PANTHER MINING, LLCMINE NO. 1

Office of Mine Safety & Licensing, Division of Investigations

SERIOUS ACCIDENT NO. 1

Coal Mine Serious Accident 2012 (No.1)

Operator: Panther Mining, LLC.Mine: No. 1 MineAccident Date: September 21, 2012Classification: Coal Pillar OutburstDistrict: HarlanMine Type: UndergroundEmployment: 96

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2012

Coal Mine Serious Accident 2012 (No.1)

Operator: Panther Mining, LLC.Mine: No. 1 MineAccident Date: September 21, 2012Classification: Coal Pillar OutburstDistrict: HarlanMine Type: UndergroundEmployment: 96

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2012

Coal Mine Serious Accident 2012 (No.1)O

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On Friday, September 21, 2012, a 28-year old shuttle car operator with 4 years of experience was seriously injured while seated in the operator’s compartment of a shuttle car when a nearby coal pillar outburst occurred. The victim was struck by flying coal and rock as it filled the operator’s compartment.

During retreat mining the pillar section was under a substantial amount of overburden, approximately thirteen hundred (1,300) feet at the time of the accident.

Continuous Miner

#1 MRS

#2 MRS

#3 MRS#4 MRS

The victim was seated in the operators compartment while the machine was loaded when the outburst occurred; he was entrapped by the ejected material.

The indicator light on the No. 2 MRS flashes yellow and is seen by the MRS operators just prior to the occurrence of the coal outburst.

Coal Mine Fatal Accident 2012 (No.2)AC

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TO’S

Coal Mine Serious Accident 2012 (No.1)BE

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• Pillar recovery shall be consistent with prevailing geological conditions.

• When shuttle car operators are exposed to potentially unstable ribs, the machine shall be operated by remote control.

• When an increased load is detected by the mobile roof support light indicators, immediate action shall be taken to protect employees and equipment.