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COAL MINE FATALITY - On February 6, 1997, two independent contractor employees, a truck driver and crane operator, were dismantling the 50-foot boom of a crane as a part of preparing the crane for movement to a repair shop. The crane boom was lowered onto a single crib block. The truck driver, positioned underneath the boom, began to remove the bottom connecting pins from the first section of the boom. When the second of the two bottom pins were removed, the bottom portion of the boom separated and articulating on the upper pin connection, the boom fell to the ground fatally crushing the truck driver. The crane operator, observing the accident, suffered the effects of physical shock and began having chest pains. The crane operator was hospitalized for a number of days for evaluation.

This is the third coal mine fatality in 1997. As of February 6 last year, there had been 3 fatalities. This death is the first classified as HANDTOOLS in 1997.



Drawing of the Accident Scene


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97C03]