By Charles Young, WV News
WASHINGTON — The death of West Virginia miner Steven Lipscomb following the flooding of Nicholas County mine on Nov. 8 was the fifth mining fatality in West Virginia this year.
Information from preliminary and final reports from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration shows the year’s first four mine fatalities involved diverse hazards: An uncontrolled underground train, a catastrophic elevator failure in a prep plant, a highwall collapse at a surface mine and a rib fall during underground construction.
MSHA investigations into these fatalities highlight critical lapses in mandatory procedures, particularly surrounding equipment operation, ground control and adequate safety examinations.
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