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COAL MINE FATALITY - On December 17, 2006, a 26 year old mechanic with 17 months mining experience was fatally injured in a roof fall. The victim and two co-workers were traveling into the mine on a rubber tire 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 25 feet wide and 6 feet high.

Photo of Accident Scene Described in Paragraph Above

Best Practices
  • 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. Install additional support where entry width and roof bolt spacing exceed roof control plan specifications.
  • Conduct thorough examinations in areas where miners will work or travel.
More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.


This is the 47th fatality reported during calendar year 2006 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2005, there were 20 fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the seventh fatality classified as Fall of Roof in 2006. At this time in 2005, there were nine fatalities in this classification.

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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