Ledgeman/Hand

The investigation is not complete, but as of now it appears a miner was fatally injured when material that traveled through a borehole struck him after a blast was initiated. The victim was on the 1290 level ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. The concussion from the explosion traveled through a 3-inch borehole, blowing small rock and debris onto the victim.

On September 7, 2011, Joseph L. Tagaban, blaster's helper, age 30, was killed when he was struck by rock and debris after a production blast was initiated. The rock and debris passed through a 3-inch diameter diamond drill hole that intersected the blast site. Tagaban was standing next to a tractor positioned on the uphill side of a haulage ramp near the 1290 crosscut. He was approximately 200 feet from the blast site and in line with the drill hole when the blast was initiated. The accident occurred because management policies, procedures, and controls were inadequate and did not protect persons from flying materials near the blast area. An old diamond drill hole, that intersected the blast pattern, had not been identified prior to initiating the blast. An adequate examination to check the area for hazards or to identify the diamond drill hole was not conducted prior to initiating the blast. Persons were not trained to be out of the blast area or in a location that would protect them from concussion, flying material, or gases. The blaster and blaster's helper were not provided with a blasting shelter or removed from the blast area to protect them from concussion and flying material.

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

Activity at time of incident

Blasting, Shoot Coal

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Other

Accident type

Struck by flying object

Source of injury

BROKEN ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

1 year

Experience at this mine

1 year

Experience in this job

1 year

Degree of injury

FATALITY