The worker, whose name has not been released, was working at Massey Energy’s Pocahontas mine in Greenbrier County at about 8.30am local time when he was run over by a shuttle car.

CPR was performed and the victim was transported to a medical facility following the incident, but did not survive, US Mine Safety and Health Administration officials said.

Representatives from MSHA’s district 4 office, which has jurisdiction over the mine, was notified of the incident, and inspectors were en route Thursday morning.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and co-workers,” Massey spokesperson Jeff Gillenwater told ILN.

The 80-worker Pocahontas operation is part of Massey Energy’s Green Valley Coal group and is operated by White Buck Coal. It is one of the company’s smallest mines, producing about 84,239 tons of coal in 2009.

The death raises the fatality rate to 31 this year for Massey, as 29 workers were killed in the April 5 explosion at Upper Big Branch in Raleigh County.

MSHA offers condolences, blasts Massey

US secretary of Labor Hilda Solis expressed condolences Thursday afternoon to the family of the killed worker.

“In 2010, no worker should lose his or her life simply because they showed up for work,” she said.

“We know that accidents are preventable when proper safety procedures are followed, and when mine operators make a serious commitment to providing for the safety and health of their workers.”

Solis said that Pocahontas is one of a growing list of mines with poor safety records and which are part of the Massey Energy portfolio.

In fact, in addition to being the mine owner in 31 of this year’s 40 deaths in coal mining, Massey has lost 54 of its miners in the last decade.