COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, March 28, 1997,
in Eighty-Four, Pennsylvania, two mechanics and a maintenance
foreman were troubleshooting a remote-controlled contintuous mining
machine. During mining operations, the continuous mining machine
was not functioning properly and had unexpectedly stopped while
tramming out of a working place. One of the mechanics was
crouching between the machine and the coal rib peering through
a sight glass to observe the operation of the diagnostic lights
of the remote-controlled circuit. The continuous mining machine
pivoted suddenly, pinning the maintenance foreman and the crouching
mechanic against the coal rib. The mechanic was fatally injured
but the foreman only received minor injured.
This is the seventh coal mine fatality in 1997. As of March 28
last year, there had been 10 fatalities. This death is the first
classified as MACHINERY in 1997.
Plan View of the Accident Area
For more information: 
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97C07]
