the inclined stringer was lying on a 6x6 inch timber. To level the stair treads, a 6x6 inch timber was going to be replaced with a 4x4 inch timber. To replace the 6x6 timber, rigging was fastened near the lower part of the stringer. The victim was standing on the ground holding the handrails. As the lower end of the stringer was hoisted by the crane, the clamps opened and the top end of the stringer fell. This caused the bottom end of the stringer to pivot up and swing out. This pushed the victim backward and pinned him against a nearby manlift.