On Oct. 27, 2020, a miner (age 37 with 1 year 40 weeks experience*) was digging a hole (in an underground mine in Williamstown, PA with 8 employees*) to install a wooden post for roof control when a section of the roof fell on him.

Best Practices: 

• Thoroughly examine the roof, face, and ribs where people will be working and traveling, including sound and vibration testing where applicable.
• Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location. Prevent access to hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
• Set temporary support before installing permanent support.
• Be alert for changing conditions and report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management and other miners.
• 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.
• Propose revisions to the roof control plan to provide measures to control roof hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 23rd fatality reported in 2020, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.” (* Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

On Thursday, September 28, 2017, a 39-year-old miner with ten years of mining experience received fatal injuries when coal from the longwall face rolled out and completely covered him. The victim was assisting with roof bolting by untangling the mesh during the longwall recovery process. At the time of the accident, the victim was located between the coal face and the pan line.

Best Practices

• DO NOT ENTER the panline, or any immediate work area, unless the roof and longwall face have been made safe. This includes reducing exposure by minimizing the distance from the face to the tips of the shield.
• Scale roof, face, and ribs with a bar of suitable length and design or other safe means.
• Ensure miners are trained on the minimum requirements of the approved roof control plan.
• Conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs when miners work or travel close to the longwall face, and continuously monitor for changing conditions
• Before beginning a longwall recovery, ensure miners are trained to recognize the hazards associated with the recovery area.
• Be aware of and correct potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when conditions exist that could cause roof or rib disturbance.

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

On February 23, 2017, a 62-year-old section foreman was seriously injured by falling roof rock in the No. 3 entry of the active working section.  The rock fell from between roof bolts and was approximately 3 feet by 2 feet by 3 to 4 inches thick.  First-aid was administered and the injured miner was transported to a medical center.  Due to medical complications from the injuries he sustained, the victim died on April 6, 2017.

Best Practices

• Install the most effective roof “skin” control technique, screen wire mesh, when roof bolts are installed.  Most roof fall injuries are caused by rock falling from between roof bolts (failure of the roof skin).
• Conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working and traveling; including sound and vibration testing where applicable.
• Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location.  Danger-off hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
• Be alert for changing conditions and report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management and other miners.
• Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing persons to work or travel in such areas.  Install and examine test holes regularly for changes in roof strata.
• Propose revisions to the roof control plan to provide measures to control roof skin hazards.
• 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.

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

On February 20, 2015, a 29-year-old roof bolter helper with 3 years and 48 weeks of mining experience was killed when a piece of rock approximately 3 feet wide, 11½ feet long, and 3 to 16 inches thick fell and pinned him against the top of the drill canopy of a roof bolting machine.  The roof bolting machine was positioned to install the next row of permanent supports when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

• Visually examine the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any other work is started in the area.
• Be alert to changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance.
• While under supported roof, perform sound and vibration tests where roof supports are to be installed.
• Establish in the roof control plan a bolt installation pattern that effectively supports the roof strata.
• Adequately support or scale down any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.
• Ensure that ATRS systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition.  Ensure the ATRS sets firmly against the mine roof, as specified by the manufacturer, before installing new roof supports.
• As much as possible, stay under the roof bolting machine’s drill canopy when working in the area between the ATRS and the last row of permanent roof supports.
• Take additional measures when hazards associated with draw rock are encountered, such as mining shorter cuts and decreasing roof bolt spacing.
• When using roof screen, implement work procedures that incorporate positioning and securing the mesh from a safe location.
• Know and follow the approved roof control plan.  Install and examine test holes regularly to check for changes in roof strata.
• Add additional supports at any indication of adverse roof conditions.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On Monday, November 10, 2014, at approximately 9:35 p.m., a 49-year-old section foreman with 27 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a large rock that measured 5 feet by 3 feet by 13 inches thick.  The victim was operating the roof bolting machine on the 2 North section in the No. 2 entry at the time of the accident.  The rock fell inby the last full row of permanent roof supports and between the automated temporary roof support (ATRS) and the left rib.

• Perform a visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any other work is started in the area.
• Be alert to changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance.
• While under supported roof, perform sound and vibration tests where roof supports are to be installed.
• Adequately support or scale down any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.
• Ensure that ATRS systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition and set firmly against the mine roof before installing new roof supports.
• Ensure ATRS are set within 5 feet of permanent support as well as within 5 feet of the rib line.
• Stay under the roof bolting machine canopy when working in the area between the ATRS and the last row of permanent roof support.
• Ensure that the approved roof control plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered at the mine.  If conditions change and cause the plan to no longer be suitable, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof face and ribs.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at approximately 4:55 p.m., a 63-year-old roof bolter with 40 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a large piece of roof rock while installing a rib bolt on the right side of the number 8 right crosscut on the No. 1 Section. The victim was between the drill head and the ATRS when the roof fell on him. The rock was approximately 6 feet long by 5.5 feet wide and about 5 inches thick.

Best Practices

• Conduct frequent and adequate examinations of the roof, face, and ribs. Be alert for changing conditions at all times. When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
• Develop and follow safe rib bolting procedures. Consult the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Adequately support, or scale down, any loose roof or rib material from a safe location before working or traveling in the area.
• Ensure that Automated Temporary Roof Support (ATRS) systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition.
• Ensure that the approved Roof Control Plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered at the mine. If conditions change and cause the plan to no longer be suitable, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof, face, and ribs.

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

On Wednesday, September 26, 2012, a 32-year old section foreman with 12 years of experience was killed by a roof fall at Kopper Glo Mining’s Double Mountain Mine. He was operating the continuous mining machine to excavate a roof cavity in preparation for the installation of a belt conveyor drive. The foreman was positioned approximately 8 feet inby the last row of permanent roof support when a section of the unsupported roof, approximately 6½ feet long, by 6 feet wide, by up to 8 inches thick fell, striking the victim and pinning him to the mine floor.

• Always post the end of permanent roof support with a readily visible warning or physical barrier to impede travel beyond permanent roof support. This serves to alert all miners as they approach a danger zone.
• Never travel beyond permanent roof support.
• Never expose any portion of your body inby the last row of undisturbed permanent roof supports.
• Make frequent, thorough roof examinations and be aware of changing roof conditions at all times.
• Give extra attention to the roof after activities that cause roof disturbance.
• Take extra precautions when cutting out roof support or mining above the normal roof line, such as mining a shorter depth of cut, then install two rows of roof bolts before continuing to mine.

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