Electrician

Employee was standing on 172 shield and advancing 173 shield towards the face. The employee was found with an injury to the back of the head at 171 shield.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On September 28, 2024, at approximately 7:50 a.m., Colton Walls, a 34-year-old electrician with 14 years of mining experience, was seriously injured while advancing longwall shields. Two longwall shields were connected with a nylon rope and hook sling. When the sling broke, a portion of the sling struck Walls. He died from his injuries on October 5, 2024. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) have adequate written guidance to ensure the safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions were encountered and connecting devices were used to prevent the shields from leaning and 2) train the miner on how to ensure safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions occur and connecting devices are used to prevent the shields from leaning.

1. The mine operator did not have a written policy or procedure in place to ensure the safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions were encountered and connecting devices were used to prevent the shields from leaning.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator developed and implemented the following written procedures to be followed when shields are connected with slings during shield advancement:

2. The mine operator did not train the miner on how to ensure safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions occur and connecting devices are used to prevent the shields from leaning.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator trained all miners that perform advancement of longwall shields on the new written procedures.

Lee el informe completo (PDF)

Hallazgos del informe final de investigación de la MSHA, que sustituye la narrativa preliminar anterior.

Actividad al momento del incidente

Advance Roof Support-Longwall

Subunidad / ubicación

UNDERGROUND

Ubicación subterránea

FACE

Método de minería

Longwall

Tipo de accidente

Golpeado por... no clasificado en otra parte

Fuente de la lesión

MISCELLANEOUS,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Naturaleza de la lesión

OTHER INJURY,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Parte del cuerpo afectada

HEAD, MULTIPLE PARTS

Experiencia minera total

14 years

Experiencia en esta mina

7 years

Experiencia en este puesto

6 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY