Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Report of ...

On the evening of August 8, the underground RocProp installation was completed to the
continuous mining machine located just inby crosscut 120 in the No. 1 entry. Just prior to
beginning the clean-up efforts, company officials accompanied by MSHA inspectors brought
news media personnel into the mine. The news media crew was in the clean-up area for a short
period of time filming the rescue efforts.
Material Clean-Up from the No. 1 Entry
Clean-up work began at approximately 6:00 p.m. on August 8, 2007, in the No. 1 entry and
advanced as rescue workers developed efficient means to remove coal, install standing support,
address damaged roof supports, and advance ventilation and cables. Initially, material was
hauled by electric shuttle cars. After clean-up in the No. 1 entry had advanced inby crosscut 122,
diesel Ramcars arrived from another mine and were used to transport material to the feeder.
On August 10, 2007, an addendum to the approved plan was implemented. The addendum
addressed three concerns:
• No one, including equipment operators, was allowed inby the support (props or timbers).
If the continuous mining machine was not advancing, personnel may be allowed to work
inby the RocProps and timbers as long as the roof is supported to perform maintenance of
the equipment, limited support work, removal of debris from the rubble, etc.
• The maximum clean-up distance was not to exceed the inby end of the shuttle car
operator’s cab. The shuttle car operators cab shall not extend beyond the last row of
RocProps and/or timbers.
• The rock dust was to be applied in conjunction with the installation of roof support to the
furthermost extent of those supports.
Also, on August 10, MSHA approved a plan for two people, one from MSHA and one
representing UEI, to explore the No. 1 entry inby the continuous mining machine. At
12:43 p.m., Barry Grosely and Gary Peacock left the FAB and crawled over the rubble inby the
continuous mining machine at crosscut 123 in the No. 1 entry. Radios were provided for
communication with outby rescue workers during the exploration and the team carried multi-gas
detectors. Since neither carried a mine rescue-breathing apparatus during this excursion, they
were to retreat immediately if the oxygen content fell below 19.5% or the carbon monoxide level
elevated to 50 PPM. If bumping or bouncing occurred, they were to retreat to a supported area
immediately. The two-man team advanced to near crosscut 124 where they lost communication
and retreated outby. Another attempt was made in the No. 4 entry by Bodee Allred and Peter
Saint (MSHA coal mine inspector and MEU member). Saint was able to crawl to near crosscut
126 where the entry was impassable and they retreated. Air quality readings taken at the deepest
point of advance indicated 20.9% oxygen. These were the last attempts to explore in advance of
the clean-up operation.
As loading advanced inby crosscut 123, rescuers observed that part of the barrier south of the
No. 1 entry had moved northward as a result of the initial August 6 ground failure. The barrier
rib had shifted northward as a unit, as much as 10 feet. In some areas the displaced barrier slid
along the immediate roof and tore loose the original roof mesh (see Figure 7). In other areas, the
immediate roof was carried northward and damaged the original installed roof bolts (Figure 8).
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