MINE FATALITY – On August 17, 2022, a general inside laborer died when he was caught between a supply car and its coupler. The victim was sitting on the supply car which was coupled to a locomotive parked in a track spur. The locomotive was struck by another locomotive pulling three loaded cars into the mine. The impact knocked the victim off the supply car, killing him.
Best Practices:
- Assure track switches are in the proper position for your direction of travel and the latches are in contact with the rail.
- Make sure miners are in a safe location away from equipment parked in a track spur when other equipment is passing along the main rail line.
- Make sure miners communicate their location and intended movements with the dispatcher. Repeat the switch alignment back to the dispatcher, where applicable.
Additional Information:
This is the 18th fatality reported in 2022, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).