December Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 2/6/23 MNM – Electrical
  • 12/14/23 MNM – Macinery OK
  • 12/14/23 MNM – Machinery UT

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

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MNM Fatality – 11/17/23

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On November 17, 2023, a miner died when the leg of a rock saw stand that he was assisting to unload, shifted and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Review safe procedures with all miners involved prior to conducting a non-routine task.
  • Use proper rigging and lifting procedures when moving machine parts.
  • Load and unload materials on smooth, level surfaces to ensure the material does not shift or fall over.
  • Ensure miners are positioned in a safe location and away from potential hazards when moving or positioning equipment. 

Additional Information

This is the 38th fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Handling Material.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 11/13/23

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On November 13, 2023, a pit wall collapsed engulfing an excavator operator while he was outside of the excavator.

Best Practices

  • Use appropriate mining methods when the material is steeper than its angle of repose.
       o    Install appropriate benches and trenches when necessary.
       o    Scale highwalls to eliminate hazards, e.g., steep slopes or overhangs.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect miners.
  • Train miners to assess risks and hazards and correct or barricade hazards to prevent access before beginning work activities.

Additional Information

This is the 37th fatality reported in 2023, and the first classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

November Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 2/6/23 MNM – Electrical
  • 11/13/23 MNM – Fall of Face/Rib/Highwall
  • 11/17/23 MNM – Handling Material

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

Safety in Cold Weather Alert

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Cold weather can cause cold stress, which can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other severe injuries, and illnesses.

Best Practices

  • Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
  • Wear appropriate clothing.
  • Wear clothing that allows a full range of motion necessary for the tasks of the work.
  • Move into warm locations during breaks.
  • Include chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
  • Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.

In addition, some portable heaters can emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO).  CO is odorless and colorless and can accumulate in confined spaces and enclosed areas such as the cabs of vehicles, work trailers, and unventilated areas.  Exposure to 200 parts per million of CO for 15 minutes can cause disorientation, unconsciousness and eventual death.

Best Practices

  • Maintenance of fuel-burning equipment and vehicles is crucial. Vehicle exhaust systems need to be regularly inspected for leaks or other damage.
  • Monitors and audible alarm systems should be in place wherever CO is a potential hazard. Use portable CO detectors as necessary.
  • Properly ventilate work areas. The ventilation system should be designed and maintained to remove contaminants from the mine atmosphere.
  • Maintain travelways and keep them free of ice and debris.

Click here for MSHA Alert.

MNM Fatality – 11/13/23

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On November 13, 2023, a rotating drill steel of a roof bolting machine entangled a miner, causing fatal injuries.

Best Practices

  • Always follow manufacturer recommendations when conducting maintenance on equipment, including:
    • Turn off or de-energize the machine.
    • Secure the equipment against hazardous motion.
  • Never touch or hold the drill steel, wrench, or bolt while it is rotating.
  • Do not wear loose-fitting or bulky clothing when working around any machinery with rotating parts.

Additional Information

This is the 36th fatality reported in 2023, and the 14th classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 8/4/21

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This fatality’s Final Report was first posted on MSHA’s website on 11/7/23. No alerts or preliminary reports were produced.

On August 4, 2021, at 8:12 a.m., Jeffery Hudnall, a 60 year-old steam truck operator with 16 years of mining experience, was fatally injured while steam cleaning a front-end loader.  Hudnall was standing on the front-end loader’s right-side deck when he fell over nine feet to a concrete pad.

Additional Information

Click here for Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 12/22/22

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On December 22, 2022, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Aidan Coon, a 21 year-old contract freeze treater with approximately two years of mining experience, was found unresponsive in his personal vehicle beside the mine office.

On December 22, 2022, MSHA was informed of a contractor’s death at Black Diamond Company’s Wellmore #8 Prep Plant in Big Rock, VA.  MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical related issues as the cause of death.  However, on March 31, 2023, MSHA received the death certificate and on April 12, 2023, MSHA received the autopsy report; both stated that the contractor died from carbon monoxide poisoning.  After further investigation and review, MSHA has decided that this death should be charged to the mining industry.

The accident occurred because the mine operator and the contractor did not ensure the vehicle, used by the miner during his shift, was maintained in safe operating condition.

Additional Information

Click here for Final Report (pdf). No Preliminary Report or Fatal Alert was posted by MSHA. Classified as Other: CO2 Poisoning.

October Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 2/6/23 MNM – Electrical

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

MNM Fatality – 9/8/23

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On September 8, 2023, a miner died after entering a hopper to clear an obstruction.  A front-end loader dumped two loads of crushed limestone into the hopper with the miner inside.

Best Practices

  • Install barricades to prevent mobile equipment access to bins and hoppers when miners are working in them.
  • Establish and train miners on procedures for safely clearing bins and hoppers.
  • Lock-out and tag-out the supply and discharge equipment before entering bins and hoppers. 
  • Wear a safety belt or harness equipped with a lifeline in a confined space.
  • Equip bins and hoppers with vibrating shakers or air cannons to prevent material blockages.

Additional Information

This is the 31st fatality reported in 2023, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).