Preliminary Report - Fatality #16 - September 26, 2012

At approximately 5:40 A.M. the victim was operating the continuous miner on the 001 MMU, mining the roof in preparation for the installation of a belt conveyor drive. The victim stepped approximately 8 feet inby the last row of permanent roof support, apparently to view the roof line that he hadestablished. A section of the unsupported roof approximately 6 1/2 feet long by 6 feet wide by up to 8 inches thick fell striking the victim and pinning him to the mine floor. The other miners on the crew set wooden timbers to support the area up to the victim. The rock was lifted with a jack from the emergency roof supply sled and the victim was extricated. He was placed on a backboard stretcher and transported to the surface via rubber tired buggy and rail mantrip. Claiborne County Ambulance Service was on the surface and transported the victim to the Claiborne County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.