Coal Mine Safety and Health Report of Investigation Surface Coal Mine Fatal Machinery Accident, May 14, 2011, Guyan, Apogee Coal Company LLC, Rum Creek Road, Yolyn, Logan County, West Virginia, ID No. 46-08939

摘要

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, at approximately 8:18 p.m., Richard L. Young, a 37 year old mechanic with 14 years of mining experience, was killed while removing the fuel tank/counter weight from a Caterpillar 992 G end loader. Two mechanics were preparing the machine to remove the fuel tank which was suspected to contain contaminants. One mechanic was working in the engine radiator compartment area. The victim placed himself under the machine and started removing the sixteen 24 mm x 80 mm bolts holding the counter weight onto the machine. When the victim started removing the fifteenth bolt, the 11,685 pound counter weight fell, crushing the victim. The accident occurred because proper work procedures were not being followed. The bolts were removed without installing proper blocking to assure the counter weight was secured against motion. The procedures used did not follow the recommended procedures which were available on site from the machine manufacturer.