Bull Gang Foreman

A crib block is believed to have got lodged behind brake pedal & on accelerator pedal, causing a 2 man non-permissible personnel carrier to jump forward, pinning employee against a coal rib, causing death.

On November 7, 2011, at approximately 9:40 a.m., a 47-year-old mine foreman received fatal injuries while working near the section belt tailpiece during work being performed to move the belt conveyor. The victim was struck by a 4-wheeled personnel carrier being utilized to transport crib blocks.

1. The training programs, policies, and work procedures used by the mine operator did not ensure that safe working conditions were provided for the employees at all times. The personnel carrier was being used outside of the design parameters of the machine. Crib blocks and other supplies were being hauled on the machine and it was not designed for that purpose.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a plan to prevent a similar occurrence of this accident. The plan states that personnel carriers are not to be used for hauling supplies and extraneous materials at any time. The operator has also revised their approved training plan, showing special emphasis towards providing proper Task Training for personnel carrier safety. All miners have received Task Training on the haulage safety rules and regulations on personnel carriers at the mine.

2. The mine operator performed design modifications to the personnel carrier. When the tram direction was changed during a stalled condition, the machine moved forward rapidly.

   Corrective action: The personnel carrier has been removed from service. Following an analysis by MSHA's Technical Support Branch and the manufacturers, changes to the equipment design and to the controller program have been implemented to prevent a recurrence. The original equipment design would have prevented the accident by having a neutral start safety feature on the accelerator. The mine operator also provided personnel carrier operators with Task Training for machine operation, including proper operation characteristics of controls, switches, and accelerators.

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

Activity at time of incident

Supervise

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Accident type

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

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

26 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY