Burli Web Server
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal investigators say a lack of proper policies and procedures for coal haulage underground is at the heart of a fatal mining accident from January in Logan County.
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a final report on the accident from January 22nd at the Davy Branch Mine near Logan. The mine is operated by Aracoma Coal Company.
Investigators said two shuttle cars collided at an intersection in the mine while moving coal from the face to the conveyor belt. One of the cars struck the other when travelling through a ventilation curtain known as a “flypad”. Injured in the accident was Justin Lafferty, 38, who was operating one of the machines. Lafferty suffered a broken femur and was taken to the hospital for treatment. He eventually was discharged and was going to physical therapy as part of his recovery.
On February 21 Lafferty suffered chest pains at his home. He died a short time later at Logan Regional Medical Center. An autopsy concluded Lafferty suffered a pulmonary thromboembolism as a direct consequence of the blunt impact injury to his leg. A panel with MSHA concluded the death was still attributed to the accident and the mine operator held responsibility.
Investigators concluded in their report:
“The mine operator did not have policies or procedures in place to assure safe underground haulage when: 1) mobile equipment traveled through flypads; and 2) shuttle cars from different MMUs share a common intersection where flypads are used.”
MSHA’s report on the corrective action noted the corrective actions taken by the mine operator.
“The mine operator revised their approved ventilation plan addressing haulage equipment traveling through flypads. The revision includes discontinuing the practice of shuttle cars from different MMUs sharing a common intersection where flypads are used. Mine management trained all miners on the revised policies and procedures which were incorporated in the Approved Ventilation Plan,”