Examiner

Investigation indicates that the employee was attempting to cross a moving belt or cross a belt that had just started, when employee was pulled down the belt line and later recovered at the raw coal stockpile at the plant.

On Monday, October 23, 2017, at approximately 4:29 a.m., James R. Adkins, a 48-year-old mine examiner with 18 years of mining experience, fell onto a moving conveyor belt and received fatal injuries. Adkins was attempting to cross the conveyor belt at the tailpiece in order to complete his examination of the No. 1 conveyor belt when he fell. He had been assigned to conduct a pre-shift examination of the No. 1, 2, and 3 conveyor belts, electrical boxes and track entry of the Horse Creek Eagle mine for the day shift. The accident occurred because the operator did not follow proper safety procedures.

1. Proper safety procedures were not followed while performing a conveyor belt examination.

   Corrective action: The mine operator installed belt crossovers at all belt transfer points. These crossovers are located at the belt tailpieces and prevent the use of belt tailpieces as a means to cross the belts. All crossovers, mid-belt crossovers, and crossunders were evaluated and modified, relocated, added or removed as appropriate. All miners were trained to use these suitable belt crossing facilities.

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

Activity at time of incident

Cross Over (Conveyor)

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

INTERSECTION

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Source of injury

BELT CONVEYORS

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

18 years

Experience at this mine

1 year

Experience in this job

8 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY