A 33-year-old man died as a result of a mining accident in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The man was injured while trying to move an auger by using a crane. The auger slipped, and a portion of the steel auger hit the man in the chest. He was transported to Humana Hospital where he later died as a result of the injuries.

The Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training launched an investigation into the incident. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released that the victim had only had a total of three days of mining experience when he was killed. He was employed at Princess Polly Anna & JCT Enterprises LLC and worked in the Number 1 Surface Mine as an auger helper. An auger helper is responsible for transporting and working augers, the large drill rods that are used to push through the earth in mining.

As of November 2018, there were eight fatalities reported in the mining industry nationwide; four of these deaths occurred in West Virginia. The other four fatalities occurred in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Indiana. The West Virginia man’s death was the first of 2018 that occurred as the result of machinery. In 2017, 13 workers died in the mining industry, two that occurred due to machinery.

Worker injuries or deaths that result from a lack of training may lead to serious injuries, lost wages and hospital expenses. When a company does not provide the proper training and oversight, gross negligence may have occurred. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration typically launches an investigation into the matter and will determine if the company is at fault. In this case, an investigation was done by the MSHA. A lawyer may be able to help a family receive damages for their loss by filing a lawsuit against the company.

Source: WVNS-TV, “Coal mining accident kills miner in Greenbrier County,” Katy Andersen, November 14, 2018