**Coal Fatalities Re: Harness/Lines other Falls from Elevated Positions
(1996-February 20, 2004)**

**COAL MINE FATALITY -** On February 3, 2004 a 46-year old supervisor
was fatally injured when he was thrown from the elevated bucket of a
Simon-Telect 42-foot aerial bucket truck. The victim and two others were
dismantling a building at the time of the accident.  (STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION)

**COAL MINE FATALITY -** On June 9, 2003, a 49-year old supervisor with
29 years mining experience was fatally injured when he was thrown from
the elevated bucket of a Simon-Telect 42-foot aerial bucket truck. The
victim and two other miners were dismantling a de-energized electrical
substation on the surface area of an underground mine. To secure a steel
\"I-Beam\" structure, a nylon rope was attached between the bucket of
the aerial lift and the steel structure. After the steel structure was
disconnected from the substation, the rope broke, causing the aerial
bucket to shift suddenly, throwing the victim out of the bucket. The
victim fell 28 feet 11 inches to the ground. The steel \"I-Beam\"
structure then rolled onto the raised frame of the aerial bucket truck.
[Best Practices.]{.underline} Use appropriate fall protection, including
safety harnesses and safety lines, where there is a danger of falling;
use equipment for its intended purpose and within the design
specifications of the manufacturer; conduct pre-operational checks on
equipment prior to operation and ensure that outriggers and equipment
are ready for intended use; size ropes/slings for maximum load
applications and protect them from being cut when a load is applied;
ensure that all workers are properly trained in the task to be
performed, such as hoisting, rigging, equipment design capabilities,
etc.

**COAL MINE FATALITY -** On Thursday, February 20, 2003 a 44-year old
preparation plant operator with 25 years of total experience fell
approximately 19 feet through a four-foot square opening in the upper
level flooring at a conveyor drive station. He fell onto a conveyor tail
pulley at a lower level of a surface facility. The flooring had been
removed to allow materials to be lowered for construction work. The
opening had been protected with nylon rope and flagging. The victim, a
plant foreman, was aware of the work being performed. He was taken to
the hospital for emergency medical treatment and died of his injuries at
3:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2003. [Best
Practices**.**]{.underline} Protect accessible floor openings with
substantial railings or barriers to prevent falls of persons. Cover
openings in floors with substantial material when the opening is not in
use. [Always use fall protection equipment, safety belts and lines, when
working near openings where there is a danger of falling]{.underline}.
Establish procedures and train personnel in procedures for removing,
protecting, and replacing flooring during construction or maintenance.

PA 8/13/02 At approximately 3:00 a.m., a 66-year-old highwall drill
operator was fatally injured when he fell twenty-three feet off the edge
of a highwall. The victim was walking from his truck along the drill
bench to his highwall drill in dark and foggy conditions when the
accident occurred. The victim was able to call for help using a cell
phone. The victim was rescued, however, he later expired as a result of
injuries. [Best Practices]{.underline}. Provide and use appropriate
lighting in work areas after dark. Establish and use designated
travel-ways to travel to and from work areas. Always be aware of your
surroundings and any hazards that may be present.

WY 3/14/01 A 58-year old preparation-plant utility man, with 27 years
experience, was fatally injured while he was performing clean up duties
at a raw coal reclaim dump area. The victim was last seen at about 7:00
p.m., washing down a concrete pad at the mouth of a reclaim tunnel.
There were no eyewitnesses to the accident. However, the victim either
fell through an opening, measuring approximately 56 inches by 80 inches,
in a platform located at the mouth of a reclaim tunnel, or entered the
area through a coal feeder opening located in the raw coal stock pile.
The victim was later discovered after being discharged from a raw coal
silo. [Best Practices]{.underline}. Enclose all openings over conveyor
belts that have the potential for a person to inadvertently fall through
onto a moving conveyor belt. Establish safe work positions free of fall
hazards for persons performing wash down of surface facilities.

AL 8/29/01 At approximately 3:40 PM, an accident occurred which resulted
in fatal injuries to a contract employee at the Coal Preparation Plant.
An ironworker/welder was performing work on the 5th floor of the plant
when a sixteen (16) by four (4) foot section of the concrete floor from
which he was working collapsed, causing the miner to fall thirty four
(34) feet to the 2nd floor. Demolition of existing structure to install
upgraded equipment was being performed in preparation to connect the
structural beams for a new addition to the plant when the accident
occurred. [Best Practices]{.underline}. The integrity of elevated
surface structures should be examined both visually and physically
before any work is performed on the structure. [Safety belts and lines
should be worn to secure persons at any location where a hazard of fall
may exist]{.underline}. Work place examinations should be made by a
competent person to identify hazards associated with demolition and
construction. Demolition of structures should be performed in a manner
using sound engineering and construction techniques and processes.

KY 11/27/01 At approximately 8:15 PM, an accident occurred which
resulted in fatal injuries to the Plant Operator at the coal preparation
plant. The plant operator was working on the sixth floor of the
preparation plant with a co-worker, attempting to hang a chain hoist to
a hoist track. They were attempting to attach the hoist to the hoist
track in an open doorway. One safety bar was installed across the
doorway and while lifting the hoist, it was dislodged. While attempting
to attach the hoist, it was dropped and subsequently the victim slipped
and fell approximately 101 feet to the ground. [Best
Practices]{.underline}. [Safety belts and lines should be worn to secure
persons at any location where a hazard of fall may exist]{.underline}.
Protect and guard all openings through which persons may fall. Keep work
areas clear of all extraneous materials and other stumbling or slipping
hazards.

