Electrician

Employee was standing on 172 shield and advancing 173 shield towards the face. The employee was found with an injury to the back of the head at 171 shield.

On September 28, 2024, at approximately 7:50 a.m., Colton Walls, a 34-year-old electrician with 14 years of mining experience, was seriously injured while advancing longwall shields. Two longwall shields were connected with a nylon rope and hook sling. When the sling broke, a portion of the sling struck Walls. He died from his injuries on October 5, 2024. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) have adequate written guidance to ensure the safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions were encountered and connecting devices were used to prevent the shields from leaning and 2) train the miner on how to ensure safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions occur and connecting devices are used to prevent the shields from leaning.

1. The mine operator did not have a written policy or procedure in place to ensure the safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions were encountered and connecting devices were used to prevent the shields from leaning.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented the following written procedures to be followed when shields are connected with slings during shield advancement:

2. The mine operator did not train the miner on how to ensure safe advancement of the longwall shields when adverse conditions occur and connecting devices are used to prevent the shields from leaning.

   Corrective action: The mine operator trained all miners that perform advancement of longwall shields on the new written procedures.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Advance Roof Support-Longwall

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Longwall

Accident type

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Source of injury

MISCELLANEOUS,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

OTHER INJURY,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Body part affected

HEAD, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

14 years

Experience at this mine

7 years

Experience in this job

6 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY