# Presentation: 154974

## Accident Investigation Overview

- Public Hearing on the Sago Mine Disaster

- West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety & Training
- U.S. Dept. of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration

## Presentation Topics

- Purpose of the investigation
- Review progress of the investigation
- Preliminary results
- Review future plans, including
- Seal testing and evaluation
- Ignition sources
- Interview
- Evaluating evidence
- Data analysis

## MSHA Accident Investigation Team

**Richard Gates******* - Team Leader, CMS&H, District Manager, Birmingham, AL
**John Urosek******* - Technical Support, Chief Ventilation Division, Pittsburgh, PA
**Clete Stephan** - Technical Support, General Engineer Ventilation Division, Pittsburgh, PA
**Richard Stoltz** - Technical Support, Supervisor Ventilation Division, Pittsburgh, PA
**Dennis Swentosky** - CMS&H, Supervisory Mine Safety and Health Specialist, Ventilation, New Stanton, PA
**Joseph O’Donnell** – CMS&H, Field Office Supervisor, Bessemer, AL
**Gary Harris** – CMS&H, Supervisory Special Investigator, Barbourville, KY
**Russell Dresch** – CMS&H, Electrical Engineer, Norton, VA
- The team is assisted by the following members of the Office of the Solicitor: James Crawford, Tim Williams, Robert Wilson.
***Panelist**

## WV MHS&T Accident Investigation Team

**Doug Conaway** –** **Former Director
**Brian Mills******* - Team Leader, Inspector-at-Large, Region 1
**Monte Hieb******* - Chief Engineer** **
**Mike Rutledge******* – Mine Safety Instructor
**John Scott** - Electrical Inspector, Mine Rescue Team
**John Hall** - Electrical Inspector, Mine Rescue Team** **
**John Collins** – District Inspector
**Jeff Bennett** – District Inspector, Mine Rescue Team
**Barry Fletcher** – Roof Control, Mine Rescue Team
**Robert True Jr.** – District Inspector
***Panelist**

## Location map

**Buckhannon, WV**

**Sago Mine**

**5.9 miles**

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**29 miners were in the mine when the explosion occurred at approximately 6:26 AM on January 2, 2006.**
**All of the miners except one, appear to have initially survived the explosion.**
**Sixteen miners exited the mine safely. **
**One miner was found near 2 Left switch in direct line of the forces and gases from the explosion. **
**Twelve miners did not exit and they barricaded in the 2 Left Section.  **

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**The Old 2 Left Mains Seals were installed to isolate the active area from the sealed area.**
**An explosive concentration of fuel was ignited in the sealed area inby 2 Left.  **
**These seals were totally destroyed.**

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**Investigation activities began on January 2.**
**The underground portion of the investigation was delayed due to recovery efforts at the mine.  It began on Thursday January 26, 2006.   **
**Interviews of miners, rescuers and officials began on January 17, 2006.  The last interview was completed on April 5, 2006.  The interview of Randal McCloy has not yet been scheduled.**

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**To date, 74 interviews of 70 persons including:**
**16 of the 17 survivors who were in the mine at the time of the event;**
**4 miners who entered the mine to begin rescue efforts **
**1 Mine Official not scheduled to work on the day of the accident**
**3 MSHA CMI’s with inspection activities at the seals**
**2 MSHA mine rescue team personnel**
**9 industry mine rescue team personnel **
**1 medical professional who participated in rescue**
**3** **dispatchers**
**6 ICG corporate management**

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**Continuing, 74 interviews of 70 persons including:**
**6 WV Office of Miners Health, Safety, and Training personnel **
**6 Sago management employees who worked on seals**
**1 former miner now employed by Massey who worked on seals**
**3 miners (2 were former independent contractor employees now employed by Sago) who worked on the seals**
**5 miners who worked the weekend prior to the explosion**
**2 miners who had worked in the Old 2 Left Section**
**1 owner of engineering firm responsible for surveying and mapping**
**1 electrical contractor**
**4 persons were called back for additional information on the seals**

## Sago Mine Investigation Overview

**Issues concerning the explosion include:**
**What were the activities of the miners?**
**Where did the explosion start? **
**What was the fuel for this explosion? **
**What was the ignition source for this explosion?**
**Why did the seals fail?**
**Other issues include:**
**Gas detection equipment, including the AMS system**
**Self-Contained Self-Rescuers**
**Training**

## Sago Mine

- Older Sealed
- Areas

- Recently Sealed
- Area

- Mine
- Entrance

- 2 Miles

- Travel Route
- Into Mine

- _Prior to Accident on 1/2/06_
-  3-6:00 am - Section preshift exams conducted.
- 6:00 am - 1 Left & 2 Left crews enter mine.

**SEALED**

**SEALED**

**SEALED**

## Go To Part 2

- _[Click Here to go to Part 2](file:///SagoMine/PublicHearings/Sago%20Presentation/Sago%20Mine%20Accident%20Investigation%20Overview2.ppt)_