Welder (Shop)

Worker took it on his self to cut belt line down without the use of the equipment that we was using to take it down with. He cut it then started walking away from it as it was falling. Then it caught the catwalk he was on and flipped him over the double hand rail on the catwalk and fell to the ground about 20 ft down.

1. The policies and controls in place at this mine site did not ensure that persons could work safely in dismantling the belt structure where there was a danger of falling. Management failed to ensure that fall protection was provided, utilized, readily available, and that all employees required to work from elevated positions were trained in the use of fall protection. No oversight of the dismantling activity was performed by McCoy Elkhorn.

   Corrective action: Mine management and the contractor (T&B) have made modifications to their safety and contractor oversight plans. On July 30, 2012, McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation submitted a supplemental page to their approved training plan, detailing the actions that they will take to prevent a similar accident from occurring at this mine. These actions include a written work plan formulated by the contractor for unusual and unique work assignments to be explained to all employees during hazard training, as well as conducting at least one examination each shift and additional examinations for hazards as necessary. The supplement to the approved training plan also stipulates who shall perform these examinations, and how hazards shall be corrected and recorded.

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

Activity at time of incident

Welding Or Cutting

Subunit / location

SURFACE AT UNDERGROUND

Accident type

Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Source of injury

GROUND

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

40 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY