ARCHIVE

Affinity reopens after two fatalities

A SOUTHERN West Virginia coal mine, closed after two onsite deaths in just two weeks, has reopened.

Donna Schmidt
Affinity reopens after two fatalities

State and federal officials have given the all-clear to United Coal to resume operations following the deaths of Edward Finney on February 7 and John Myles on February 19 at the Pocahontas Coal Affinity complex in Raleigh County.

United corporate counsel Jennifer Guthrie told the Associated Press Wednesday that the permission was given late Tuesday and the crews’ first day back – on a date not provided – would focus on task retraining.

“We are conducting thorough reviews and training on safety protocols, and management continues to be in close contact with employees," she said.

Utility man Finney was killed when he was pinned beneath a hoist that suddenly elevated while loading trash.

Myles died after being crushed by a scoop.

Affinity, owned by Russian operator Metinvest BV, employs 214 workers.

At the time of the second death, the mine had received 61 federal enforcement actions from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration for 2013. All are yet to be assessed.

There have been six coal deaths in the US this year, four of them in West Virginia.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalogue of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.