According to a preliminary report from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration, mechanic Leslie Trent, 37, was working with Clifton Smith, 34, at TECO’s Upper Second Creek Portals in Perry County at about 5.50pm local time to disassemble a two-part shiv wheel from the end of a pivoting hoist when the hoist boom fell approximately 12-15 feet.
Both men were working on the initial shaft development when the falling hoist struck them, causing serious injuries to both.
Smith and Trent were transported to local hospitals, where Smith was treated and is recovering. Trent was airlifted to another medical facility but died from his injuries at 2.30am on November 24, the agency said.
Both men were contractors employed by Indiana-based Frontier-Kemper Constructors. The bituminous underground mine is operated by TECO subsidiary Perry County Coal Corporation.
According to MSHA’s initial investigation, Trent had just over four years of industry experience but just 11 weeks working at that activity at that location.
The miner’s death was the 15th in the US in 2009.
The 16th and most recent fatality also occurred on November 23, when James Chaney, 53, was overcome by heat underground at Jim Walter Resources’ No. 7 mine in Alabama. Several others were injured in that incident but have since returned to work.
