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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, September 14, 2001, at approximately 10:35a.m. a fatal accident occurred at a Komatsu H285S Demag pit area. The accident resulted in fatal injuries to a 28-year-old field service technician (mechanic) employed by a contract maintenance company. The victim was descending from the Komatsu H285S Demag in a Power Step Inc., manlift, when the recently rebuilt upper support arm of the manlift separated. The support arm struck the victim causing him to fall approximately 4 feet to the ground.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Complete installation of all equipment prior to the equipment being placed into service.
  • Pre-operational checks should be adequate to identify any hazards that may effect the safe operation of the equipment before it is placed into service.
  • All persons should be properly trained in the safe operating procedures of equipment prior to operation.
    • 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 18th fatal accident reported in calendar year 2001 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2000, there were twenty-six fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the second fatal accident, classified as machinery, reported in the coal mining industry in 2001. At this time in 2000, there were five fatal accidents, classified as machinery 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