JEFERSON COUNTY — An accident report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration revealed new details about the ‘underground incident’ on July 12 that left one dead.
The report identified the victim as Alan Whitaker, 36, who had over three years of experience in mining.
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Around 4:45 a.m., material from the mine roof and a rib fell on the loader Whitaker was using, and he died the next morning, according to the report. A rib is the side of a pillar or wall of an entrance. Whitaker had over 2.5 years’ experience operating loaders. There were no other injuries.
The mine, which is off Andrew Johnson Highway, is owned by Nyrstar which employs about 440 people at three zinc mines in East Tennessee, according to its website.
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A retired coal miner told 6 News about the dangers of the job. He said that roof fall is probably the biggest killer in mines…