Continuous Miner Operator

The IE was moving the miner to the face in entry #3 when we found the IE pinned between the miner tail and the solid rib.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On March 5, 2026, at 1:14 p.m., Jessie Smith, a 32-year-old continuous mining machine (CMM) operator with more than 6 years of mining experience died after being pinned between the CMM and the coal rib while tramming the CMM to the coal face of No. 3 entry. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) ensure miners followed provisions in the approved Roof Control Plan to prevent them from working or traveling in the red zone of the CMM while it was being moved or repositioned; and 2) ensure the miner wearable component (MWC) of the CMM’s proximity detection system (PDS) was worn in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

1. The mine operator did not ensure miners followed provisions in the approved RCP to prevent them from working or traveling in the red zone of the CMM while it was being moved or repositioned.

2. The mine operator did not ensure the MWC of the CMM’s PDS was worn in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

   Acción correctiva: The mine operator developed and implemented procedures for PDS examinations and red zone safety and implemented them into the RCP. The procedures require a foreman to visually examine for proper placement of the MWC on each CMM operator at the beginning of the shift and a mid-shift visual exam is performed. The foreman is required to record the examinations in the on-shift exam record for each shift. All CMM operators shall wear a high-visibility vest, and the MWC shall be visible at approximately mid-chest height. The mine operator developed a policy regarding CMM operators’ attire and MWC placement. The policy was posted with other MSHA plan postings for all mine personnel to see. The mine operator retrained all miners and foremen using Matrix trainers on how to conduct a proper static and dynamic test, and proper placement of the MWC.

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

Actividad al momento del incidente

Continuous Miner

Subunidad / ubicación

UNDERGROUND

Ubicación subterránea

FACE

Método de minería

Longwall

Tipo de accidente

Atrapado en, bajo o entre un objeto en movimiento y uno fijo

Fuente de la lesión

UNDERGRD MINING MACHINES

Naturaleza de la lesión

CRUSHING

Parte del cuerpo afectada

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Experiencia minera total

6 years

Experiencia en esta mina

4 years

Experiencia en este puesto

3 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY