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Failure to properly airlock doors leads to fatality

A FATAL accident occurred at Dana Mining Company’s 4 West Mine in Pennsylvania because management failed to ensure that all airlock doors were installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, according to a report issued by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Lou Caruana

A 55-year-old diesel scoop operator, was fatally injured in June last year when he opened both sets of airlock doors to pass through the area with a load of supplies.

The scoop and supply cars were too long to fit in between the two sets of airlock doors.

After passing through the area, he closed the outbye set of airlock doors which became dislodged and fell onto the victim pinning him between the door and the mine floor.

“Because the mine operator did not train miners to install the airlock doors properly, the doors were not installed correctly,” MSHA said. “In addition, the victim did not use the airlock correctly because he opened both sets of doors at the same time.

"The accident occurred when he was closing the outbye set of airlock doors causing the doors to fall on him.”

It was evident the doors had not been installed correctly, MSHA said.

“There was mine sealant on the top of the two outside support columns and 5 out of the 6 T-handle set screws were not installed in the lintels and columns,” it said.

“Without the required T handle set screws, the air lock doors would not be adequately secured.

"This condition was compounded by the improper use of the airlock system. The roof cleat was missing from the top of the left column (looking outbye) of the outbye set of airlock doors.

“When the set of inbye airlock doors at the number 64.5 crosscut was inspected, similar conditions were found.”

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