Continuous Miner Helper

The victim was fatally injured when EE was struck by a battery powered scoop which had trammed through a translucent line curtain in the #3 Entry of the #6 Unit (MMU 005) just outby the working place where the continuous mining machine was being operated. Co-workers observed the victim in a sitting position stretching EE's legs prior to the accident.

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Jeremy Elder, a 39-year-old continuous mining machine (CMM) helper, died when a battery-powered scoop struck him. The victim was in the No. 3 entry behind a ventilation curtain that directed air to the CMM mining in the No. 3 right crosscut. A scoop, carrying roof bolting supplies, was tramming through the No. 3 left crosscut and struck the victim as the scoop turned into the No. 3 entry and passed through the ventilation curtain. The accident occurred because miners were not aware of the change the scoop operator made to his travel route. Also, the scoop operator did not slow down or sound an audible alarm prior to traveling through the ventilation curtain.

1. Miners were not aware of the change the scoop operator made to his travel route. Also, the scoop operator did not slow down or sound an audible alarm prior to traveling through the ventilation curtain.

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

Activity at time of incident

Idle

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by powered moving object

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

15 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

10 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY