Fatality #13 - September 28, 2017

Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall

Location: Bridger Underground Coal Mine, Wyoming

Mine Controller: MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company; IDACORP

Mine Type: Underground

Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)

Incident Date/Time: September 28, 2017 09:06 am

The mine was in the longwall recovery process and had begun the installation of bolting/meshing. The victim reportedly had been operating a panbolter. He was standing on or around the panline when coal was expelled from the longwall face covering him. He was in an area where the mine roof had broken up and fallen out (potted) to approximately 13’ high and the longwall shields were fully extended.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This posting serves to provide a public notice to employees of the mine, employees of the mining company(s), employees of independent contractors with any connection to the mine, persons with any connection to the mine, and any person with information regarding the cause or contributing factors of this accident.

Please provide any information to:

Art Gore, Lead Accident Investigator

Phone: 970-824-4943

PRELIMINARY REPORT

At approximately 2:20 p.m., MST, coal rolled out from the face on the 17th right longwall section in the area of shield No. 53 and completely covered the victim. He passed away while enroute to the hospital. The victim was untangling the mesh during the longwall recovery process at the time of the accident.