Summary: A continuous miner driver was hit in the back and knocked over by rib spall. He was found by another operator. Poor ribs had been identified but had not been barred down.
Recommendations to industry: When poor strata is identified, corrective actions should be taken in accordance with procedures and mine’s trigger action response plan (TARP) as soon as practical. Mine operators must ensure that workers are provided with adequate information training and instruction in relation to hazards associated with ground and strata failure. Mine operators should consider potential risks to unaccompanied workers operating remote control mining equipment.
