Laborer fatality at Lower War Eagle (Greenbrier Minerals, LLC), WV, January 4, 2016

There were no witnesses to the event. Employee was found with right arm caught by the hold up roller of the remote discharge of the #1 conveyor. When found by crew members, employee was not responsive. Employee was transported to the surface when employee was pronounced deceased.

On January 4, 2016, at approximately 12:05 a.m., Peter D. Sprouse, a 53 year old miner received fatal injuries when he became entangled in the bottom hold-up roller and conveyor belt on the No. 1 belt head. The accident occurred because the No. 1 belt drive was not de-energized and blocked against motion while maintenance work was being performed by the victim to change out a bottom hold-up roller.

1. The mine operator failed to ensure all workers followed the safety precautions for the job to ensure electrical power was off and the machinery blocked against motion. The victim performed repair and/or maintenance work while the No.1 belt conveyor was running.

   Corrective action: A written action plan was submitted to MSHA by Greenbrier Minerals, LLC. All employees were given the approved action plan training that consisted of the following:

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

Activity at time of incident

Conveyor Belt

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

LAST OPEN CROSSCUT

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Source of injury

BELT CONVEYORS

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

34 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

4 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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