MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. — Federal investigators have released their final findings into the fatal mining accident that claimed the life of a supervisor earlier this year at the Ohio County Mine in Dallas.
According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the April 3 accident occurred because the mine operator had not developed written procedures for repairing certain equipment.
Investigators said 36-year-old Darin Reece, a section supervisor with 18 years of mining experience, was performing repairs on a scoop when he was struck by a longwall shield and pinned against the equipment.
The report concluded that the lack of documented repair policies and procedures contributed to the fatal incident.
Following its investigation, MSHA issued a safeguard requiring additional measures related to longwall setup and recovery operations in an effort to help prevent similar accidents in the future.
The Ohio County Mine remains subject to federal mine safety regulations as officials continue working to improve safety practices throughout the mining industry.
