The West Virginian miner fell to his death down an airshaft at a coal mine when sanding a nearby concrete floor.
The 53-year-old had 33 years experience working in the mining industry.
While no scheduled work was being performed that day on the shaft side of a safety barrier, the man fell 350 feet and suffered fatal injuries.
MSHA reminded miners to use appropriate fall protection equipment when a fall hazard exists, identify hazards before performing work and never approach a shaft without wearing adequate protection.
