As reported on WorkersCompensation.com the U.S. Department of Labor’s MSHA proposed penalties in the amount of over $ 500,000 to a coal company due to an accident in its underground mine, where a worker died in June 2011 after a rock fall from the wall or rib.
“Dozens of miners are injured by rib and roof falls every year and, tragically, some are killed,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “The accident investigation found that, had the mine operator properly secured the mine’s ribs and revised its roof control plan to address changing geologic conditions, this tragedy might have been averted.”
Last month, MSHA launched its annual Preventive Roof Rib Outreach Program, an educational initiative designed to alert miners and mine operators about the dangers of roof and rib falls, as well as the methods for thoroughly checking and addressing hazardous roof and rib conditions.