Coal Age

JAN 2016

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officially released, and a final investiga- tion report on the event was still pending at press time. However, in a fatalgram report released shortly after the initial September 26 incident, MSHA officials pointed to best practices that related to worker safety while working at height, including using three points of contact on stairs as well as while mounting and dismounting equipment. MSHA also urged operators to exam- i n e s t e p s a n d h a n d h o l d s f o r d e f e c t s , damage and debris, as well as the use of a rope to raise and lower objects from the operator's compartment. Investigators stressed proper illumination and safe footwear. The second death of the fourth quar- ter, and the final fatality of 2015 (accord- ing to preliminary federal data), involved supply man Tyler Rath, 20, at Coal- field Transport/Foresight Energy/Murray Energy's MC No. 1 mine in Illinois, oper- ated by M-Class Mining. On December 8, Rath was hauling a longwall face conveyor chain on a shield trailer pulled by a diesel tractor down a 9˚, 2,900-ft-long slope haulage/belt trav- elway when he was not able to negotiate a left turn at the crosscut when he reached the bottom of the slope, subse- quently impacting the coal rib, according to a preliminary report. "The fifth-wheel trailer connection on the tractor broke on impact and the trail- er traveled over the tractor and sheared off the canopy of the operator's compart- ment," the agency said. "The victim received fatal blunt force injuries [as a result." Rath had just two years of experience in mining and had been at the Macedonia, Franklin County, underground operation for about 18 months. Once again, a final federal investiga- tion report is still pending for this incident. MSHA has already, however, released a fatalgram report with its initial findings. In it, investigators stressed slope and haulageway maintenance and asked operators to ensure all haulage equip- ment is compatible with all conditions and haulage road grades. Additionally, it urged mines to make sure that load weights do not exceed equipment capabilities and braking capacities, and to attach an additional tractor outby the load to provide addi- tional braking capacity when hauling heavy equipment down a steep slope. Other best practices included per- forming pre-operational examinations to identify, report and correct hazards, to stop equipment at the top of the slope to ensure brakes and tire traction are capa- ble of handling the load; the training of all miners involved with operating mobile equipment on capabilities and capaci- ties; and the posting of safety precautions for hauling material down the slope in conspicuous areas, including the mouth of the slope. Final Investigation Report Details Just two final reports regarding prior fatalities were officially released during the fourth quarter of the year, but both were able to cast significant light on the respective events they detail. Both reports were for incidents that occurred in 2015. Peabody Midwest — Gateway Mine The report released December 17 out- lined the events of the year's sixth fatali- ty, which occurred May 31 at Peabody M i d w e s t M i n i n g ' s G a t e w a y u n d e r - ground operation in Illinois. s a f e t y r e p o r t c o n t i n u e d January 2016 www.coalage.com 29 MSHA determined that a May 31 fatal incident at Peabody Midwest's Gateway operation in Illinois stemmed from ineffective policies, programs, procedures or controls related to operating diesel mantrips in outby areas. The second death of the fourth quarter, and final fatality of 2015, involved a 20-year-old supply man at the MC No. 1 mine in Illinois on December 8.

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