The lead motorman (victim) was found unconscious in the operator's deck of his locomotive. The motormen were transporting empty supply cars to the slope bottom. While switching the cars through a set of airlock doors, the tail motorman heard the lead motor go through a closed airlock door. When he got to the lead motor he found the victim unresponsive and slumped over in the operator's seat. The tail motorman immediately phoned for help and started CPR within 5 minutes of finding the victim. The victim was transported to the surface on the mine's slope car where the Taylor County EMS was waiting on the surface. EMS transported the victim to the Grafton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Fatality #6 - May 16, 2016
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Leer Mine, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Coal Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Incident Date/Time: May 16, 2016 04:15 am
PUBLIC NOTICE
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:
John Hall, Lead Accident Investigator
Phone: 304.225.6880
PRELIMINARY REPORT
The lead motorman (victim) was found unconscious in the operator's deck of his locomotive. The motormen were transporting empty supply cars to the slope bottom. While switching the cars through a set of airlock doors, the tail motorman heard the lead motor go through a closed airlock door. When he got to the lead motor he found the victim unresponsive and slumped over in the operator's seat. The tail motorman immediately phoned for help and started CPR within 5 minutes of finding the victim. The victim was transported to the surface on the mine's slope car where the Taylor County EMS was waiting on the surface. EMS transported the victim to the Grafton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
FATALITY ALERT
COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, May 16, 2016, a 50-year-old motorman, with over 14 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when the diesel locomotive he was operating crashed through a closed airlock door. The diesel locomotive was pulling six drop deck cars and had stopped to allow another motorman operating a trailing locomotive to separate the cars to provide the clearance needed to pass through the airlock. As the other motorman was preparing to couple his locomotive to the cars, the train unexpectedly moved forward and continued away from him towards the slope bottom where it crashed through the closed outby airlock door.
FINAL REPORT
CAI-2016-6
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
Underground Coal Mine
Fatal Powered Haulage Accident
May 16, 2016