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District 8 - Coal Mine Safety and Health
Info-Grams and Close Call Accidents
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Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor Arlington, VA 22209-3939 |
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Department of Labor
A serious roof fall accident recently occurred at
one of the District 8 area mines. The continuous mining machine
was positioned on the right side of the MMU's Number 3 Entry,
finishing or cleaning up the cut and loading into a waiting
ramcar. The cut being mined was approximately 32 feet deep.
Without warning, the fall originated in the unsupported area of
the cut, pulling about six rows of fully grouted, four foot roof
bolts. The roof fall covered portions of the continuous miner and
the ram car. The two mining machine operators were uninjured by
the fall. Both were positioned on the right side of the machine
in an offset that had previously been driven off sights. The
ramcar operator, located in the deck of the machine was also
uninjured. The fall had slickensided surfaces and a rider seam of
coal, about three to six inches thick, was also visible in the
fall cavity. These conditions most likely contributed to the
fall. The foreman and two continuous miner operators indicated
that the roof sounded “drummy” when tested at the
last row of installed roof bolts.