June 16, 2004
KY · Coal
shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator
Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object
A FATAL FALL OF ROOF ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE 003 WORKING SECTION. THE VICTIM WAS WORKING WITH THE SECTION CREW AND HAD BEEN INSTALLING TIMBERS DURING RETREAT MINING. THE CREW HAD TEMPORARILY HALTED PRODUCTION TO OBSERVE THE MINE ROOF, WHEN WITH LITTLE WARNING THE MINE ROOF BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. THE 5 MINERS RAN TO ESCAPE THE ROOF FALL. FOUR OF THE MINERS ESCAPED.