Roof bolter Asa Fitzpatrick, a 40-year mining veteran, was killed the afternoon of March 13 at Newtown Energy’s Peerless Rachel mine in Comfort, Boone County.

“[H]e was struck by a large piece of roof rock while installing a rib bolt on the right side of the number 8 right crosscut on the No. 1 section,” US Mine Safety and Health Administration officials said in a preliminary review of the incident released Thursday.

“The victim was between the drill head and the ATRS when the roof fell on him. The rock was approximately 6 feet long by 5.5 feet wide and about 5 inches thick.”

Newtown Energy is a division of Patriot Coal.

In an effort to prevent future similar incidents at other mines, MSHA stressed in the report that all operations should conduct frequent and adequate examinations of the roof, face, and ribs and be alert for changing conditions at all times.

“When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel,” the agency said.

Additionally, inspectors said, all mines should develop and follow safe rib bolting procedures using the specific manufacturer’s recommendations.

When working or traveling in an area and roof or rib material is discovered, it should always be supported or scaled down from a safe location.

Finally, MSHA has spotlighted the importance of automated temporary roof support systems on all roof bolting machines, and that they are maintained in good working condition. It says mines should also make sure they always follow their respective approved roof control plans while regularly determining their suitability for the geologic conditions encountered at the mine.

“If conditions change and cause the plan to no longer be suitable, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof, face, and ribs,” officials said.

Fitzpatrick’s death was the seventh in US coal in 2013, and the first this year to be classified by MSHA as fall of face, rib or highwall.

According to MSHA data, the Peerless Rachel bituminous complex produced 500,000 tons of coal in 2012 with a staff of 138 workers working just over 301,000 man hours.

No fatal or contractor fatalities have been recorded at the operation since at least 2002, and in 2012 the mine reported three non-fatal days lost injuries to operators and one NFDL contractor injury.