Surface foreman Walter Ralph McAfee, 55, was working at Murray Energy’s Redbird West Salt Run No. 1 operation in Jefferson County, eastern Ohio, when he was caught between the frame of a highwall miner transportation dolly and a front-end loader with duck bill attachment.

McAfee, who had 19 years of mining experience, was the only worker involved in the incident.

US Mine Safety and Health Administration officials released preliminary findings as well as best practice guidelines for future accident prevention, stressing that miners should never position themselves between equipment in motion and stationary objects.

“Always be aware of your location in relation to machine parts that have the ability to move [and] ensure mobile equipment operators are aware of your location at all times,” MSHA said.

Also, workers must always maintain communication with the operator of a piece of mobile equipment when working in a confined area.

Line of sight, background noise, or other conditions should not interfere with that communication.

MSHA said operators should train all miners in the task they were performing, while miners must make themselves more visible by wearing brightly colored clothing or something distinguishable from surroundings.

Finally, investigators reminded all miners towing heavy equipment to always use a tow bar with adequate length and a proper rating for the task.

McAfee’s death was the fifth fatality of six reported to date in US coal during 2012 and the first classified by MSHA as a machinery accident.

The fatality was also the first in Ohio this year.

The Redbird West complex near Brilliant commenced production from the Pittsburgh 8 seam in 2007 and was Murray Energy’s first large-scale eastern US surface mining operation.

It employs approximately 210 workers and produces about 2 million tons annually.