On December 17, a 26-year-old mechanic with 17 months mining experience was fatally injured in a roof fall.

The victim and two co-workers were travelling into the mine on a rubber-tyred personnel carrier when the roof collapsed.

Two miners escaped but the victim was pinned against the personnel carrier. The roof fall was approximately 20 feet long by 25ft wide and 6ft high.

MSHA said to avoid a similar accident miners should:

Remain alert for changing roof conditions;

Train all miners to identify unsafe roof conditions, specifically on travelways;

Remove (take down) any loose roof or ribs and report any unsafe roof or rib conditions immediately to mine management, installing additional support where entry width and roof bolt spacing exceed roof control plan specifications; and

Conduct thorough examinations in areas where miners will work or travel.