Logan County Mine Fatality Report

{West Virginia}...The Mine Safety and Health Administration released a report Monday on the May 14th fatality at Guyan Mine in Logan County that killed 37 year old Richard Young. Young, a mechanic with 14 years of mining experience, was removing the fuel tank and counter weight from an end loader when the bolts were removed without installing proper blocking to be sure the counter weight was secure. MSHA officials say two mechanics were preparing the machine to remove the fuel tank, which they suspected contained contaminants. One mechanic was working in the engine radiator compartment area. Young was underneath the machine removing the bolts, and when he began removing the 15th bolt, the 11,685 lb. counter weight fell, crushing him. The mine was given a noncontributory violation for not maintaining a copy of Young’s task training records. Guyan Mine’s parent company is Patriot Coal Company.