On Saturday, May 14, 2011, at approximately 8:18 p.m., Richard L Young, a 37-year old mechanic with at least 14 years mining experience was fatally injured while removing the counter weight from a Caterpillar 992 G End Loader. Two mechanics were preparing to remove the fuel tank and counter weight when the victim placed himself under the machine and started removing the 30 mm x 80 mm bolts holding the weight in place. The victim had successfully removed 14 of the 16 bolts. Upon starting to remove the next to last bolt, it appears that the last two remaining bolts failed and broke, allowing the 11,685 pound counter weight to fall, crushing the victim causing fatal injuries. No blocking or attempt to secure the counter weight was provided before removing the bolls.
Fatality #5 - May 14, 2011
This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident.
Please provide any information to Mike Dickerson, Lead Accident Investigator at 304-877-3900.
On Saturday, May 14, 2011, at approximately 8:18 p.m., Richard L Young, a 37-year old mechanic with at least 14 years mining experience was fatally injured while removing the counter weight from a Caterpillar 992 G End Loader. Two mechanics were preparing to remove the fuel tank and counter weight when the victim placed himself under the machine and started removing the 30 mm x 80 mm bolts holding the weight in place. The victim had successfully removed 14 of the 16 bolts. Upon starting to remove the next to last bolt, it appears that the last two remaining bolts failed and broke, allowing the 11,685 pound counter weight to fall, crushing the victim causing fatal injuries. No blocking or attempt to secure the counter weight was provided before removing the bolls.
COAL MINE FATALITY - - On Saturday, May 14, 2011, a 37-year old mechanic with 14 years of mining experience and 1½ years of experience as a mechanic, was killed while removing a counter weight fuel tank assembly from a front-end loader. He was positioned beneath the front-end loader when he removed 14 of the 16 mounting bolts that secure the counter weight. When the victim attempted to remove the next to last bolt, the remaining two bolts failed allowing the 11,685 pound counterweight to fall on him. The counter weight had not been blocked to prevent it from falling.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
Surface Coal Mine
Fatal Machinery Accident
May 14, 2011
Guyan
Apogee Coal Company LLC
Rum Creek Road
Yolyn , Logan County, West Virginia
I.D. No. 46-08939
Accident Investigator