Mining Incidents
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Case study · MSHA Record #220250300020

Drill Operator fatality

January 29, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Twilight Mtr Surface Mine · Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Boone County, WV
Investigator narrative
The employee was drilling a test hole in the surface pit floor to see if the rider coal seam was under the seam they were taking. Due to the freezing and thawing of the highwall a large chunk of rock approximately 4'x2'x3' came down striking the enclosed cab of the mobile drill, ripping the cab off and striking the employee.
Record details
Classification
FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Accident type
Struck by falling object
Activity at time
Surface Equipment, Nec
Subunit / location
STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT
Underground location
NO VALUE FOUND
Mining method
NO VALUE FOUND
Source of injury
CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE
Nature of injury
MULTIPLE INJURIES
Body part affected
TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS
Total mining experience
20 years
Experience at this mine
1 year
Experience in this job
20 years
Mine type
Surface
Sector
Coal
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