COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, September 30, 1996, a
shuttle car operator was tramming a loaded standard shuttle car from the
continuous mining machine to the dumping point. However, he stopped the
shuttle car to move a cable, then began tramming outby again. During the
same time, the off-standard shuttle car was loaded and was also tramming
toward the dumping point. The two 21 SC shuttle cars collided in an
intersection with the front-end of the standard shuttle car striking the
operator's compartment of the off-standard shuttle. The off-standard
shuttle car operator was killed. Both shuttle car operators were sitting
in the operator decks facing inby and were operating the shuttle cars by
looking over-their-shoulders while tramming outby.
This is the 25th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of September 30, of
last year, there had been 33 fatalities. This death is the seventh
classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1996.
Photograph of the Accident Scene
For more information: MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C25]