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COAL MINE FATALITY - On July 16, 1998, two miners in an underground anthracite mine were working in the monkey entry. The miners had been drilling and loading holes in the monkey entry, when explosives located in the area detonated unexpectedly. One miner was killed and the other received serious injuries.

BEST PRACTICES
  • Explosives and detonators outside of a magazine must be protected from sources of electrical and stray currents as well as sources of sudden impact such as falling material.
  • Leg wires on detonators must always remain shunted until just before firing.
  • Explosives and detonators must be stored separately.
  • Only permissible explosives shall be used underground.

    • This is the 16th fatality reported in calendar year 1998 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1997, there were 19 fatalities. This is the first fatality classified as EXPLOSIVES in 1998.

    For more information:
    Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL98C16]