October 19, 1983
WV · Coal
bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
Fatality · MACHINERY
Freeman Branch Mining · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
VICTIM WAS OPERATING D8K BULLDOZER WHILE DOING SLOPE & BENCH WORK IN A VALLEY FILL AREA, THE AREA WAS APPAROXIMATELY A 2:1 RATIO. BEGINNINGT ON EITHER THE FACE OF THE SLOPE OR THE BENCH AR EA ITSELF, THE DOZER BEGAN TO TRAVEL IN A REVERSE MOTION CONTINUING OVER THE EDGE OF THE BENCH AND DOWN THE SLOPE FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 400 FT. TO THE VALLEY FLOOR. AS THE DOZER WE