Fatality · MSHA Record #220111740022

Miner fatality at West Elk Mine (Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.), CO, June 9, 2011

at 10:22 AM

On June 9, 2011, a miner was fatally injured in a slip or fall of person accident at West Elk Mine (Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.), CO.

West Elk Mine · Underground · Coal

Operator: Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. (Arch Resources Inc)

Contractor on site: 7WU

Gunnison County, CO

Classification SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON

Type Fall onto or against objects

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Investigator narrative

Working on a structure 15' high & was safely tied off to structure, when he completed his work, instead of stepping onto platform from beam he was standing on while tied off - he untied and then stepped and fell 8' onto another 5 1/4" beam with his chest. He walked to the company truck and sat down ambulance arrived, got in and died in route to the hospital.

Record details

Activity at time of incident: Machine Maintenance
Subunit / location: SURFACE AT UNDERGROUND
Accident type: Fall onto or against objects
Source of injury: STEEL RAIL (ALL KINDS)
Nature of injury: MULTIPLE INJURIES
Body part affected: CHEST (RIBS/BREAST BONE/CHEST ORGNS)
Total mining experience: 1 year
Experience at this mine: 0 years
Experience in this job: 12 years
Degree of injury: FATALITY

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Source: US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) · Document 220111740022 · Mine ID 0503672 Trainer view →