On Monday, August 15, 2011, a 46 year old miner was killed when he was struck by a portion of the mine roof that fell from an area adjacent to a longwall shield. The accident occurred during a longwall move, while the victim was installing a wooden crib in an area where a longwall face shield had been removed previously. The victim had approximately five years experience with this activity.
Best Practices
- Assure that roof control plans are suitable to the prevailing geological conditions. If roof geology changes affect roof stability, reevaluate roof support techniques.
- Share and discuss roof control plans with the miners on a regular basis. For miner safety, assure that the roof control plan safety precautions are followed.
- Provide additional training for specialized work, such as longwall moves, emphasizing best practices for a specific task.
- Conduct examinations of roof conditions frequently to prevent exposure to poor roof conditions. Remain vigilant for changing roof conditions.
- When hazardous roof conditions are detected, danger off areas until they are made safe.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).