Transit Man

While the surveyor was setting up the instrument in #4 belt entry, the other surveyor was getting height measurements down #3 entry. A shuttle car loaded with coal coming from #2 entry tramming to the feeder struck and killed the surveyor near spad 24.

On Monday, January 14, 2019, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Jeffery N. Slone, a 56-year-old survey crew member with 30 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when he was struck by a shuttle car traveling to the coal feeder. At the time of the accident, Slone was taking measurements of the mining height as part of his surveying duties. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not have effective policies, procedures, and controls to protect miners who are on foot from being contacted by moving mobile face equipment.

1. The mine operator did not have effective policies, procedures, and controls to protect miners who are on foot from being contacted by moving mobile face equipment. The shuttle car operator’s field of vision was greatly reduced due to the size/height of the shuttle car and the low mining height.

   Corrective action: On January 17, 2019, the mine operator submitted, and MSHA approved, a revision to the roof control plan that contains the following safety measures to protect miners travelling on foot on the working section.

2. The mine operator did not ensure that both headlights on the shuttle car were working properly to illuminate the direction of travel and warn miners traveling on foot. One headlight on the dump end of the shuttle car involved in the fatal accident was not operational.

   Corrective action: The mine operator repaired the headlight and implemented a new pre-operational examination policy. The new policy requires the lights on shuttle cars to be examined, and repaired if necessary, before operating each shift.

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

Activity at time of incident

Other, Nec

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

INTERSECTION

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by powered moving object

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

30 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

15 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY