The order, which was released just hours after the death of shuttlecar operator John Myles at the Affinity mine in Raleigh County, directs all West Virginia operators, supervisors, miners and other employees of the state's coal industry to observe a safety stand-down.

Myles’ death was the second at the mine in two weeks.

During the stand-down, the mines will have to conduct complete reviews of all applicable health and safety laws and regulations, communication protocol and specific safety issues.

“West Virginia's coal mining industry can thrive only if mining operations are conducted as safely as possible and in accordance with the mandatory health and safety laws and regulations aimed at preventing accidents,” Tomblin said.

“I'm asking all coal companies and their employees to take this safety check seriously. We need to do everything we can to ensure all of our coal miners are safe.”

In addition to the stand-down, the Office of Miners Health Safety and Training director and his officials will be deployed to all of the state’s mine to assist operators in conducting safety reviews.

On February 14, Glen Clutter died from injuries sustained while working at the Loveridge mine on February 12. A metal bar he was using to help put a loaded supply car back on the track kicked out and struck him.

On February 7, also at the Affinity mine, 43-year-old Edward Finney died while positioning a scoop bucket onto an elevator to drop off a tray loaded with trash. The elevator unexpectedly started going up toward the surface and the scoop was pulled upward by the elevator.

The operator came out of the scoop, which broke loose from the elevator and fell, crushing the operator.

On February 6, at Midland Trail Energy’s Blue Creek preparation plant in Kanawha County, 34-year-old Brandon Townsend was killed and a second miner injured when the jacks for a filter press failed and the housing broke loose, pinning the victim and killing him.