According to the agency, section repairman Richard Coots Jr, 23, was repairing a broken conveyor chain at the mine near Partridge at about 2am local time October 7 when a continuous haulage conveyor fell on him.

“The accident occurred when a piece of mined roof rock used to support the raised Jeffrey Model 506 mobile bridge conveyor became dislodged, causing the bridge conveyor to fall and strike the victim,” MSHA said.

“As a result, the victim was pinned between the mobile bridge conveyor and the mine floor, causing fatal injuries.”

An evaluation of safety records found the required preshift and on-shift examinations under 30 CFR sections 75.360 and 75.362 were conducted with no hazardous conditions recorded.

Also, while a training record examination found Coots’ required training was up-to-date, MSHA’s Educational Field Services found deficiencies with the operator’s training program.

“The accident investigation revealed that mine management failed to ensure equipment was blocked properly against motion before repairs were performed,” MSHA investigators said.

“[T]this was, in part, attributed to a deficiency with the mine operator’s training for the miners.

“Consequently, the operator was required to develop and implement a written procedure for the proper blocking of equipment to be repaired. The company trained all employees in blocking equipment securely against motion when repairs are to be performed [and] results of the training were documented by the mine operator.”

Officials also ordered that a minimum of two crib blocks must be placed under any raised equipment before repairs are made and, if the height of the equipment required additional blocking, the courses would be alternated to ensure stability.

The training for proper blocking was also incorporated into the mine operator’s approved training plan.

MSHA issued a 104(d)(1) citation to Owlco Energy for a violation of 30 CFR Section 75.1726 (b) for an unwarrantable failure to comply with a mandatory standard constituting more than ordinary negligence.

It also issued a 104(a) citation for a violation of 30 CFR Section 48.7(c).

“The operator failed to ensure that miners received maintenance/repairman task training,” investigators said.

“The training required to be conducted by the mine operator includes a course of instruction for routine maintenance and the safety and health aspects of the task. Mine management had knowledge that the machine was not securely blocked and instructed miners to perform maintenance work.”

The Owlco Energy Mine No. 1 is developed in the 36-60 inch Owl seam with a single working section producing an average 300 tons per day.

Prior to the accident, the last regular federal safety and health inspection of the mine occurred on August 16, 2011. An EO1 inspection was ongoing at the time of the accident, though no inspector was present at the time of the incident.

The non-fatal days lost injury incidence rate for this mine through the second quarter of 2011 was 0.00, versus the National NFDL of 3.21.