Longwall Operator

On September 28, 2017, employee was helping in the roof bolting activities on the longwall face. During this activity, coal came from the longwall face fatally injuring the employee.

At 2:20 p.m., on Thursday, September 28, 2017, Jaime Olivas, a 39-year-old longwall section operator with over 10 years mining experience received fatal injuries while installing roof support on the longwall recovery face. He was positioned in the panline, located eight to 10 feet from the face, attempting to untangle mesh from a metal roof mat, when a large slab of coal fell from the longwall face completely covering him. The mine operator did not have policies in place to protect miners working in the panline. The fatal accident occurred because the mine operator did not adequately control the longwall face while miners were removing equipment.

1. The mine operator did not have effective policies, programs, procedures, or controls in place to protect miners from a fall of roof or the longwall face while miners are positioned in the panline or between the panline and the longwall face.

   Corrective action: The mine operator submitted a roof control plan addendum to address safety measures in the area where the accident occurred. The approved plan required mesh to be placed on the face from shields 50 to 61 and secured with roof bolts. At no time could anyone be in the face conveyor. All roof and rib bolting were required to be performed from the panline bolting machines. Adequate support, including face bolting, was also required from shield 50 to the headgate. All future longwall recovery plans will require a site specific roof control plan and will incorporate longwall face support.

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

Activity at time of incident

Hand Tools (Not Powered)

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Longwall

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS

Total mining experience

10 years

Experience at this mine

9 years

Experience in this job

2 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY