Special Edition: Mining Accident, Virginia

Accident costs miner his arm
JENAY TATE • EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Apr 26, 2019 Coalfield Progress

A coal miner at Contura’s Deep Mine 41 has lost an arm following an accident early Wednesday.

Ray Robinette, 56, of Norton, was running a roof-bolting machine at the time of the accident around 5 a.m., according to Tarah Kesterson with the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

Robinette was med-flighted to Wake Forest in North Carolina, where his arm had to be amputated, Kesterson said. She said he is reported in stable condition and doing well.

DMME and U.S. Mine Safety and Health inspectors are investigating jointly what happened and were on the scene Wednesday and Thursday.

They must conclude their investigation before ruling exactly what happened and a cause, she said.

Robinette has about 18 years of mining experience in Virginia, according to Kesterson.

Deep Mine 41 is a non-union mine located near McClure in Dickenson County and is a substantial coal producer.

There are no union mines in Virginia “anymore,” Kesterson noted.

According to federal records, Deep Mine 41 has had 40 lost time injuries in the past four years and three serious accidents, defined as requiring at least 24 hours in a hospital. There was a fatality there in March 2015.

Thanks for the share, RM.