COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, October 21, 1996,
a continuous mining machine operator, using a radio remote control, had
backed the continuous mining machine away from the face. The mining
machine operator crawled inby, dragging the remote control unit, to the
rear corner of the mining machine. The continuous mining machine's
trailing cable rolled out of the side cable hook and fell onto the
remote control unit inadvertently activating the left tram reverse
control. The rear portion of the mining machine moved suddenly toward
the right rib, crushing the continuous mining machine operator.
Investigators found the remote control unit's "slide" tram control
safety-device, taped up in the activated postion.
This is the 26th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of October 21, of
last year, there had been 36 fatalities. This death is the fifth
classified as MACHINERY in 1996.
Photograph of the Accident Scene
For more information: 
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C26]
