Motorman

The sub-contractor was found unconscious in EE's vehicle by EE's co-worker. The car was locked, co-worker attempted to wake EE. Co-worker called 911, then got mine superintendent, who came to the scene, broke the window, removed EE from EE's car, and started CPR. EE was then pronounced deceased at the hospital.

On December 22, 2022, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Aidan Coon, a 21 year-old contract freeze treater with approximately two years of mining experience, was found unresponsive in his personal vehicle beside the mine office.The accident occurred because the mine operator and the contractor did not ensure the vehicle, used by the miner during his shift, was maintained in safe operating condition.

1. The mine operator and the contractor did not ensure the vehicle, which was used by the miner during his shift, was maintained in safe operating condition.

   Corrective action: The mine operator and contractor developed and implemented a new written procedure that does not allow any miner or contractors to stay in their personal vehicles and trained all miners and contractors on the new written procedure. The mine operator also provided an area for the employees to monitor the tonnage on the clean coal belt and an area to spray the railroad coal cars.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Idle

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Source of injury

NOXIOUS MINE GASES,(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Nature of injury

POISONING,SYSTEMIC

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

2 years

Experience at this mine

1 year

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY