DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
DISTRICT 7
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
(UNDERGROUND COAL MINE)
FATAL FALL OF ROOF ACCIDENT
MINE NO. 7
I.D. NO. 40-03065
THE TENNESSEE COAL COMPANY
BEECH GROVE, ANDERSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
AUGUST 24, 1995
by
Daniel L. Johnson
Peggy Langley
Larry Bush
Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspectors
CMS&H District 7
and
William J. Gray
Mining Engineer
MSHA Pittsburgh Safety & Health Technology Center
John E. Carpetta
Engineering Technician
MSHA Pittsburgh Safety & Health Technology Center
Originating Office
Mine Safety and Health Administration
HC 66 Box 1762, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906
Joseph W. Pavlovich - District Manager
Overview
At approximately 11:31 a.m., a fatal fall of roof accident occurred near the conveyor belt tailpiece of the 001-0 Working Section located approximately 7,000 feet underground. James Jenkins, victim, had just finished his lunch break and was walking back to his equipment when a large section of mine roof, 29 1/2 feet in length by 21 1/3 feet in width by 80 inches thick, suddenly fell. Another employee, Steven Campbell, had just arrived at the section belt tailpiece and was also struck by the fall but sustained only minor injuries.
Rescue efforts were begun immediately by fellow employees and company personnel. They were joined in their efforts by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Efforts continued until the victim was recovered at approximately 5:30 p.m. and transported to the surface of the mine were he was examined by Anderson County Coroner, David Brooks, at 7:05 p.m. No vital signs were found.
Campbell, the injured miner, was brought to the surface at 12:35 p.m. and transported to the Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee were he was treated and released that same day.
General Information and Background
The No. 7 Mine of The Tennessee Coal Company is located in Beech Grove, Anderson County, Tennessee. The mine originally opened May 12, 1994 as Cross Mountain Coal, Inc., Mine No. 7. The mine was purchased by The Williams Companies, Inc. and the name change was completed on June 29, 1995.
Employment is provided for 39 miners, 35 of whom work underground. Coal is produced two shifts per day and maintenance performed on the third shift. The mine produces 450 tons per day from one producing section. Coal is extracted by a continuous mining machine and transported to a conveyor belt by a mobile bridge system and transported to the surface by a series of belt conveyors. Coal trucks are used to transport the coal to the Beech Grove Processing Plant which is also owned and operated by The Williams Companies, Inc. The plant is located at Beech Grove, approximately four miles from the mine site. The coal is cleaned and shipped by rail to The Tennessee Valley Authorities for use in electrical power generation.
The Principal Company Officials are: Keith E. Bailey - President; Keith D. Dyke - Vice President; David L. Johnson - General Superintendent.
A regular Health and Safety Inspection by MSHA was ongoing at the time of the accident.
Description of the Accident
The day shift crew consisting of 14 employees entered the mine by rail mantrip under the supervision of Randal L. Rogers at approximately 6:30 a.m. and traveled to the 001-0 Section where they arrived at approximately 7:00 a.m. The preshift examination had been conducted by Jerry Herrin, third shift foreman. The third shift had encountered a problem with a broken water line and the day shift was not ready to assume production. The day shift crew repaired the water line and production activities began at approximately 8:00 a.m. Production continued without incident until 11:31 a.m. when a massive roof fall occurred.
James Jenkins, victim, had started his lunch break at approximately 11:00 a.m. Jenkins had selected the first crosscut inby the section belt tailpiece for the lunch break. Jenkins was joined by James Moore, scoop operator, and Randal L. Rogers, section foreman at approximately 11:30 a.m. Jenkins informed Rogers that his lunch break was over and he was returning to work. Jenkins closed his lunch box, stood up, and took a few steps toward the No. 3 Belt Entry into the intersection. Without warning, a roof fall occurred trapping Jenkins beneath a section of mine roof measuring 29 1/2 feet in length by 21 1/3 feet in width by 80 inches in thickness.
Steve Campbell had just arrived at the section belt tailpiece and started to clean the tailpiece in preparation for a belt move as the roof fell. Campbell was not struck by the major protion of the fall but was struck and momentarily trapped by small sections of mine roof from the brow of the fall.
Rescue efforts were begun immediately by section personnel and the accident was reported to the mine surface. Campbell was recovered first, in approximately five minutes time, examined and transported to the surface with minor injuries to his right shoulder. Campbell was treated for shock bandaged and the injured shoulder was immobilized.
Rescue efforts to recover Jenkins were continued by section personnel and federal inspectors from the MSHA's Jacksboro, Tennessee Field Office. Jenkins was recovered at approximately 5:30 p.m. and transported to the mine's surface at approximately 6:55 p.m. The victim was examined by the Anderson County Coroner, David Brooks. No vital signs were found. After being transported to the Methodist Medical Center, the victim was pronounced dead by the emergency room doctor.
The Investigation
E. G. Keen, Coal Mine Inspector of the Jacksboro, Tennessee Field Office, was on the mine's surface conducting a close-out conference with Tommy Violet, mine superintendent, when the accident occurred and was reported to the surface. Keen telephoned the Jacksboro, Tennessee Field Office Supervisor, Harrison R. Boston, who immediately notified the Barbourville, Kentucky District Office and the investigation team was assembled. The investigation began at 8:00 a.m. on August 25, 1995. Additionally, personnel from MSHA's Office of Technical Support, Roof Control Division, participated in the accident investigation. The investigation focused on the roof strata, the subnormal roof conditions in the fall area, and installed support systems.
Physical Factors
The investigation revealed the following factors relevant to the occurrence of the accident:
- The coal seam being mined is the Walnut Mountain Seam which has a history of subnormal roof conditions in the form of hillseams, mountain breaks, and tension cracks.
- The mine roof consists of firm gray shale with intermixed sandstone streaks.
- The depth of cover in the area of the accident ranged from 200 to 250 feet.
- Previous mining has been conducted in the Pee Wee Coal Seam located above and the Windrock Coal Seam located below the subject coal seam.
- Numerous hillseams were observed in the accident area and in the surrounding areas of the 001-0 Section.
- The area where the accident occurred had been originally mined on approximately August 22, 1995 by the day shift crew.
- The area where the accident occurred had been originally supported with 48 inch resin grouted bolts with steel straps installed across the visible hillseams by the day shift roof bolting machine operator on August 22, 1995.
- One of the roof bolting machine operators stated during the interview process that when the area was initially bolted the hillseams were visible and the roof was soft when drilled.
- The accident area was "spot" bolted with six foot resin grouted bolts and two wooden cribbs were installed as supplemental supports on August 23, 1995 by the day shift crew.
- When the area was originally mined, the operator did not mine the left crosscut from the No. 3 Belt Entry in the area of where the accident occurred in an attempt to reduce the entry width and exposure in the area.
- Three intersecting hillseams were evident in the area where the accident occurred prior to the roof fall as evidenced by testimony and previously installed supplemental supports in the form of steel straps which were extending from beneath the fall.
- The section of the mine roof which had fallen measured 29 1/2 feet in length by 21 1/3 feet in width by 80 inches in thickness.
- There were four eyewitnesses to the accident, none of which had observed any change in the condition of the roof in the area prior to the fall.
- Campbell was entrapped for approximately five minutes and rescued by section personnel.
- Jenkins was struck by the major portion of the roof fall and was located eleven feet inby the right corner of the fall on the right side.
- Rescue efforts began immediately and Jenkins was recovered at approximately 5:30 p.m.
- Information and documentation received by the operator indicated that both miners were experienced. Each of them had approximately 16 years total mining experience.
Conclusion
It is the consensus of the investigation team that the roof fall occurred as a direct result of mine management's failure to adequately support the mine roof in a known area of subnormal roof conditions. Three intersecting hillseams created a condition where the massive block of roof material was virtually resistance-free on three sides. The roof material separated along the bedding plane and overcame the resistance offered by the remaining cantilevered portion of the roof rock and installed supports. The massive block of roof material fell suddenly resulting in fatal injuries to James E. Jenkins and minor injuries to Steven W. Campbell.
Enforcement Actions
The following conditions and/or practices were observed during the investigation:
- A 103-K Order, No 4255223, was issued to insure the health and safety of all miners until an investigation and examination deemed the area safe to work.
- A 104-A Citation, No. 4578036 (75.202a), was issued to the operator for failure to support or otherwise control the mine roof to protect persons from hazards related to falls of the mine roof.
Respectfully submitted,
Daniel L. Johnson
Coal Mine Safety & Health Inspector
Peggy Langley
Coal Mine Safety & Health Inspector
Larry L. Bush
Coal Mine Safety & Health Inspector
William J. Gray
Mining Engineer
and
John E. Carpetta
Engineering Technician
Approved by:
John M. Pyles
Subdistrict Manager
and
Joseph W. Pavlovich
District Manager
Related Fatal Alert Bulletin:
[FAB95C27]