On Friday, July 9, 2010, a 61-year old production foreman with 33 years mining experience was fatally injured when he was struck by a battery-powered ram car. The victim was last seen in the No. 6 entry just outby the intersection at crosscut No. 107. This intersection and adjoining crosscuts were being used to gain access to the ratio feeder located in the No. 5 entry.
Best Practices
- Install proximity detection systems on mobile face equipment. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
- Use approved translucent check curtains designed to allow mobile equipment to tram through.
- Sound audible warnings when making turns, reversing directions, approaching ventilation curtains, and any time the operator’s visibility is obstructed. The sound level of audible warnings must be significantly higher than that of ambient noise.
- Be aware of blind spots when travelling in mobile equipment travel ways.
- Communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf)