On Friday, March 25, 2016, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator, with 30 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when an overhanging section of a rock rib fell and pinned him against the haulage equipment. The fallen rib was approximately 44 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet thick. The victim was remotely operating a continuous mining machine that was being used to excavate material during the construction of a coal transfer shaft. The area where the accident occurred had a depth of cover of approximately 1,950 feet and a height of approximately 17 feet.

• Be aware of potential hazards at all times when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when conditions exist that could cause roof or rib disturbance. Take additional safety precautions in these conditions and when mining heights increase.
• Do not stand between ribs and remotely controlled face equipment.
• Know and follow all provisions of the approved roof control plan.  Recognize that this plan has minimum requirements and additional measures must be taken as mining conditions warrant.
• Train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where miners will be working or traveling. Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing miners in such areas. Continuously watch for changing conditions and conduct more frequent examinations when abnormal conditions are present.
• Pay particular attention to deteriorating roof and rib conditions when working in, or traveling through, older areas of the mine.  Provide additional training for specialized work, such as outby construction, emphasizing best practices for each specific task.
• Perform a site-specific risk assessment for underground construction projects since unusual hazards may be encountered.  Identify and correct hazardous conditions related to falls of the roof, face, and ribs.
• Install rib bolts on cycle and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
• Provide additional support when fractures or other abnormalities are detected and use appropriate standing support beneath overhanging brows if they cannot be taken down or adequately bolted.
• Adequately scale any loose rib material from a safe location with a bar of suitable length.
• Historically, rib related accidents occur in areas where the mining height exceeds 7 feet and the cover is more than 700 feet. In such areas, make frequent examinations and take proactive measures to assure adequate, effective rib support is installed and maintained.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Accident Report (pdf).

On January 16, 2016, a 31 year old continuous mining machine operator with 12 years of mining experience was fatally injured when a section of coal/rock rib measuring 4.5 feet long, 3 feet high, and 3 feet thick fell and pinned him to the mine floor. The victim was remotely operating the continuous miner in the number 2 entry of the advancing section when the accident occurred.

• Train all miners and supervisors to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working and traveling. Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing persons to work or travel in such areas.
•  Be aware of potential hazards at all times when working or traveling near ribs. Take additional safety precautions when mining heights increase to prevent development of rib hazards.
• Avoid areas of close clearance between ribs and equipment.
• Know and follow the approved roof control plan and provide additional support when roof or rib fractures, or other abnormalities are detected.  Remember, the approved roof control plan only contains minimum requirements.
• Install rib bolts with adequate surface coverage hardware on cycle and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls. In addition to rib bolts and mesh, setting post on 4 foot centers along questionable rib lines will provide additional protection against rib rolls.
• Be alert for changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance. Report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management.
• Adequately support or scale any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.  Use a bar of suitable length and design when scaling.
• Danger off hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Accident Report (pdf).

On Monday, March 16, 2015, a 34-year-old section foreman with 10 years of mining experience was killed when a coal/rock rib approximately 90 inches long, 45 inches high, and 15 to 18 inches thick fell and pinned him against the side of a shuttle car.

• Be aware of potential hazards at all times when working or traveling near ribs.
• Avoid areas of close clearance between ribs and equipment.
• Know and follow the approved roof control plan and provide additional support when cracks or other abnormalities are detected.  Remember, the approved roof control plan contains minimum requirements.
• Install rib bolts on cycle and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
• Train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working and traveling.  Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing persons to work or travel in such areas.
• Be alert for changing conditions.  Report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management.
• Adequately support or scale any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.   Use a bar of suitable length and design when scaling.
• Danger off hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On March 8, 2015, a 45-year old assistant longwall coordinator with twelve years of experience was killed while working a longwall section.  The victim was shoveling loose material between the longwall face and the pan line when a large piece of rock, 12 feet long by 5 feet wide by 1 foot thick, fell from the face and struck him.

• Conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs, when abnormal conditions are present.  Watch for frequently changing conditions.
• Scale hazardous roof, face, or rib conditions and adequately support the areas before any work or travel is permitted.  Ensure that a bar of suitable length and design is used when removing loose or unconsolidated material.
• Install longwall shield extensions to cover a portion of the face and minimize unsupported areas.
• Implement policies, programs, procedures, and controls to protect miners working in the face conveyor areas.
• Reinstruct all miners in hazard recognition, adequate support methods, and safe work practices when abnormal conditions or circumstances are present on the longwall face.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On Monday, May 12, 2014, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 26 years of mining experience, and a 46-year-old mobile roof support operator/roof bolter with 3½ years of mining experience, were fatally injured as a result of a coal rib burst. The section crew was retreat mining in the #6 entry of the 4 East Mains Panel. They were mining the second lift of the left pillar block when the accident occurred.

• Conduct frequent and thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs.  Be alert for changing conditions.  When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
• Ensure that the approved roof control plan support provisions are suitable for the geological conditions at the mine and that the plan is followed.
• Train all miners in the requirements of the approved roof control plan and instruct miners to follow the plan at all times.
• Ensure that the pillar dimensions and the mining method are suitable for the conditions, and that roof and rib control methods are adequate for the depth of cover.  Consider the potential effects of any mines above or below the active workings.
• Develop a map of geological features and unusual conditions in order to develop the best mining plan that addresses the potentially adverse roof and rib conditions that may be present.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

On November 4, 2013, a 36 year-old longwall chief, with 16 years of experience, was killed while shoveling loose coal and rock between the coal face and the pan line on a longwall section. The victim received crushing injuries when a solid piece of coal and cap rock fell from the coal face, striking and pinning him against the face side of the pan line. The coal/rock combination measured approximately 4 feet and 10-inches long, by 2 feet and 3 inches wide, and up to 24 inches thick.

Best Practices

• Conduct a thorough examination of the roof, face, and ribs, including a visual examination and a sound and vibration test prior to miners being assigned to work or travel through an area.
• Correct hazardous roof, face, or rib conditions before any work or travel is permitted in the affected area.
• Use a bar of suitable length and design for removing loose or unconsolidated material.
• Support the exposed longwall roof, face, and ribs by mechanical means in the immediate work area.
• Train all miners in hazard recognition and safe work practices that are assigned to perform work on the longwall face.
• Apply additional safety precautions in areas where geological changes and anomalies in strata are present.
• Post a certified foreman at the work area when maintenance is being performed.
• De-energize the face conveyor, notify the headgate operator, and disconnect power at the control station while work is being performed on the face conveyor (pan). Do not energize the conveyor until all persons are off the face side of the conveyor and the conveyor is supported adequately from inadvertent movement.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, a 56-year old continuous mining machine operator, with 37 years of mining experience, was killed as a result of a coal rib outburst. The section crew was retreat mining the first right lift of the #3 entry in a five entry system when the accident occurred. Two other miners were injured, one seriously.

Best Practices

• Ensure that the approved roof control plan support provisions are suitable for the geological conditions at the mine and that the plan is followed.
• Ensure that the pillar dimensions and mining method are suitable for the conditions. OR, ensure that roof and rib control methods are adequate for the depth of cover and for the potential effects of any mines above or below active workings.
• Develop a map of geological features and anomalies to determine orientation as a means to predict when and where they will be encountered during mining, so additional roof support can focus on those areas.
• Conduct frequent and adequate examinations of roof, face, and ribs. Be alert for changing conditions. When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
• Maintain proper entry widths and pillar dimensions.
• When gob falls have been delayed for periods that exceed routine intervals for the mining conditions, evaluate the area and consider evacuating miners and equipment to a safe area until the fall occurs.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).