WV 3/2/00 At 10:30 a.m. a fatal fall of person accident claimed the life
of a 47-year-old electrical contractor. The accident occurred in the
Preparation Plant on top of the raw coal classifying cyclone sump where
the victim was attempting to remove electrical conduit that had been
previously installed over the operating sump. The cyclone was covered
with a 10 gauge perforated metal covering. Although there were no
eyewitnesses to the accident, the victim apparently stood on the metal
covering while he was performing this work. The metal covering gave way
and the victim fell through the covering into the operating raw coal
classifying cyclone sump, which resulted in fatal injuries. [Best
Practices]{.underline}. The integrity of surface structures should be
examined both visually and physically before any work is performed on
the structure. [Safety belts and lines should be worn to secure persons
at all work locations where a hazard of falling may exist]{.underline}.

KY 3/2/01 A 56 year old bulldozer operator, with 37 years mining
experience, slipped and fell while exiting the operator\'s compartment
of a Model 355 Komatsu bulldozer. The victim apparently lost his footing
and fell approximately 6 feet to the ground. The victim received
injuries to his neck and was immediately transported to a nearby
hospital and later to the University of Kentucky Medical Center where he
was treated for the neck injuries and was subsequently released. The
victim\'s condition deteriorated and on September 23, 2000, seventeen
days after the initial accident, he was re-admitted to the hospital
where he died that same day as a result of complications deriving from
what is believed to be a blood clot. [Best Practices]{.underline}.
Always use handrails when mounting or dismounting equipment with
elevated work stations. Always make sure of foot placement on elevated
surfaces before dismounting equipment or exiting operator\'s
compartments. Always maintain 3 points of contact (two hands and one
foot or two feet and one hand) when climbing onto or dismounting
equipment.

VA 12/5/00 At 10:02 a.m., a 45-year-old environmental monitoring
technician, with 20 years mining experience, sustained fatal injures
from a fall while he was in the process of readying equipment to collect
samples from the exhaust emission stack of a thermal dryer. The victim
was preparing to lift sampling equipment with a rope, onto a platform
located 134 feet above ground level. As he was removing ice from the
platform with his feet, a 24\" x 28\" section of grating on which he was
standing collapsed, causing him to fall to the ground. The grating was
severely corroded, and broke where it contacted a support beam, near the
exhaust emission stack. [Best Practices]{.underline}. Travel-ways and
platforms at surface installations shall be of substantial construction
and maintained in good condition. Examine travel-ways and platforms both
visually and physically before walking or standing on them. Always
position yourself in a safe location when removing ice or debris that
may conceal a hazardous travel-way condition. Even if areas are not
traveled frequently, they should have periodic inspections by a
certified person to eliminate hazardous conditions.

VA 12/9/00 On Saturday, December 9, 2000, at approximately 10:50 a.m., a
55 year old truck driver, with 26 years experience, sustained fatal
injuries after falling from the bed of a loaded coal truck. The victim
had parked his fully loaded coal truck on a haul road approximately two
miles below the mine site. He then climbed into the bed of his truck,
and began throwing off some of the rock from the top of the load of
coal. The victim apparently lost his balance and fell 10 feet from the
top of the truck bed onto the haul road, striking his head. There were
no eyewitnesses to the accident. [Best Practices]{.underline}. Truck
drivers should assure that material is properly loaded into the truck
bed to preclude the need for climbing into the truck bed to manually
rearrange the material. [Never climb into a loaded truck bed to manually
level or remove material except at a properly designed location or
structure where safety belts and lines, or the equivalent, may be
used]{.underline}.

AL 5/7/99 An electrician fell through an unguarded 26 inch by 26 inch
opening at the top of a 36 inch diameter escape/ventilation shaft on the
southeast side of the underground coal storage bunker. The victim was
washing the area with a high-pressure hose. There were no eyewitnesses
to the accident. The victim was discovered by a co-worker on a platform
thirty feet and six inches below the top of the shaft. The victim
received multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by a
physician. [Best Practices]{.underline}. Protect and guard all openings
through which persons or material may fall. Areas where persons are
required to work or travel should be kept clear of all extraneous
material and other stumbling or slipping hazards. Regulate line pressure
on water hoses to a safe and manageable working pressure. Provide
training to every person to recognize hazardous conditions in their work
area.

KY 9/3/99 A preparation plant mechanic and another employee were using a
material hoist to lift a 55-gallon drum to the third floor of the
preparation plant. When the mechanic reached out to guide the suspended
drum to the third floor, a corroded railing gave way and he fell
approximately 50 feet to the ground floor of the preparation plant.
[Best Practices]{.underline}. [Safety belts should be worn at all times
where a danger of falling exists]{.underline}. Tag lines or other
devices should be used to guide suspended loads during hoisting
operations. Metal railings, walkways and stairs should be examined
frequently for corrosion or other signs of deterioration.

WV 1/24/96 On Wednesday, January 24, 1996 an employee of a coal company
whose occupation was a river-man, was assisting a towboat operator with
the capture of a loaded barge at the coal company\'s river load-out
facility. Working from the bow of the towboat, the river man was
throwing a line onto the timberhead of the coal barge, when he fell
forward into the water between the towboat and the coal barge and
sustained fatal crushing injuries.

IL 5/17/96 At about 11:45 p.m., a shift foreman was checking on a shaft
sinking crew installing steel plating, doors, and grating over a shaft
on the shaft collar. The foreman walked onto the steel structure,
traveled across the steel doors over the shaft, and as he stepped off
the steel structure towards the shaft collar, the foreman fell into a
shadowed opening between the collar and the structure. The foreman fell
140 feet to the work deck located at the shaft bottom.