The accident occurred February 16 at Perry County Coal’s Hazard No. 4 mine. Tim Caudill, a 33-year-old roof bolter operator, was killed when he was struck by a section of draw rock measuring 3.5ft by 14ft and up to 9 inches thick.

Caudill, according to MSHA’s report, was assisting two other workers to remove cement brattice, which was being taken down by a scoop, when the rock fell from between bolts at the location where the brattice had been removed.

MSHA has issued the following best practices for operations to avoid further such incidents:

Roof examinations should be conducted often and operations should remain alert for changes in roof conditions, especially during activities that may result in a roof disturbance;

All miners should be trained on the importance of examining roof conditions as well as the dangers of disturbing load-bearing structures;

A risk assessment should be performed to determine all potential dangers associated with tasks and to verify workers are placed correctly and safely;

Loose roof material should be located and removed from a safe position; and

Supplemental roof support should be used when an adverse roof situation is met.

The agency has also asked that suggestions for prevention of such accidents in the future be submitted through their site and submission authors may remain anonymous.

The fatality was the second of its kind in the US in 2006 classified under the agency’s heading of Fall of Roof or Back. It was the 20th coal mining-related fatality in the country this year.