COAL MINE FATALITY - On July 25, 1995, at about 10:50 a.m., the
mine owner and another miner were fatally injured in a rib run of coal due to the
collapse of three rib supports. The victims had loaded three cars of coal at the
beginning of the shift. After loading the cars, the mine owner rode the slope bucket
to the upper level to retrieve a hatchet. As the owner returned to the gangway, he
informed the hoist operator to drop the slope car to the bumping block. A few
seconds later, the hoist operator heard the owner cry for help over the mine
intercom. The bodies were recovered from under a fall of coal.
These are the 20th and 21st coal mine fatalities in 1995. As of July 25 last
year there had been 27 fatalities. These deaths are the first and second deaths
classified as FALL OF FACE, RIB, OR SIDE in 1995.
Line drawing of the accident scene
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95C20]
