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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Thursday, March 31, 2005, a 49-year old continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured at an underground mine. The victim started mining in the crosscut between the Nos. 5 and 6 entries and continued to the No. 7 entry intersection, a distance of approximately 65 feet. As he was cleaning up coal in the crosscut, a roof fall measuring approximately 22 feet by 20 feet and 5 to 6 feet thick crushed the victim as he stood at the outby edge of the unsupported intersection in the No. 6 entry. The victim had approximately 28 years of mining experience, 5 months of which were at this mine.

Drawing Depicting Accident Scene


Best Practices

  • Know and follow the approved roof control plan.
  • Never travel under unsupported roof.
  • Never employ mining methods that result in exposing miners to the hazards of unsupported roof.
  • Be alert to changing roof conditions at all times.
More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.


This is the third fatality reported during calendar year 2005 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2004, there were eight fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the first fatality classified as Fall of Roof or Back in 2005. There were no fatalities in this category at this time in 2004.

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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