There aren’t many details yet available from authorities, but West Virginia suffered its third coal-mining death of the year this morning.
A miner — not yet identified — was killed in a hoist car accident at Newtown Energy’s Eagle Mine in Kanawha County Boone County, according to Jama Jarrett, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. A second miner was also injured, but there was no immediate word on his condition. Two other miners were also injured, one with minor shoulder and facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries, Jarrett said.
This is the 14th coal-mining death nationwide so far in 2009. It is the first since former United Mine Workers safety director Joe Main was confirmed last week as President Obama’s assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
Taking a quick look, the Eagle Mine is an underground operation that listed more than 200 workers and about 600,000 tons of production through the first three quarters of 2009, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Since opening in 2000, the Eagle Mine has consistently recorded an injury rate far worse than the national average — as much as three times higher — according to MSHA’s data. Last year, the operation was among those warned by MSHA to clean up its act or face tougher enforcement action for a “pattern of violations.”
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Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One Killed, Two Injured in Boone County Mine Accident
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training reports that West Virginia has suffered its third coal mining fatality of the year.
Agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says 53-year-old Charles Dixon of Fayette County was killed at about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning at Newtown Energy's Eagle Mine in Boone County. He had 25 years mining experien with six being at this mine in Comfort.
Two others, Daniel Ewing and Dave Morgan, were also injured in the accident and have been transported to a hospital -- one with facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries.
Jarrett says the accident involved a hoist car.
"Instead of elevator shafts, some mines, such as this one, have slope entrances and use cars to transport workers. These cars run on tracks and are operated by a hoist system," said Jarrett.
A news release from the mine states, "Dixon, affectionately called "Big Charlie" by his co-workers, was killed in a hoisting accident at Newtown Energy, Inc.'s, Eagle No. 1 Mine near Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Mr. Dixon, a Fayette County man, was an experienced and trained miner, and worked as a trackman since 2003 at Newtown Energy, Inc. Mr. Dixon was 53 years old and first obtained his miner's card in 1981."
The mine employs about 220 people and produces about 1 million tons of coal a year.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dixon's family right now", said Bob Ellis, Newtown Energy, Inc.'s President.
Ellis says this was the first fatality at a Newtown Energy Inc. mine.
According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's Web site, Tuesday's fatality would be the nation's 14th coal mining death this year.
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Agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says 53-year-old Charles Dixon of Fayette County was killed at about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning at Newtown Energy's Eagle Mine in Boone County. He had 25 years mining experien with six being at this mine in Comfort.
Two others, Daniel Ewing and Dave Morgan, were also injured in the accident and have been transported to a hospital -- one with facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries.
Jarrett says the accident involved a hoist car.
"Instead of elevator shafts, some mines, such as this one, have slope entrances and use cars to transport workers. These cars run on tracks and are operated by a hoist system," said Jarrett.
A news release from the mine states, "Dixon, affectionately called "Big Charlie" by his co-workers, was killed in a hoisting accident at Newtown Energy, Inc.'s, Eagle No. 1 Mine near Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Mr. Dixon, a Fayette County man, was an experienced and trained miner, and worked as a trackman since 2003 at Newtown Energy, Inc. Mr. Dixon was 53 years old and first obtained his miner's card in 1981."
The mine employs about 220 people and produces about 1 million tons of coal a year.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dixon's family right now", said Bob Ellis, Newtown Energy, Inc.'s President.
Ellis says this was the first fatality at a Newtown Energy Inc. mine.
According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's Web site, Tuesday's fatality would be the nation's 14th coal mining death this year.
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