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A Murray Energy spokesman confirmed the incident to ILN but did not identify the contract worker from its Ohio Valley Coal No. 6 complex in Monroe County.
“At approximately 2.05am [July 24], a bulldozer operator, employed by an independent contractor, fell asleep at the wheel and drove a bulldozer into the No. 2 slurry impoundment,” he said.
“The operator quickly awoke, jumped off, and walked away from the accident. “
Ohio Valley Coal, a Murray subsidiary, has commenced an investigation into the incident.
Ohio Valley and nearby sister mine Century, both longwalls, are the only two underground mines owned by the producer in Ohio. The company’s other operations are in the Illinois Basin region.
The mine in Alledonia employs 550 workers and produces about 5.2 million tons annually from the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam.
