MSHA Issued Final Report on West Virginia Coal Mine Fatality

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued the final report on fatality at the Berwind Deep Mine in Berwind, West Virginia, owned by Ramaco Resources.

As per the report, Steven Hively, a 52 year-old project manager for GMS Mine Repair died on Feb. 28, 2022 at approximately 5 a.m., when he was crushed between a coal rib and a single boom face drill. When the incident happened, he was walking alongside the drill using the onboard tram lever controls.

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A co-worker pressed the emergency stop switch to shut off the drill and called for help. Two men from nearby Triad Mine arrived around 5:45 a.m. found the drill’s start button and operational controls, including onboard tram lever controls to free the victim.

The MSHA order stated that the company violated two provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations. Firstly, the mine operator engaged in aggravated conduct constituting more than ordinary negligence by not maintaining” the drill “in safe operating condition. Also, he allowed the drill to be placed into service before conducting an electrical examination to identify and correct hazardous conditions.

Consequently, the operator employed a Fletcher Field Service Technician to replace and properly adjust the onboard tram control levers. Also, the mine operator incorporated necessary changes in their training plan, MSHA noted.