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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Sunday October 27, 1996, a supply motorman, with 21 years experience, died while operating a 50-ton locomotive. The motorman was operating the locomotive, trailing a trip transporting longwall shields along the main track enroute to the surface. The longwall shields were loaded on lowboy carriers coupled to a lead locomotive. A longwall shield protruded past the edge of the lowboy carrier towards the trailing locomotive. Upon reaching the surface, the lead motorman stopped the trip and shortly thereafter the trailing locomotive crashed into the end of the trip and the trailing motorman was killed. The trailing locomotive was being operated with operator's commpartment positioned on the outby end, while trailing a trip traveling in outby direction.

This is the 29th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of October 27, of last year, there had been 37 fatalities. This death is the tenth classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1996.



For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C29]