Continuous Miner Operator

The EE was operating the C.M., he was making the first cut in the C.C. left from No. 4 to No. 5 entry. After making the initial cut,EE backed the C.M. into C.C. between No. 4 and 3 entries to set the machine to slab the right side of the cut. As he backed the machine into the C.C., he was pinned between the outby rib of the C.C. and the left side of the cutter head. (See attached)

1. The mine operator did not ensure compliance with provisions of the approved roof control plan requiring that all persons be in a safe location away from any part of the continuous mining machine when the machine is being repositioned or trammed. The continuous mining machine operator was located in the “Red Zone” between the continuous mining machine and the coal rib while the machine was being repositioned.

2. The operator did not enforce its Red Zone policy. Accident investigators found that Red Zone violations were a practice.

   Corrective action: On November 27, 2012, Peabody Energy announced that they were closing the Willow Lake Portal Mine. The mine did not resume production after the November 17th accident. The mine operator submitted an action plan to the District Manager describing how the continuous mining machines would be removed from the mine.

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Continuous Miner

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

UNDERGRD MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

CHEST (RIBS/BREAST BONE/CHEST ORGNS)

Total mining experience

3 years

Experience at this mine

3 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY