In its preliminary findings, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration said 61-year-old Delmer Miller was killed on April 25 at McCoy Elkhorn’s KC No. 1 mine from injuries received while dismantling a conveyor stacker.
The stacker, which was at the surface of the inactive coal mine, was being removed by a crew and Miller had completed the final torch cut on an elevated, inclined stacker frame support beam containing the counterweight when the structure fell.
“The structure contacted the walkway (catwalk) where the victim was located,” investigators said.
“This section of the walkway, approximately 25 feet long, broke loose from the main structure, causing the victim to fall approximately 27ft.”
Miller, who worked for T&B Transport, had 20 years of experience but had been with the contractor just three days.
To help prevent future similar incidents at other US operations, MSHA stressed the need for mines to establish safe work procedures that incorporated manufacturers’ recommendations and assured workers were not exposed to hazards while conducting maintenance, repairs or demolition activity.
Before all work began, those performing duties should be trained on the activity and safe procedures and work areas should be examined during the shift to identify hazards potentially created from the work being performed.
Other best practices include clearing areas of tripping and stumbling hazards, providing and maintaining safe access, securing structures against unexpected movements and using appropriate fall protection.
Finally, the agency’s inspectors said miners must always stay focused on their work, not just for their own safety but for the safety of others.
Miller’s death was the seventh recorded in the US this year and the first to be classified as a slip or fall of person accident.
McCoy Elkhorn, located in Pike and Floyd counties, is a subsidiary of James River Coal.
According to federal data, the KC No. 1 underground mine last produced bituminous coal in 2009, when it had 98,592 tons of output.
According to JRC, the McCoy Elkhorn complex’s mines include underground and surface operations.
Crews mine from the Millard, Alma, Elkhorn 2 and Elkhorn 3 seams.
