COAL MINE FATALITY - On Wednesday, December 6, 1995, an independent
contractor was dismantling a large wheel excavator for scrap material. Working
from the stacker boom portion of the structure and utilizing a cutting torch, the
center "A" frame structure was cut to allow the digging ladder gantry to fall off
of the overall structure. However, when the gantry fell, the stacker boom on the
other side of the "A" frame also collapsed suddenly, cutting or breaking the safety
belt lanyard the employee was wearing, causing him to fall about 90 feet to the
ground. The "A" structure was critical to holding both the stacker boom and the
digging ladder gantry portions of the excavator.
This is the 42nd coal mine fatality in 1995. As of December 6, of last year there
had been 41 fatalities. This death is the fourth classified as SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
in 1995.
Photograph and line drawing of the accident scene
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95C42]
