Continuous Miner Operator fatality at Upper Big Branch Mine-South (Performance Coal Company), WV, March 29, 2001

EE HAD WALKED UP #2 ENTRY & INTO THE BREAKTHROUGH BETWEEN #2 & #3 PILLAR BLOCKS TO WHERE A SCOOP HAD BEEN PARKED. THE FOREMAN & SCOOP OPERATOR WERE IN FRONT OF SCOOP PREPARING TO SET TIMBERS. EE CALLED OUT & ASKED FOREMAN WHERE TO MINE NEXT& FOREMAN NOTICED HIS LIGHT DISAPPEAR. EE WAS DISCOVERED WITH A ROCK(8" H, 4'W, 6'L) ON HIM. GIVEN FIRST-AID, FLOWN TO HOSP., DIED 2 DAYS LATER.

Activity at time of incident

Continuous Miner

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

INTERSECTION

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

27 years

Experience at this mine

5 years

Experience in this job

5 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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