At approximately 1 a.m. on May 20, 2006, five miners were killed in a mine explosion in Harlan County, Ky.
The following information is what we know as of 4 p.m. (May 20) about the explosion:
Name of Mine: Kentucky Darby Mine No. 1
Location: Harlan County, KY
Owners: John North and Ralph Napier
Number of employees: 33 -- 30 undergrund and 3 on the surface
Injury rate: The mine has a better-than-average injury rate. There have been no injuries at the mine since 2004. The mine has had no fatalities since it began operation in 2001.
Number of citations: in 2005 the mine received 70 citations -- none of which were deemed to be S&S (significant and substantial -- likely to cause injury or death). However, in the last two inspections (January 2006 and May 2006) the mine has received a total of 17 citations of which 9 were deemed S&S. This shows that the conditions have gotten less safe, or that MSHA is cracking down since the Sago and Aracoma mine disasters.
Type of citations: In the latest inspection (information available as of May 9), which was on-going at the time of the explosion, the mine was given 3 citations for accumulation of combustible materials -- one of which was deemed S&S.
It was also cited for a:
- roof control violation (S&S)
- failing to maintain electrical equipment on the working face
- failing to maintain fire warning devices on the belt drive (S&S).
In January 2006, it received S&S citations for improper splices of trailing cables, failure to have equipment guards in place, roof control violations, and deenergizing self-propelled equipment.
The seam height of the mine was 8-10 feet. MSHA arrived at the mine at 2 a.m. -- approximately 1 hour after the explosion. It is 4,300 feet from the entrance to the working face. The miner who survived was found 15 feet inby. The miners who were killed were found approximately 3,000 from the mine entrance -- about 700-800 feet from the active or working section.
All miners' bodies were revcovered by 9:40 a.m. on May 20. The explosion blew out the ventilation controls, and MSHA reports that teams are working "under apparatus" to rebuild the ventilation structures.
