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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Tuesday, November 28, 1995, the structural integrity of an overhead conveyor belt failed at a preparation plant. The belt structure was being used to route and sort coal at the stockpile area. However, the conveyor belt experienced a problem, resulting in a large amount of coal spillage around the belt and on the structure. Six miners were shoveling the coal spillage when the belt structure shifted, broke free, and fell, collapsing one of the supporting structures. One miner fell with the collapsed structure and was fatally injured. The other five miners were stranded on the remaining overhead structure.

This is the 41st coal mine fatality in 1995. As of November 28, last year there had been 41 fatalities. This death is the 14th classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1995.

Photograph of the accident scene

For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95C41]