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COAL MINE FATALITY - COAL MINE FATALITY - On May 29, 1997, a crew of four miners were installing a belt conveyor drive unit and were in the process of attaching a boom section to the unit. The boom section was suspended from the mine roof by a lever hoist. One of the crew members went between the boom and the drive unit to reposition another lever-hoist and lower the inby end of the boom. The chain on the lever hoist holding the boom suddenly broke and the boom section swung toward the drive unit crushing the miner against the drive roller.

This is the 13th coal mine fatality in 1997. As of May 29 of last year there had been 17 fatalities. This death is the second classified as MACHINERY in 1997.



Sketch of the Accident Scene


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report[FTL97C13]