The two fatalities bring the toll to 28 in 2003, compared to 23 fatalities at the same time in 2002.

On October 22 a 41-year-old continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured when he was pinched between the continuous mining machine and the coal rib.

The victim was positioning the machine by remote control for an end-cut while second mining a coal pillar. As the continuous mining machine was being trammed toward the next cut, it pivoted to the right; crushing the victim between the cutting head and the rib of the outby coal pillar.

MSHA issued a number of best practices mines and operators should follow to avoid similar incidents.

Ensure everyone is outside the machine's turning radius and in a safe location when starting and moving such equipment; stop equipment while hanging or positioning trailing cables; ensure that continuous mining machine operators lower the conveyor boom and ripper head, as far as possible, prior to moving the machine; ensure that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is in place before tramming the remote controlled continuous miner to another entry or crosscut and; avoid pinch points between the rib and machinery during tramming operations.

The accident was the third fatality for 2003 fatality classified under underground machinery.

In another incident on October 24, a 29-year-old utility man with two years mining experience was fatally injured when he was struck by a section of roof measuring 96 feet by 14 feet by 5 feet in thickness.

The victim was installing breaker posts in the No.1 heading where second mining had just been completed. The victim and section electrician noticed the roof working in the immediate area and traveled outby one block and over to the No. 2 heading.

The section electrician checked the roof conditions behind the curtain in the No. 2 heading when the roof began working extensively. The electrician escaped by traveling outby in the No. 2 entry, while the victim traveled through the crosscut, toward the continuous mining machine and other crew members.

He was struck by falling roof when he reached the No. 3 entry intersection.

Best practices that should be followed include be alert for changing roof conditions; install additional roof supports where necessary; conduct a thorough visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any work is started, and thereafter as conditions warrant; apply additional safety precautions in areas where geological changes and anomalies in strata are present and; train all miners in proper escape and evacuation procedures during retreat mining.

The accident was the second fatality classified as roof fall in 2003.