Section repairman Richard Coots Jr, 23, was working to repair a broken conveyor chain at Owlco Energy’s Mine No. 1 near Partridge at about 2am local time October 7 when a continuous haulage conveyor fell on him.

“A rock had been used to block up the continuous haulage conveyor,” MSHA investigators said in its preliminary findings from the accident scene.

“The victim was working beneath the continuous haulage conveyor attempting to repair [it].”

Coots had been licensed as a miner for about five years but had just six weeks of experience for Owlco.

In hopes of preventing similar incidents at other US mines in the future, MSHA issued a series of best practices including the evaluation of hazard potential prior to working in tight spaces. It encouraged operations to reference its single-page overview on the SLAM method at http://www.msha.gov/SLAMRisks/SLAMRisks.asp.

It also urged miners to not work under raised equipment without securely blocking it, and only to use blocking material that is properly placed and stable.

Crews should also conduct thorough examinations of all included areas where work will be conducted, and adequate oversight should be place to make sure all tasks are being performed safely.

Finally, investigators stressed additional training for all work procedures that include best practices for every task.

Federal officials encourage anyone with additional prevention ideas to submit them through its web site, including the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

Coots’ death was the 16th (14th reportable) in the industry in the 2011 calendar year and the first classified by MSHA under fall of material. It was the fourth to be recorded in New Mexico.

The Owlco mine operates at a 33 inch average seam height and extracts from the Owl seam.