FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 5 & 6

Coal Mine Fatal Accident 2011-5 & 6

Operator: Armstrong Coal Company Inc.Mine: Equality MineAccident Date: October 28, 2011Classification: Fall of Highwall District: MadisonvilleMine Type: SurfaceEmployment: 118

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Coal Mine Fatal Accident 2011-5 & 6

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W• On Friday, October 28, 2011, a 47-year old lead blaster

and 23-year old blaster helper were killed when the 1-ton truck they were riding was struck and completely covered by fallen rock from a failed highwall.

• The victims were driving through the pit, traveling toward their work area.

• At the time of the accident the victims were passing an excavator that was in the process of loading coal into a truck.

• The fallen highwall material reached across the pit. The fallen material covered the 1 ton truck occupied by the victims and struck the excavator along with the truck that was being loaded.

Coal Mine Fatal Accident 2011- 5 & 6A

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Truck occupied by the victims

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1. Any person entering a work area shall examine the faces of walls for unsafe conditions at the beginning of the shift, during the shift and after blasting. If any unsafe condition is found it shall be corrected or barricaded before any further work is performed.

2. When visibility is hindered by low light conditions, the areas of drilling, blasting, stripping, loading and dumping shall be properly illuminated.

3. Travel ways shall be located at the safest possible distance from highwalls and spoil slopes.

4. When geological changes are detected in the highwall, mine managers shall make necessary changes of the ground control to prevent a failure.