Kentucky coal death is nation's 3rd fatal in new year
Posted January 20, 2016 6:00 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A coal miner in western Kentucky has died after being pinned against a wall by a mobile digging machine in an underground mine, the first coal mining death in the state this year and the third nationally.
The death prompted a top U.S. mine safety official to call Wednesday for increased enforcement and education at the nation's coal mines.
Nathan G. Phillips, 36, was operating a continuous miner machine at the Dotiki Mine in Webster County when he was killed Tuesday.
Federal mine safety officials issued a new rule last year that seeks to prevent similar accidents by requiring motion sensing equipment on the digging machines. It was not known if the machine Phillips was operating had a detector.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.