MSHA: Taylor County miner was fatally injured when device ‘suddenly dislodged’

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — An updated Fatality Alert for an accident that killed a Leer Mine worker earlier this month says the he was seriously injured when a piece of equipment “suddenly dislodged.”

A preliminary report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) last week said that 57-year-old William Joe Crandall, of Fairmont, was “struck in the head” while working in the underground portion of the mine on Aug. 5 and died two days later from his injuries.

The updated MSHA Fatality Alert says that Crandall was using an air lifting bag to rerail a conveyance when it “suddenly dislodged.” The vehicle was carrying a longwell electrical power center, which can be seen in the following photo that was released with the alert.

The alert also included the following “best practices” for preventing similar accidents:

• Block or secure equipment against hazardous motion.
• Provide miners with proper tools for rerailing track equipment.
• Train miners on safe work procedures and to identify hazards associated with
  their assigned tasks.

Crandall, who had more than 11 years of mining experience, was the 12th death reported to MSHA this year. Eight fatal accidents so far in 2024, including Crandall’s and another that happened in Colorado since, have been classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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