On October 7 a 31-year-old utility worker with 13 years of mining experience was killed after he crawled 12m into an entry mined with a highwall mining machine to retrieve a broken cutter-head-chain from the mining machine.
A rock, about 2m wide, 1.5m long and 40cm thick fell on him. He was initially transported to a local hospital and was being airlifted to a larger medical facility when he died.
MSHA recommended that operators establish ground control plans for highwall mining operations that ensure safety and address web spacing, depth of penetration, and confined work areas.
“Keep all equipment in proper working order by establishing and implementing maintenance schedules; develop a plan to remotely retrieve any part of a highwall mining machine caught or left in an entry. The plan must specify methods which do not expose miners to hazards. Train all personnel in such plans.”
MSHA also warned never go under unsupported roof and never enter a hole mined with a highwall mining machine or auger without a specific, detailed, and approved plan to do so.
