UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
District 6
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT
SURFACE COAL MINE
FATAL POWERED HAULAGE ACCIDENT
Pinson Ridge No. 1 [I.D. 15-17150]
Holston Mining, Inc.
Stone, Pike County, Kentucky
May 11, 1995
By
Garey L. Farmer
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector/Accident Investigator
Originating Office - Mine Safety and Health Administration
100 Ratliff Creek Road, Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
Carl E. Boone, II - District Manager
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Pinson Ridge No. 1 Mine of Holston Mining, Inc., is located
off Route 199, near Stone, Pike County, Kentucky. The principal
company officers are: David W. Gay, President; Albert S.
Gardfalo, Vice-President; Ronnie Slemp, Superintendent; and
Thomas Asbury, Manager of Safety. The parent company is Pyxis
Resources Co.
Coal is extracted from multiple seams utilizing the contour and
mountaintop removal methods of mining. The major coal seams
being mined are the Broas, average thickness 18 inches; the
Richardson, average thickness 8 inches; and the Peach Orchard,
average thickness 80 inches.
The mine employs a total of 59 persons who normally work four
12-hour shifts per week. The mine operates seven days a week and
has a daily production of 2800 tons.
The overburden is drilled, blasted, loaded, and removed with a
shovel, bulldozers, front-end loaders, and Caterpillar trucks.
The last complete health and safety inspection conducted by the
Mine Safety and Health Administration was completed on March 3,
1995.
DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
On May 11, 1995, at 7:00 p.m. (beginning of shift), Montie
Marshall, second shift foreman, instructed Gabe Muncy, shovel
operator; Jerry Francis, truck driver; and Farley Ward, truck
driver to work in the area designated as "Area E" where
overburden was to be loaded and transported to the disposal area.
Activities progressed normally until approximately 9:10 p.m. At
that time Francis was returning to "Area E" after having
delivered a load of overburden. Francis contacted Ward by
Citizens Band (CB) radio to give him the right-of-way. When Ward
did not pass Francis' location within a reasonable amount of
time, Francis became concerned and attempted to contact Ward on
the CB radio. After receiving no response, Francis broadcasted
on the CB radio that he was proceeding on to "Area E." While
travelling along the roadway, Francis observed that the berm on
the left side (west side) of the haulage road had been breached.
Francis immediately contacted Marshall. Upon investigation,
Marshall determined that the Caterpillar Model 777B truck which
Ward was operating had over-travelled the haulage road and
traveled down the mountain side. Ward was found lying on the
ground 14 feet down-slope from the truck. When Ward was examined,
no signs of life were detected. The Belfry Volunteer Fire
Department was contacted for assistance in the recovery of the
victim. The Pike County Coroner's office was summoned to the
scene. The victim was transported upslope to the haulage road
where Mike Hall, Deputy Coroner of Pike County, pronounced him
dead at 11:50 p.m. The Mine Safety and Health Administration and
the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals were notified of
the occurrence. An investigation was begun immediately.
PHYSICAL FACTORS INVOLVED
The investigation revealed the following factors relevant to the
accident.
- There were no eyewitnesses to the accident.
- The haulage road averaged from 22 to 26 feet in width. At
the point where the truck traveled over the embankment the
roadway measured 26 feet in width.
- The roadway surface consisted of earthen material. The truck
passed over an area of the roadway that contained soft and
spongy areas a short distance from the accident site.
- The Caterpillar 777B truck is 16 feet in width.
- A berm constructed of earthen material was provided along
both sides of the ridge-top haulage roadway. The berm ranged
from 54 to 72 inches in height.
- The point where the truck travelled through the berm was the
lowest elevation on that section of haulage road. The berm
had previously been slightly breached to allow drainage of
surface water.
- An examination of the berm along the west side of the
roadway indicated that the Caterpillar 777B truck operated
by the victim had travelled approximately 315 feet in
contact with the lower inside edge of the berm. The right
front tire appeared to travel through the berm at the point
where the berm had been breached to allow for the drainage
of excess water.
- After passing though the berm,the Caterpillar Model 777B
truck being operated by the victim travelled 620 feet
downslope (314 feet change in elevation) through heavily
wooded terrain. Indentations in the ground and markings on
trees and underbrush indicated that the truck overturned
several times during the decent. The truck came to rest on
its roof and bed.
- The victim was found lying 14 feet down slope from the
truck.
- The weather was fair at the time of the accident.
Approximately two inches of rain had fallen during the
preceding two days.
- The Caterpillar 777B truck involved in the accident was
extensively damaged as a result of the accident. The truck
was believed to be mechanically safe to operate as evidenced
by statements from the day-shift truck driver (affected
truck) and the mine record books for equipment checks. An
examination was made, to the extent possible, and no defects
were found.
- A review of the company's training records indicated no
deficiencies in the required training for the victim.
- The victim was regularly assigned duties as a bulldozer
operator. He had volunteered to report to work on the date
of the accident, one of his four scheduled days off.
Statements indicated the victim had operated the truck
involved in the accident on previous occasions.
- The accident occurred approximately two hours and fifteen
minutes into the work-shift.
- The seat belt provided for the operator of the truck
(victim) was observed intact and buckled during the
investigation. There was no apparent damage to the seat belt
or the anchoring components. The investigation team could
not determine whether or not the victim was wearing the seat
belt. Mike Hall, Deputy Coroner, stated that it is his
opinion that the victim was wearing the seat belt. He stated
the basis for this determination is the victim did not have
any injuries to the lower extremities. He further stated the
absence of injuries in this region is consistent with a
person wearing a seat belt. The accident resulted in the
victim being thrown from the truck.
- The Coroner's report indicated the victim died from massive
trauma to the chest region. An autopsy was performed on the
victim following the release of the body to the family. The
results of the autopsy are consistent with the coroner's
cause of death.
VIOLATIONS
The following citations/order were issued during or as a result
of the investigation:
- A 103(k) order of withdrawal, Number 4585083, dated May 11,
1995, was issued in conjunction with the investigation to
insure the safety of all persons at the mine until an
investigation was conducted.
CONCLUSION
The victim was en route from the "Area E" workings with a loaded
Caterpillar Model 777B truck. The vehicle travelled in contact
with the lower portion of the right berm (west side) for
approximately 315 linear feet down a moderate incline. It then
left the roadway, and continued down the mountainside 620 feet
(vertical drop-314 feet), resulting in fatal injuries to the
victim.
The consensus of the accident investigation team is that the
right front tire of the Caterpillar 777B truck travelled into the
breached area of the west side berm. The victim apparently
realized that the truck was travelling over the embankment and
would overturn. It is the investigation team's belief that upon
his realizing this, the victim attempted to drive the truck
straight down the mountain side. Consequently, the truck
travelled downslope striking trees and overturning. During this
sequence of events, the victim received traumatic injuries that
resulted in his death.
Respectively submitted:
Garey L. Farmer
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector/Accident Investigator
Approved by:
Carl E. Boone, II
District Manager
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin: [FAB95C14]
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