Mining Incidents
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Case study · MSHA Record #220250300020

Drill Operator fatality

January 29, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Twilight Mtr Surface Mine · Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Boone County, WV
Investigator narrative
The employee was drilling a test hole in the surface pit floor to see if the rider coal seam was under the seam they were taking. Due to the freezing and thawing of the highwall a large chunk of rock approximately 4'x2'x3' came down striking the enclosed cab of the mobile drill, ripping the cab off and striking the employee.
Record details
Classification
FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Accident type
Struck by falling object
Activity at time
Surface Equipment, Nec
Subunit / location
STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
Source of injury
CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE
Nature of injury
MULTIPLE INJURIES
Body part affected
TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS
Total mining experience
20 years
Experience at this mine
1 year
Experience in this job
20 years
Mine type
Surface
Sector
Coal
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