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Issue link: https://coal.epubxp.com/i/541310
tors did not offer much more insight into the events surrounding the fatality; in addition to seat belt use, proper speeds of all mobile equipment, and the compli- ance with all standardized traffic rules underground, MSHA recommended pos- itive controls use on personnel carriers and mantrips to limit speeds as well as safety devices to prevent miners from f a l l i n g o r b e i n g t o s s e d f r o m m o v i n g units. While local media quoted the coroner as noting some trauma on the victim, no elaborations were made. A final investi- gation report is pending. June 28 — 4 West Mine Just two days before the quarter closed, a third fatality was reported at Dana Mining's 4 West complex in Green County, Pennsylvania. The incident was so recent that, at press time, details were still emerging from forensic profession- als, and MSHA had not yet issued its offi- cial preliminary report. An agency spokeswoman, however, said the victim, identified by local media as John William "Bill" Kelly, 55, was in the process of closing airlock doors at the operation in Mount Morris when the complete structure fell on him. Three days post-incident, a 103k order to halt all production was still in effect, and MSHA was still on-site conducting its investigation; an autopsy conducted reportedly determined his cause of death was crushing blunt force trauma. Dana Mining is controlled by Mepco Intermediate Holdings, and the 4 West operation (cutting from the Sewickley seam) has been active since 2005. Dana Mining took over operations in 2008. MSHA has classified the fatality as falling material. Addition of March 17 — Republic Energy Too many blinks would almost allow someone to miss an addition to the fatali- ty list by MSHA made in the time between the May 31 Gateway death and the fatali- ty June 28 at Dana Mining's 4 West. It involves a March 17 incident at Republic Energy's surface operation in West Virginia. According to preliminary findings (a final report is still being developed), 52- year-old fuel truck driver Von Bower, a contractor for Roger Petroleum, was descending on the Eagle Land haul road to fuel an excavator when the vehicle overturned. The driver was found unre- sponsive by some of the other 46 workers at the Fayette County, West Virginia, operation working the owl shift. A fatalgram report released just as this edition of Coal Age was going to press said the tandem-axle truck was fully load- ed with about 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel and that the descending grade included a sharp right curve. Even after interviews, investigators have not been able to determine whether the victim was wearing a seat belt. As such, many of MSHA's resulting best practices for preventing future similar events related to safety belt use. Investigators also have stressed the use of conspicuous signage on all haulage roads for speed limits, grades/curves and appropriate gears; thorough pre-opera- tional examinations and staying within the capabilities, operating ranges, limits and features of all mobile equipment. With the addition of Bower's death to the list, the total coal deaths as of June 30 stands at eight. For the first half of the year, underground deaths have topped the list with six and Pennsylvania is the No. 1 state suffering fatal incidents (West Virginia fol- lows closely behind with two). March saw s a f e t y r e p o r t c o n t i n u e d July 2015 www.coalage.com 43 One of three workers at Peabody Midwest's Gateway mine in Illinois, a 32-year mining veteran, was found in an unconscious state by another examiner at Crosscut 193 on the Main South travelway on May 31. On March 17 of this year, a fuel truck driver overturned a loaded vehicle on a haulage road at Republic Energy's surface mine in West Virginia.