On Monday, June 25, 2012, at approximately 11:45 AM, a 33-year-old outby foreman with 7 years of experience was killed while installing additional rib/roof support in the No. 5 belt/track entry. The victim was wedging a timber against the mine roof to support the rib, when a section of the left hand rib rolled on top of him. The rock was approximately 14 feet long, 4 feet high, and 17 inches thick.
- Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs. A thorough exam must be conducted before any work or travel is started in an area and thereafter as conditions warrant.
- Support any loose roof or rib material adequately or scale loose material from a safe location before working or traveling in an area.
- Danger-off areas that have hazardous roof or rib conditions until they are made safe.
- Take additional safety precautions when mining heights increase because rib fall injury rates increase substantially as the mining height increases.
- Use rib bolting to control unstable ribs. Rib bolts provide the best protection against rib falls and are most effective when installed on cycle and in a consistent pattern.
- Be alert to changing geologic conditions which may affect roof/rib conditions.
- Ensure that the Approved Roof Control Plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered.
- Revise the Approved Roof Control Plan as needed when adverse conditions are encountered.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).