Coal Tattoo

Another W.Va. coal miner dies on the job

More bad news this week in West Virginia, this time with a fatal accident at Metinvest’s Affinity Mine in Raleigh County. According to MSHA:

A miner was killed at approximately 09:20 p.m., Thursday night. While pushing a scoop bucket insert full of trash onto a hoist, the hoist moved unexpectedly. Reportedly, the hoist picked up the scoop and trapped the victim under the scoop, causing crushing injuries.

UPDATED: State officials have identified the victim as Edward L. Finney, 43, of Bluefield, Va.

This is the second coal-mining death in West Virginia in as many days. And not for nothing, but here’s something that MSHA reported about the Affinity Mine last year:

… from Feb. 13, when the dispatcher for Metinvest B V’s Affinity Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va., notified the belt foreman over the mine telephone that federal and state inspectors were headed underground. The mine operator was issued a citation and, to abate it, MSHA required that all certified foremen and dispatchers be trained in the requirements of the Mine Act regarding advance notification, and that a notice be conspicuously posted in the mine office to ensure future compliance with the Mine Act.