RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released its final report into the fatal April 2 mining accident at the Panther Eagle Mine in Raleigh County, concluding that multiple safety failures led to the death of a veteran coal miner.
According to the final report, 53-year-old Aaron Warrix, a shuttle car operator with more than 23 years of mining experience, died after being struck by falling roof rock while installing roadside-radius, or turn, posts on a pillar section.
The accident occurred at approximately 5:05 p.m. on April 2 at the Panther Eagle Mine in Whitesville, operated by Marfork Coal Company.
MSHA concluded that the accident occurred because the mine operator failed to ensure that no one worked or traveled under unsupported roof, did not follow the mine’s approved roof control plan, and failed to conduct an adequate on-shift examination.
According to the report, the evening shift crew arrived underground shortly after 3:20 p.m. and began mining operations on the No. 3 pillar recovery section. After a continuous mining machine completed a coal lift around 5 p.m., Warrix and another shuttle car operator began installing turn posts in preparation for the next lift.
Moments later, a section of roof rock measuring about five feet long, three feet wide and three inches thick fell from the unsupported roof, striking Warrix from behind.
Coworkers immediately removed the rock, provided first aid and transported Warrix to the surface. Warrix was later transported for medical treatment but died from his injuries at Charleston Area Medical Center at 8:19 p.m.
MSHA investigators found that mining during both the day and evening shifts exceeded the dimensions allowed under the mine’s approved roof control plan. The noncompliant mining sequence prevented required roof supports from being installed, increased the span of unsupported roof and allowed the roof strata to become unstable.
The investigation also determined that Warrix was positioned beneath unsupported roof while installing turn posts, contrary to the approved roof control plan.
Investigators further concluded that section foremen failed to identify or correct obvious hazardous conditions during required examinations. MSHA said those hazards included excessive mining dimensions, missing supplemental roof supports and damaged roof bolts.
MSHA determined that Warrix had received all required training, including annual refresher training and instruction on the mine’s pillar extraction plan, and concluded that training was not a contributing factor in the accident.
As part of its corrective actions, Marfork Coal Company retrained miners and supervisors on avoiding unsupported roof, revised its roof control plan to change the method for installing turn posts, provided additional training on the approved roof control plan and retrained certified personnel on conducting adequate workplace examinations.
Following the investigation, MSHA issued one Section 103(k) order to secure the accident scene, along with three enforcement actions.
Those included a citation for allowing miners to work under unsupported roof, a citation for failing to follow the approved roof control plan, and an order for failing to conduct an adequate on-shift examination. MSHA classified the latter two violations as unwarrantable failures to comply with mandatory safety standards.
