COAL MINE FATALITY - On Saturday October 26, 1996,
a general inside laborer with over 13 years mining experience, died
while operating a 20-ton locomotive. The laborer was operating the
locomotive on the tail of an equipment trip transporting a 4-ton
longwall equipment sled along the main track enroute to the longwall
setup area. The equipment sled was 20 feel long by 8 feet wide and
was loaded on two supply cars coupled together and connected to a
lead locomotive. The supply cars were each 14 feet long and 6 feet
wide. The corners of the equipment sled were secured to the supply
cars with four 3/8 inch chains, 3/8 inch bolts with nuts and
washers. During the trip, at least one bolt and washer pulled
through the chain link, allowing the load to shift on the supply
cars. The left inby corner of the sled contacted a concrete rib
retaining wall and was forced off the supply cars and overtop of
the tail locomotive. The tail locomotive operator was struck by
the sled as the locomotive passed beneath. The main track had sharp
turns and undulations such that the longwall equipment sled was not
adequately secured to the supply cars to allow for the stress forces
caused to the trip by the track haulage way conditions.
This is the 28th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of October 26, of
last year, there had been 37 fatalities. This death is the ninth
classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1996.
Photograph of Longwall Equipment Sled Wedged Across Track Entry
For more information: 
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C28]
