Section Foreman

The employee was walking off the face at the G1HG longwall section. As employee passed the head gate drive, the previously bolted and meshed rib unexpectedly failed and the material struck employee resulting crushing type injuries.

On Thursday, August 29, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. Tanner McFarland, a 25-year-old section foreman with 6 years of mining experience, died after a section of rib fell on him. At the time of the accident, the victim was exiting the longwall face. The section of fallen rib measured 25 feet long, 3 feet thick, and 8½ feet high. The accident occurred because the engineering controls were not adequate to prevent the rib from falling onto the victim.

1. The mine operator did not adequately support or otherwise control the mine ribs.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed an action plan to continue mining the G1 longwall panel. The provisions in the action plan required floor to roof support to be installed in strategic locations in the No. 1 entry along the south rib. MSHA agreed to the action plan.

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

Activity at time of incident

Walking, Running

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Longwall

Accident type

Struck by rolling or sliding 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

6 years

Experience at this mine

6 years

Experience in this job

6 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY