COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, November 14, 1996,
a section foreman was traveling the longwall face conducting the
on-shift examination. As the foreman reached the 124th shield, a
sudden outburst of the longwall face occurred. The foreman was struck
by large lumps of coal, forcing his head into the shield's control
panel. The outburst affected the longwall face from shields No. 121
to No. 131 at the tailgate. One hundred thirty-one shields were
utilized along the face and the longwall section was mining beneath
2,000 feet of overburden.
This is the 33rd coal mine fatality in 1996. As of November 14, of
last year, there had been 40 fatalities. This death is the second
classified as FALL OF RIB in 1996 and the first caused by an outburst.
Diagram of the Accident Scene
For more information: 
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C33]
