The official release of the Mine Safety and Health Administration report into the accident, which claimed the life of 44-year-old shuttle car operator John Myles at the Pocahontas Coal Affinity complex on February 19 last year, confirmed that visibility played a major role.

Myles was crushed by the battery end of the scoop in the accident, with MSHA finding the batteries were unsafely in the fully raised position and various goods including a case of bottled water and 18 bags of rock dust were inappropriately stacked on top of them.

Just with the batteries raised MSHA found that the operator had only nine inches of visibility above them to the low roof while reversing.

The addition of the supplies stacked on top of the batteries consequently meant visibility was extremely limited, MSHA said.

A later safeguard notice was made to prevent this issue from surfacing again.

Another safeguard notice related to installing a physical barrier or warning device in relevant work areas.

A further notice required an approved camera system to be installed on the mine’s shuttle cars and scoops but the mine was also granted the right to install proximity devices instead.