“We need to work together to prevent additional fatalities,” MSHA said in its quarterly review of mine fatalities.

“Miners do not need to die while working at coal mining operations. These fatalities can be prevented. No miner should die while working.

“Effective safety and health management programs save lives. Workplace examinations can identify and eliminate hazards that kill and injure miners.

Effective and appropriate training helps ensure that miners recognize and understand hazards and how to control or eliminate them.”

In the case of the first of the three killed coal miners, a 41-year-old maintenance supervisor with some 19 years of mining experience was killed when he came in contact with an energised component inside an explosion proof enclosure.

The victim had removed the enclosure’s panel cover and was troubleshooting or performing electrical work on the 600 VAC roof bolting machine when he was electrocuted.

In the machinery accident, a 53-year-old bulldozer operator, with 28 years of experience, sustained fatal injuries when the bulldozer he was operating went over the edge of a 50-foot (15.2 metre) highwall.

The victim was preparing a bench for drilling when the accident occurred.

Finally, a coal miner was killed in a powered haulage mishap.

A mobile equipment operator, with 10 years of mining experience, was killed while operating a mobile diesel can–setter.

He was stockpiling pallets to prepare for the extraction of a longwall when he was crushed in the articulation area of the can-setter.