Electrician fatality at Speed Mine (Panther Creek Mining LLC), WV, September 17, 2019

EE was attempting to identify the problems with the scrubber motor on the JM 6911 continuous miner on the number one section in the number one entry when EE came in contact with electricity. The employee was brought to the surface and transported by ambulance to a Hospital where EE later passed away from the injury sustained from the incident.

On Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Steven Keeney, a 40-year-old electrician with nine years of total mining experience, died when he contacted an energized 995 VAC component. The victim was performing electrical work on the scrubber motor circuit of a continuous mining machine (CMM). The accident occurred because electrical work was performed on an energized electrical circuit while the circuit was not locked and tagged out.

1. Electrical work was performed on an energized electrical circuit while the circuit was not locked and tagged out.

   Corrective action: The mine operator revised the written lock out/tag out procedures.

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

Activity at time of incident

Electrical Maintenance

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Contact with electrical current

Source of injury

UNDERGRD MINING MACHINES

Nature of injury

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

18 years

Experience at this mine

8 years

Experience in this job

8 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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