The accident occurred March 31 when the victim started mining in the crosscut between the number 5 and 6 entries and continued to the No. 7 entry intersection, a distance of about 65ft.
As he was cleaning up coal in the crosscut, a roof fall measuring approximately 22ft by 20ft and 5-6ft thick crushed the victim as he stood at the outby edge of the unsupported intersection in the No. 6 entry.
The victim had 28-years mining experience, five months of which were at Tiny Creek.
The US Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a number of best practices to follow to avoid a similar accident re-occurring:
Know and follow the approved roof control plan.
Never travel under an unsupported roof.
Never employ mining methods that result in exposing miners to the hazards of an unsupported roof.
Be alert to changing roof conditions at all times.
