14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Report: Mine accident avoidable

Report: Mine accident avoidable

By Cory Stark - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

MUHLENBERG CO., KY (WFIE) - 14 news has obtained a report from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration about the mine accident that happened in July that sent several workers to the hospital.

The report said the accident could have been avoided.  

The 20 page report is what came out of an investigation conducted at Ken-American's Paradise Mine.

It shows that the mantrip carrying eight men was not maintained in a safe operating condition.

Investigators said the accident happened when eight second-shift miners were traveling into the mine on a mantrip when the brakes failed.

The report said the mantrip crashed, throwing four of the miners out of the vehicle.

All eight miners were sent to the hospital. Among them was Michael Wooten.

"My temporal artery was severed, which lead to short-term memory loss," Wooten said. "My lungs were bruised and my pelvis was fractured in two places."

The report concludes that the accident could have been avoided because the mantrip being used should not have been in service.

Investigators said "the eight man mantrip was not being maintained in safe operating condition. Several deficiencies that were directly related to the cause of the accident were identified such as loose fittings, leaks and a rupture to the brake line."

"I kind of feel like they just put it back in use just for a later day," Wooten said. "And I am a little bitter about that."

In addition, investigators determined the checklist the operator of the mantrip was using to perform the required weekly examination was not adequate.

Ken-American officials said they have taken what they call proactive steps since the accident.

The company said it has new personnel to oversee the maintenance of the mantrips.

The company also said they have removed all mantrips from the mine to be evaluated and rebuilt.

The company said they are also installing new brake systems on all mantrips that automatically engage in case of an emergency.

Ken-American resources officials said the accident has no connection to the recent idling operations following the roof fall in.

MSHA has issued a D violation.

The company will be fined and an MSHA spokesperson said they could be subject to more inspections than the mandated four per year.

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