September 8, 2017 - On Friday, August 25, 2017, a 51-year-old mine examiner with 27 years of mining experience was killed when, near the transfer point with the No. 2 conveyor belt, he apparently lost his footing attempting to cross over the moving No. 1 conveyor belt. He fell onto the No. 1 belt and hit a belt crossover located approximately 10 feet outby. The victim was found beside the conveyor belt just outside the mine entrance.

Best Practices

• Never attempt to cross a moving conveyor belt except at suitable crossing facilities.

• Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working on or traveling around moving conveyor belts.

• Provide conveyor belt stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the belt.

• Install practical and usable belt crossing facilities at strategic locations, including near controls, when height allows.

• Install pull cords and switches that control power to the belt along the wide side of the length of the conveyor belt to stop the belt in emergencies. 

This is the twelfth fatality reported during calendar year 2017 in the coal mining industry. This fatality is classified as a powered haulage accident. As of this date in 2016, there were seven fatalities reported in coal mining, two of which were classified as powered haulage.