Continuous Miner Operator

The IE was moving the miner to the face in entry #3 when we found the IE pinned between the miner tail and the solid rib.

On March 5, 2026, at 1:14 p.m., Jessie Smith, a 32-year-old continuous mining machine (CMM) operator with more than 6 years of mining experience died after being pinned between the CMM and the coal rib while tramming the CMM to the coal face of No. 3 entry. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) ensure miners followed provisions in the approved Roof Control Plan to prevent them from working or traveling in the red zone of the CMM while it was being moved or repositioned; and 2) ensure the miner wearable component (MWC) of the CMM’s proximity detection system (PDS) was worn in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

1. The mine operator did not ensure miners followed provisions in the approved RCP to prevent them from working or traveling in the red zone of the CMM while it was being moved or repositioned.

2. The mine operator did not ensure the MWC of the CMM’s PDS was worn in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented procedures for PDS examinations and red zone safety and implemented them into the RCP. The procedures require a foreman to visually examine for proper placement of the MWC on each CMM operator at the beginning of the shift and a mid-shift visual exam is performed. The foreman is required to record the examinations in the on-shift exam record for each shift. All CMM operators shall wear a high-visibility vest, and the MWC shall be visible at approximately mid-chest height. The mine operator developed a policy regarding CMM operators’ attire and MWC placement. The policy was posted with other MSHA plan postings for all mine personnel to see. The mine operator retrained all miners and foremen using Matrix trainers on how to conduct a proper static and dynamic test, and proper placement of the MWC.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Continuous Miner

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Longwall

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

UNDERGRD MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

6 years

Experience at this mine

4 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY