Electrician and repairman William Parrott was preparing to set timbers August 20 in the No. 4 entry under the brow of the right rib when a rib section fell and crushed him. The rock broke into two pieces, the first measuring about 26 feet long, 2.5in wide and 5ft high and the second measuring more than 17ft long, 2ft wide and 3ft high.
In its final investigation released this week, the agency said the operator of the Wise County mine had noted a hazardous condition, excessive entry width in the No. 4 entry, in the preshift book just one day before. However, the condition was not corrected and was not listed in the later reports for other shifts.
“A combination of factors occurred prior to the accident, including excessive rib rock mined ranging from 50 inches up to 69 inches, excessively wide entry ranging from 28.5 feet up to 31.8 feet, and the alignment of well-developed roof joints approximately parallel to the new rib line in the 3 West Mains,” MSHA investigators noted.
“The extra mining height further exposed a horizontal joint and the excessive entry width exposed vertical joints. The accident occurred when a long slab of brow rock toppled from the right rib along geological planes of weakness, resulting in fatal crushing injuries.”
Federal officials added that the adverse conditions were not corrected during either onshift or preshift examinations, which ultimately resulted in the failure.
“There was inadequate oversight by management to ensure hazardous conditions were detected and/or corrected, and that prudent mining methods were followed.”
MSHA ordered the mine to revise its roof control plan to address rib control. In its amendments, the operator eliminated a deep cut provision to allow development only 5 feet beyond the turn location to prevent excessively wide entries at turns. Rib bolting provisions were also adjusted.
Big Laurel also performed foreman training in hazardous condition recognition and proper corrective actions.
The mine, owned by Cumberland Resources, employs 58 underground and three surface miners. It uses both room and pillar and retreat mining.
The last federal inspection of the operation had been completed June 29, 2009. Mine. No. 2’s non-fatal days lost injury incidence rate in 2008 was 4.76, versus the national NFDL rate of 4.41.
