COAL MINE FATALITY - On February 7, a longwall system operator with three years of experience at this job, died while transporting a ram jack from the longwall face. The longwall system operator and two other employees were transporting an 800 pound ram jack on the face and stageloader conveyors to remove it from the section. When the jack passed through the crusher, the victim thought the jack had become lodged. The victim stood on the stageloader chain conveyor near the opening of the crusher attempting to locate the jack, when the conveyor started. He was then pulled through the crusher which was not operating. The clearance in the crusher ranged from 7 to 9 inches.
This is the fourth coal mine fatality in 1997. As of February 7 last year, there had been 4 fatalities. This death is the second classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1997.
Photograph of Stageloader Conveyor Crusher Opening
For more information: 
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97C04]
