Bull Gang Foreman

Employee was installing a canopy on the shuttle car and the canopy fell on him striking him in the head and chest.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2012, a 32-year-old foreman with eleven years of mining experience was killed when he was struck in the head by a shuttle car canopy that had become dislodged from the mine roof during installation of the canopy onto the shuttle car. The victim was located in the operator's compartment of a JOY Mining Machinery (JOY) shuttle car when he positioned himself underneath the suspended canopy. While attempting to align the canopy posts to complete installation, the canopy became dislodged from the anchor point with the mine roof, resulting in the canopy striking the victim in the head, causing fatal injuries.

1. The mine operator failed to ensure compliance with30 CFR § 75.1726(b) pertaining to work not being performed under machinery or equipment that has been raised until the machinery or equipment has been securely blocked in position. Miners were not trained appropriately in the installation and removal of the shuttle car canopy.

   Corrective action: Management obtained a new device to assist in canopy installation and removal and trained miners in its use.

2. The mine operator failed to ensure that the victim was task trained in shuttle car operation and maintenance work pertaining to safe work practices and work procedures regarding the installation of equipment canopies.

   Corrective action: The operator instituted policies and procedures and revised the Approved Training Plan to address this work task. Miners were trained on the proper procedures pertaining to the use of the new device for safe removal of the shuttle car canopy.

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Struck by falling object

Source of injury

METAL COVERS & GUARDS

Nature of injury

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

11 years

Experience at this mine

2 years

Experience in this job

0 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY