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### Inspection Detail

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Inspection: 1287429.015 - Rockwell Mining Llc**

**Inspection Information - Office: Charleston**

 

**Inspection Nr**

**Report ID**

**Date Opened**

----

**Site Address**: 			   Rockwell Mining Llc			   Route 85 And Cazy HollowVan, WV 25206

**Mailing Address**: 			   Po Box 57, Wharton, WV 25208

**Union Status**: NonUnion

**SIC**:

**NAICS**: 212112/Bituminous Coal Underground Mining

----

**Inspection Type**: Fat/Cat

**Scope**: Complete

**Advanced Notice**: N

**Ownership**: Private

**Safety/Health**: Health

**Close Conference**: 01/11/2018

**Emphasis**:

**Case Closed**: 10/30/2018

----

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Investigation Summary**

**Investigation Nr**

**Event**

At 2:00 p.m. on November 28, 2017, Employee #1 and a coworker were looking for drainage valves at a mine water treatment pond facility.  Employee #1 went down a ladder into a manhole next to one of the ponds to look for the valve. Employee#1 fell off of the ladder as soon as his head got to ground level.  He fell into the bottom of the twelve foot deep manhole and collapsed against a wall.  Emergency services were contacted along with responders from MSHA.  The MSHA personnel were the only people on site with gas detectors.  The MSHA personnel found the oxygen level to be 5 percent and the methane level to be 15 percent in the manhole.  A blower system was set up to clear the manhole of the methane gas before rescuers could retrieve Employee #1.  Employee #1 died from asphyxiation before he could be rescued.

**Keywords:**asphyxiated, enclosed space, fall, ladder, manhole, methane
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