Roof Bolter

EE was fatally injured while installing a rib bolt in the 8 Right Crosscut on Unit 1 when a slick-n-side formation fell from the mine roof inby the ATRS of the bolt machine, struck the mine floor and protruded into the employees work area. The employee was struck against the back with the rock and caught between the drill pot/mast area of the Fletcher DDR-13 WT he was operating.

1. The mine operator failed to prevent miners from being exposed to unsupported roof. The roof bolting machine operators were allowed to position themselves in front of the machine’s drill mast at the ATRS, while installing resin glue and steel bolts into the rib. This practice exposed the miners to unsupported roof during the installation of rib bolts. The mine operator had removed the hydraulic drill guides provided by the roof bolting machine manufacturer and did not provide the recommended resin insertion tools to assist miners in angle or rib bolting. The roof bolting machine operators had not been trained in the use of the resin insertion devices, as required by the manufacturer.

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

Activity at time of incident

Roof Bolter, Inserting Bolt

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

24 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

24 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY