Fatality #32 - April 11, 2010

On April 11, 2010, at approximately 3:30 p.m., an employee working for Coalfield Services, Inc., (Coalfield) received fatal injuries in a machinery accident. The victim and three other Coalfield employees were working to attach a 16-foot long section of stairs to the side of the mine fan housing. The top end of the stair stringer was being held in place against the side of the return air duct with two locking C-clamps. The bottom of the stair stringer was resting on a 6-inch-by-6-inch (6x6) timber on the ground. The victim was standing at the bottom of the stair stringer holding onto the handrails. Two nylon slings were attached between the hook on the truck-mounted crane and the bottom of the stair stringer. The bottom of the stair stringer needed to be lifted slightly in order to remove the 6x6 timber. When the crane lifted the stairs, the top of the stair stringer began sliding down the side of the fan housing because the clamps were not suitable to prevent movement. As the top of the stairs slid down, the bottom end of the stairs shifted away from the fan house and toward the victim. The stairs forced the victim backward against the frame of the articulating boom manlift that was parked directly behind him. The bottom of the stair section struck the victim in the chest as he was against the manlift.