The New Year has not been good thus far for coal miners in the United States. On Friday, Jan. 14, a 44-year-old coal miner suffered a fatal fall on the premises of a Marshall County coal mine. He was employed as a contractor for NextGen Industrial Services.
His death was the third fatality of 2022 for the coal mining industry. As reported by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, the other two deaths this month occurred in Kentucky and Indiana.
The mine was not operational when the worker fell
The mine where the coal miner fell was shut down for maintenance when the man fell to his death. According to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in the statement released by his office, the coal miner was working in the prep plant at the Ohio County Coal Co. mine located in Benwood. He fell approximately 30 feet while working above the beltline without a safety harness.
Coal mine linked to Murray Energy
American Consolidated Natural Resources Holdings Inc., a company based in St. Clairsville, Ohio, is operating the mine. American Consolidated is the biggest coal operator under private ownership in the United States. Before it was protected in a 2020 bankruptcy filing, the company’s name was Murray Energy Holdings.
Many dangers associated with the mining industry
Coal mining remains an industry fraught with inherent dangers. However, some coal mining deaths can be linked to a lack of safety protocols or insufficient training of workers by the mining companies. If you were seriously injured or lost a loved one in a coal mining accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your damages and losses.
