COAL MINE FATALITY -On Monday, March 29,1999, a 27 year-old truck driver was operating a partially loaded 30 ton capacity 800 Mack truck. The vehicle failed to negotiate a slight curve while descending a fourteen percent grade on the mine entrance haulage road. The truck traveled through an earthen berm, overturning twice and came to rest 150 feet below the roadway. The driver either jumped or was thrown from the truck during the first overturn. The driver received fatal head, neck and chest injuries. The emergency medical personnel detected no signs of life at the scene.
BEST PRACTICES
PERFORM PRE-OPERATIONAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS
MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLES AT ALL TIMES
ALWAYS OPERATE TRUCKS AT SPEEDS CONSISTENT WITH GRADES AND ROAD CONDITIONS
ALWAYS WEAR SEATBELTS WHEN OPERATING VEHICLES.
SEATBELTS HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES DURING MINE HAULAGE ACCIDENTS.
This is the 9th fatality reported in calendar year 1999 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1998, there were 9 fatalities. This is the third fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 1999.
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report
[FTL99C09]