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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, December 20, 1996, a roof fall occurred in the working place on a developing section. A remote-controlled continuous mining machine was making the final clean-up pass in a cut when the falling roof fell onto the continous mining machine disabling the machine. Work followed to roof bolt a portion of the area sufficient to allow a mechanic to access the continuous mining machine to attempt repairs.

On Monday, December 23, sufficient roof bolts had been installed to allow the mechanic access. The mechanic was standing between the continuous mining machine and the roof bolting machine, when a portion of the fallen material slid off the top of the continuous mining machine, crushing the mechanic against the roof bolting machine.

This is the 38th coal mine fatality in 1996. As of December 23rd of last year, there had been 47 fatalities. This death is the seventh classified as MACHINERY in 1996.



Drawing of the Accident Scene


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL96C38]