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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Thursday, December 17, 1998, a 32-year-old serviceman was fatally injured when he fell from a moving rail mounted personnel carrier. The victim was positioned in the front left corner of the open end of a diesel personnel carrier with another serviceman and beltmen. During the victim's attempt to reposition himself, the personnel carrier encountered a kink in the track causing the victim to lose his balance. He fell over the front of the personnel carrier and was crushed between the carrier and the mine floor.

Best Practices

  • Open type personnel carriers should be equipped with guards of sufficient strength and height to prevent personnel from being thrown from such carriers.

  • Personnel carriers should not be overcrowded.

  • Personnel carriers should be operated at a safe speeds consistent with conditions and the equipment used.

  • All Personnel carriers should be under the direction of a supervisor and the operator of each personnel carrier should be familiar with the haulage safety rules and regulations.

    • This is the 29th fatality reported in calendar year 1998 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1997, there were 29 fatalities. This is the 8th fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 1998.

    For more information:

    Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL98C29]