COAL FATALITIES NO.
5&6
TRI-STAR MINING INC
JOB # 3
MSHA ID NO 18-00713
MINE OVERVIEW
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Mine began production 07/03/1986
103,497 man hours worked and 652,856 tons
produced in CY 2006
The mine works 6 days per week one shift per
day
55 full time employees
0.0 NFDL and 1.92 NDL injury rate in CY 2006
7 violations issued since 01/01/2005 – 1
designated S&S
DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
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Between 9:25 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on
4/17/2007, a highwall failed resulting in the
entrapment of an excavator operator and a bull
dozer operator. The estimated size of the
highwall that collapsed was 150 to 170 feet high
by 100 to 150 feet long and approximately 50
feet thick. The highwall had been examined just
prior to the collapse.
NOTIFICATION OF ACCIDENT
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At approximately 10:15 a.m., an MSHA
inspector who was at a nearby job site was
notified of the accident.
The inspector issued a verbal 103(k) Order at
approximately 10:30 a.m. and immediately
notified the district office.
Two accident investigators were dispatched to
the accident scene and arrived at approximately
12:00 p.m.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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Shortly after investigators arrived, a decision was
made to begin tramming two large Bucyrus Erie
shovels towards the accident location. The
shovels were travelling towards the scene from
different areas. The weight of the shovels
caused them to sink into the ground, delaying
their arrival.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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Loading out of the material began at
approximately 6:00 p.m. on the date of the
accident and continued for approximately 30
hours. Haul trucks with a 100 ton capacity were
loaded at a rate of 25 to 35 trucks per hour. The
condition of the highwall was extremely
hazardous. During excavation, recovery was
halted on different occasions to assure the safety
of the workers.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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As material was removed, rocks were
encountered that were too large for the shovel
to load out. The rocks had to be chipped by the
shovel in order to be moved, which delayed
recovery.
As material was loaded from the toe, additional
material would slide towards the shovel until it
reached the angle of repose.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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Shortly after midnight on 04/19/2007, a
decision was made to use explosives to remove a
large overhang that was above the shovel. This
time was also utilized to refuel and service the
shovel.
The shovel had to be moved out of the pit prior
to the detonation of shot. Due to soft bottom
conditions, it took approximately 5 hours to
move the shovel approximately 500 feet.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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Two shots had to be detonated to remove the
overhanging material. Again, the shovel had
difficulty tramming due to roadbed conditions.
By 7:30 a.m., the shovel resumed loading.
At approximately 6:00 p.m., the counterweight
of the excavator was uncovered. As work
continued in the direction of the highwall, it
continued to be unstable.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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As work continued to remove material, the blade
of the bull dozer was uncovered at
approximately 9:42 p.m. Additional removal of
material indicated the slide cause the two
machines to be pushed together. Other pieces
of the machines were removed from the pit as
work progressed. At approximately 3:45 a.m., a
decision was made to halt the removal of
additional material until day light is available.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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The shovel could no longer safely extend to
reach additional material. An excavator was
utilized to remove the material from atop the
fallen material. When enough material was
removed to expose both pieces of equipment,
an examination revealed the body of the
excavator operator was still inside the cab.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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The body of the excavator operator was
discovered at approximately 10:20am in the
location of the crushed cab of the
machine. The arm of the excavator was beneath
fallen material and had to be removed. The
excavator was then pulled off the bench to
facilitate recovery of the victim. The victim was
recovered at approximately 2:40 p.m.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
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While the excavator operator was being removed
from his cab, work continued to remove material
from atop the bull dozer. At approximately 2:40
p.m., the bull dozer operator was discovered in
the cab of the machine. Work continued to
move the recover the cab section of the dozer
to a safe location to extricate the victim.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY