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Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Accident Info-Gram
AUGUST 2001
Injury from Falling Draw-Rock
On July 27, 2001 at 11:00 P.M., falling draw-rock injured a roof
bolting machine operator at a District 8 mine in Indiana. The
machine operator was bolting in the No. 6 crosscut between the
No. 1 and No. 2 rooms with a Lee Norse TD-43 single-boom roof
bolting machine. While preparing to install the seventh bolt in
the pattern, the operator was struck from behind by a piece of
mine roof that fell from between the roof bolts. Subsequently,
the draw-rock drove the operator into the bolting machine. This
rock measured 3-feet in width, 5-feet in length, and 6-inches
thick. The injured miner was taken to the local hospital and
released on August 1, 2001. He suffered a broken right shoulder
and right arm, a cut to his lip and face, and a puncture wound to
his chest area. This mine bolts on a maximum pattern of 5 feet by
5 feet. The bolts in the accident area met the roof control plan.
At the time of the accident, the miner had twenty four weeks
experience as a roof bolting machine operator and forty four
weeks of total mining experience.
BEST PRACTICES
- Always examine your workplace thoroughly.
- Take down any loose material.
- Adverse roof conditions require immediate
attention! Reduce the roof bolt spacing and/or add
additional support.
This information was provided by concerned
miners in an effort to eliminate accidents. Accident or "close
call" information within District 8 may be shared by contacting
the MSHA office at (812) 882-7617.
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