Continuous miner operator Justin Travis, 27, and miner helper Michael Cartner, 28, were killed at Webster County Coal’s Dotiki operation April 28 as they were loading rock out of a completed extended cut.

The roof fall that subsequently occurred measured as wide as 19 feet, 9 inches and 70-75ft in length extending toward the face, and 10ft in height.

Travis had three-and-a-half years and Cartner two years of mining experience. MSHA did not release how long the pair had been working for the mine, which is owned by Alliance Resource Partners.

In hopes of preventing future similar incidents at other US operations, the agency compiled the following best practices:

• Assess and examine the adequacy of roof control systems and mining layout for local geology. Know and follow the approved roof control plan;
• Always conduct a thorough visual examination of the roof, face and ribs immediately before work is performed and thereafter as conditions dictate;
• When adverse or subnormal roof conditions are present, the mining cut depth should be limited to 20ft or less. Be alert to changing roof conditions at all times; and
• Ensure that any past roof control issues or history of adverse conditions in adjacent previously mined areas are communicated to all miners and foremen.

The agency encourages anyone with additional prevention ideas to submit them through its web site, including the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

The workers’ deaths were the 34th and 35th in coal mining in 2010, and the second and third in the state of Kentucky this year. They were the first two in the calendar year to be classified under MSHA’s Fall of Roof category.

The 367-employee Dotiki mine runs two production shifts and one maintenance shift, with a total average output of 25,500 tons daily.

The Dotiki complex opened in 1966 and Alliance purchased the operation in 1971.