CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has published a final report on its investigation of a fatal mining accident in Raleigh County from April. The roof fall at Marfork Coal’s Panther Eagle mine claimed the life of Aaron Warrix age 53.
According to the MSHA report, Warrix was a shuttlecar operator in the mine with over 23 years of experience. The night of the accident the crew had completed mining an area called the #2 lift and removed the continuous mining machine to make a turn. Warrix and a co-worker installed a turn post which would allow for the machinery to make the turn to the next lift. Soon after completing the installation, large rocks fell from the roof and struck Warrix from behind.
Warrix suffered a head injury, but was conscious and alert. He complained of pain in his hip and neck and was unable to straighten out his leg due to the pain. Co-workers got Warrix onto a underground transport vehicle and rushed him to the surface where he was loaded into an ambulance. The ambulance was to meet HealthNet, but during the trip Warrix lost consciousness and EMT’s began CPR. Investigators say when they arrived a the landing zone, the decision was made due to his condition to continue transport by ambulance to the Charleston Area Medical Center. He was pronounced dead in the CAMC emergency room soon after his arrival.
Investigators said the dimensions at the completion of the #2 lift were well in excess of what was allowed in the mine’s roof control plan.
“The No. 2 lift measured 44 feet from the last row of roof supports and measured 36 feet across the width of the lift. The depth of the No. 2 lift should not have exceeded 32 feet, and the width should not have exceeded 12 feet. Investigators determined the No. 2 lift exceeded the RCP by a depth of 12 feet and width of 24 feet,” read MSHA’s report.
The activity created an unsupported roof where Warrix and the other miner were working to install the post when the top gave way. The large rock landed on Warrix and he was soon freed by co-workers.
Investigators cited operator Marfork Coal for having workers operating under an unsupported roof and for failing to follow the roof support plan approved by MSHA. Finally, the company was cited for failing to detect the danger by failing to perform an adequate on-shift investigation.