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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Thursday, April 12, 2001, a 50 year old, continuous mining machine operator, with 22 years experience, received fatal crushing injuries when he was caught between the tail boom of the continuous miner and the coal rib. The victim had trammed the No. 176 Joy 12CM27 continuous miner from the No. 4 entry towards the No. 5 entry to pull up slack cable and was in the process of removing the excess cable from the miner boom. The ripper head of the No. 176 miner extended into the No. 5 entry. The No.181 Joy 12CM27 continuous miner was being trammed up the No.5 entry where it struck the ripper head of the No. 176 miner causing the tail boom to swing, catching the victim between the boom and the coal rib.

Diagram of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • All personnel should remain a safe distance from any pinch point areas of the continuous miners.
  • All personnel should verify their proposed route of travel is clear when tramming continuous miners into position.
  • Adequate task training should be performed to assure safe operation of equipment.
    • More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
    Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

    This is the 6th fatal accident, reported in calendar year 2001, in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2000, there were nine fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the first fatal accident, classified as Machinery, reported in the coal mining industry in 2001. At this time in 2000, there were two fatal accidents, classified as Machinery, in the coal mining industry.


    The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.



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