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COAL MINE FATALITY - On May 13, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a construction laborer was electrocuted while helping a crane operator dump a partially loaded bucket of concrete. The bucket, partially filled with excess concrete that was to be discarded away from the work area, resulted in the swinging of the crane boom to a new area beneath the high-voltage lines. The laborer was standing on the ground, with his hands placed on the metal concrete bucket. The crane hoisted the bucket and rotated it to a point where the crane's metal boom came in contact with overhead high-voltage (12,470 VAC) transmission lines. CPR was performed by an EMT from a nearby work site, without any response. The laborer and crane operator were both aware of the presence of the overhead transmission lines.

This is the tenth coal mine fatality in 1997. As of May 13, last year, there had been 16 fatalities. This death is the second classified as ELECTRICAL in 1997.



Line Drawing of the Accident Scene


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97C10]