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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Monday, December 4, 2000, a 37 year old longwall tailgate shearer operator, with 13 years mining experience, was fatally injured when he was struck by a broken high pressure hydraulic line. The victim had completed a mining pass and was standing on the toes of the No. 76 shield when a high pressure hydraulic fitting broke in half allowing a fifteen foot length of line to swing wildly in the shield walkway. The line was attached to the underside of the No. 74 shield above the walkway. The 1-1/4 inch, 4500 psi. line, with approximately 15 pounds of couplings attached to the end, struck the victim in the face and head. A second miner in the general area was knocked down and received minor injuries.

Fatalgram Drawing

Best Practices

  • All high pressure hoses should be guarded and/or secured against uncontrolled whipping motion in the event of a failed hose or fitting.

  • All high pressure hoses should be located to minimize the risk of exposure to miners from failed fittings and/or rupture.

  • Safety chains or suitable locking devices should be used at connection points of high pressure hoses.

  • When possible, minimize the amount of connection points on high pressure hoses where miner exposure is the greatest.

    • More Information
    E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program
    		 Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
    Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.


    This is the 34th fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1999, there were 31 fatalities. This is the 10th accident classified as machinery reported in the coal mining industry in 2000. As of this date in 1999, there were 4 fatal accidents classified as machinery reported in the coal mining industry.


    The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.



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