Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Invesigation Continues Into Fatal Coal Mining Accident.
Three coal miners who were in the vicinity of last Friday's fatal mining accident at Aracoma's Alma No. 1 mine involving a Chattaroy man are expected to be reinterviewed today by federal and state officials as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nathan Dove's death continues.
A spokesperson for the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training told the Daily News Wednesday investigators plan to speak with the trio for what could be "a variety of reasons."
"There may have been other questions," said OMHST communications specialist Jama Jarrett. "Or (investigators) may have needed further clarification on previous information they recieved."
Representatives from OMHST, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and Massey Energy met Wednesday to discuss the ongoing investigation and what has been discovered thus far. A preliminary report released Monday by MSHA said investigators believe the 24-year-old Dove cut into a live cable while attempting to repair a shuttle car and was electrocuted. He died 45 minutes later at Logan Regional Medical Center.
The cable investigators believe Dove cut into has been removed from the shuttle car and sent to an MSHA technical support center to be examined.
"We don't have any conclusion or formal information thus far," Jarrett said. "After today (investigators) will start working on an official report."
Jarrett said there is no timetable as to when that report will be completed and released, and said alot will depend on how long it takes for the investigation to wrap up.
Production in the section of the mine where Dove was killed resumed Tuesday, said Jarrett.
The Massey Energy-owned mine at Melville in Logan County was thrust into the national spotlight in January of 2006 when two miners were trapped underground after a belt line fire broke out. The miners were later found dead. The accident happened just days after the tragic accident at the Sago mine in Upshur County in which 12 miners lost their lives after being trapped underground.
Massey was cited after the Aracoma incident for safety violations and fined $1.5 million. However, last month MSHA awarded it and Hernshaw mines with a safety award for having no lost-time injuries.
The Daily News contacted the office of Massey spokesman Jeff Gillenwater Wednesday afternoon and was informed he would be out until next Tuesday.
Dove is the second West Virginia coal miner killed this year, and the ninth nationally.
He was laid to rest Wednesday in Chattaroy's Dove Family Cemetery after funeral services at the Nolan Freewill Baptist Church.
Courtesy : Brad Davis Managing Editor of Williamson Daily News
A spokesperson for the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training told the Daily News Wednesday investigators plan to speak with the trio for what could be "a variety of reasons."
"There may have been other questions," said OMHST communications specialist Jama Jarrett. "Or (investigators) may have needed further clarification on previous information they recieved."
Representatives from OMHST, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and Massey Energy met Wednesday to discuss the ongoing investigation and what has been discovered thus far. A preliminary report released Monday by MSHA said investigators believe the 24-year-old Dove cut into a live cable while attempting to repair a shuttle car and was electrocuted. He died 45 minutes later at Logan Regional Medical Center.
The cable investigators believe Dove cut into has been removed from the shuttle car and sent to an MSHA technical support center to be examined.
"We don't have any conclusion or formal information thus far," Jarrett said. "After today (investigators) will start working on an official report."
Jarrett said there is no timetable as to when that report will be completed and released, and said alot will depend on how long it takes for the investigation to wrap up.
Production in the section of the mine where Dove was killed resumed Tuesday, said Jarrett.
The Massey Energy-owned mine at Melville in Logan County was thrust into the national spotlight in January of 2006 when two miners were trapped underground after a belt line fire broke out. The miners were later found dead. The accident happened just days after the tragic accident at the Sago mine in Upshur County in which 12 miners lost their lives after being trapped underground.
Massey was cited after the Aracoma incident for safety violations and fined $1.5 million. However, last month MSHA awarded it and Hernshaw mines with a safety award for having no lost-time injuries.
The Daily News contacted the office of Massey spokesman Jeff Gillenwater Wednesday afternoon and was informed he would be out until next Tuesday.
Dove is the second West Virginia coal miner killed this year, and the ninth nationally.
He was laid to rest Wednesday in Chattaroy's Dove Family Cemetery after funeral services at the Nolan Freewill Baptist Church.
Courtesy : Brad Davis Managing Editor of Williamson Daily News
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 10:25 PM 
