Beltman

The CM had backed out of the number one entry and began tramming to the number two entry when ee noticed the front MBC on the attached system did not pull ahead. At that time, the victim was found at the MBC suffering from crushing injuries. This resulted in a fatality.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at approximately 4:10 p.m., Kameron Rankin, a 27-year-old mobile bridge carrier operator with 7 weeks of mining experience was fatally injured. The accident occurred when the continuous mining machine was being re-positioned. Because the victim’s mobile bridge carrier was connected to the mining machine, the carrier moved and the victim was crushed between the carrier and coal rib. The accident occurred because the administrative and engineering controls in place at the mine were not adequate to protect the victim from crushing injuries.

1. The mine operator did not provide a means of protection against crushing injuries to the MBC operator.

   Corrective action: The mine operator installed a substantially constructed equipment operator’s deck for lateral protection against crushing injuries to the MBC operator. The construction of the deck is consistent with the original equipment manufacturer’s design. Additionally, the mine operator installed “man-in-position” safety devices on the MBCs to deactivate the tram motors of the CMM and both MBCs when an MBC operator exits the operator’s deck. The devices prevent restarting the CMM or any MBC until the operator returns to position. The mine operator also instituted preoperational examinations of the man-in-position safety device. The examination and results must be recorded and signed by a foreman, and defects affecting safety must be fixed before any MBC is used.

2. The mine operator did not provide a means for the MBC operators and the CMM operator to communicate verbally before the CMM is trammed.

   Corrective action: The mine operator provided all MBC operators and the CMM operator with a stand-alone, permissible, two-way voice communication system. The mine operator instituted a company policy that requires the CMM operator to receive verbal confirmation from the MBC operators prior to starting to tram. All CMM and MBC operators have been trained in this policy.

3. There was no electronic means provided to prevent the CMM from tramming and dragging the MBC while the MBC was de-energized.

   Corrective action: The mine operator installed a system that causes all the tram functions of all electrical components (CMM and MBCs) to be de-energized when one component shuts off, either intentionally or by proximity detection. Additionally, the system requires a physical start-up function that must be performed on each component before any of the components have the ability to tram.

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Conveyor Belt

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

BELT CONVEYORS

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

0 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY