Continuous mining machine operator Bobby Smith Jr, 29, was killed June 24 at Leeco’s No. 68 mine in Perry County when he became trapped between the coal rib and the CM he was operating.

“The victim was tramming the mining machine by remote control along the right rib line to clean up the loose coal on the mine floor,” US Mine Safety and Health Administration investigators said in a report released late last week.

“While he was turning the front of the mining machine to the left, he became caught between the mining machine and the coal rib.”

Smith had 12 years of mining experience.

Federal officials reviewed examination records for the mine and found that no hazardous conditions had been recorded. Additionally, all training records for Smith, who had one year and 37 weeks of experience as a continuous mining machine operator, were in compliance with federal regulations.

“An accident occurred … because of work being performed in a pinch point area in the ‘red zone’ while the continuous mining machine was in operation,” MSHA concluded.

“This unsafe practice resulted in the miner operator receiving crushing injuries caused by being caught between the continuous mining machine and the coal rib. Management failed to ensure compliance with the approved roof control plan regarding miners being positioned in a safe location when the continuous mining machine is in operation.”

To rectify the root cause issues, the agency ordered management to develop and train all workers on an implemented action plan for red zone hazards, safe work practices and panic switches prior to resuming normal mining operations.

“Mine management has proposed, and MSHA has accepted the proposal, that all new or rebuilt continuous mining machines put into production in this mine be equipped with proximity systems, designed to prevent miners from being injured by being caught in pinch points or being struck by the continuous mining machine,” investigators said.

The agency issued a 104(a) to Leeco for a violation of 30 CFR, 75.220(a)(1) for failure to ensure compliance with the approved roof control plan.

The No. 68 underground mine is owned and operated by James River Coal subsidiary Leeco and extracts from the Amburgey coal seam.

A total of 150 miners are employed at the mine, working four active sections and producing about 8375 tons per day.

The last regular safety and health inspection was completed on March 30, 2010. The mine’s non-fatal days lost incident rate for the second quarter of the year was 3.95, versus the national NFDL rate of 3.49.