WEST VIRGINIA'S FALLEN WORKERS
These are a few of the men and women that went to work in West Virginia and were fatally injured never going home to their families at the end of their shift. We remember, honor and recognize these men and women for their dedication and hardwork. We would like to sincerely thank the families that shared their loved one's picture and their tragic loss with USMWF.
This photo was sent in by his mother Teresa Bachtell.
~ 3/21/1979 - 10/22/2010 ~
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Patrick Andrew Bachtell, 31
Patrick was killed on the job in October 2010 while working for Summerset Construction at Harper Ferry National Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He was electrocuted while pouring concrete.
Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed to Sumersett Construction Inc. a $11,880 penalty for three serious and three other than serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $8,910 for three serious and three other than serious violations. This inspection is closed. Federal OSHA proposed to Potomac Construction Industries Inc. after the investigating the incident a $9,800.00 penalty for two serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $5,145 for two serious violations. This inspection is close. Inspection: 311682900 - Sumersett Construction Inc. Inspection: 311682108 - Potomac Construction Industries Inc. Our beloved son, Patrick Andrew Bachtell, died due to negligence on October 22, 2010. He was 31 years old and died 6 weeks before his first child; Wyatt Andrew Patrick Bachtell was born. He left behind a grieving widow, Jessica, his parents, sister and bothers. We will never get over his death and realize that our lives will never be the same again. In ways, our grief is as fresh as the terrible Friday that it happened and in other ways we are learning to cope. |
This photo was sent in by his widow Teresa Gohagan.
~ 6/14/1973 – 12/28/2017 ~
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Eric Gohagan, 44
Eric was killed in December 2017 while working for Pipeline Systems, Inc. in Valley Grove , West Virginia. He died when an excavator slid on ice and hit him.
Federal OSHA currently has no information about this case. |
This photo was sent in by his aunt Carol Confere.
~ 7/28/2009 ~
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Mark Allen Gray, 27Mark was killed on the job in July 2009 while working for Catenary Coal/Sample Mine (Hawkeye Contracting) Company in Eskdale, West Virginia. He died when he was in a truck rollover and drowned in a pond.
MSHA investigated and issued one citation; a civil penalty has not yet been assessed by MSHA. CCatenary Coal Co. Tribute by his wife Bevery McCarty Gray: Mark's life was tragically ended working as a surface miner in WV when his articulated truck rolled into a sediment pond, entrapping him and he drowned. Mark was a very compassionate person who loved life and was loved by many. He loved children and for years, along with his wife, taught Sunday School for several years. Mark was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt. He was a beautiful person, inside and out and many lives were changed due to this preventable accident. |
This photo was sent in by his daughter Sara Hammer.
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George "Junior" Hamner, 54
George was killed on the job in January 2006 while working for Sago Mine, (ICG) in Sago, West Virginia. He died in a mine explosion and suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.
MSHA investigated the disaster and did not identify any contributing violations and assessed no penalties. George "Junior" Hamner, 54 died on 1/2/06 at the International Coal Group's Sago Mine in Sago, WV. He and 11 other men died from carbon monoxide poisoning. |
His photo was sent in by his wife Pamela Poch.
~08/05/1966-05/21/20~
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Timothy Poch, 53
Timothy Poch was fatally injured on the job in May, 2020. While working for Arcelormittal-Weirton, Llc in Weirton, WV. At 9:00 a.m. on May 21, 2020, an employee was working at a steel mill. He was operating a remotely operated overhead crane to load steel coils onto a flatbed trailer. He was retrieving the ticket on a 13,150-kilogram (29,000-lb) coil that w as suspended from the crane. For unknown reasons, the crane moved. The employee was crushed between the suspended coil and a second steel coil that was located on the floor behind him. He was killed.
OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $26,988 penalty for two serious and one other than serious violation. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $9,400 for one other than serious violation. This case is now closed. Inspection: 1475905.015 - Arcelormittal-Weirton, Llc He was a wonderful and amazing husband and father. He always had a smile on his face that we miss so much!! He was the shining light in our family. Forever missed and forever remembered!!! We love you!! |
This photo was sent in by his Mother, Cathy Majoris.
~ 4/18/1983 - 12/13/2010 ~
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Steven Michael Swain, 27
Steven was killed in December 2010 while working for AL Solutions in New Cumberland, West Virginia. He died in an explosion.
Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $154,000.00 penalty for sixteen serious violations, one willful violation and one other than serious violation. In and informal settlement the Penalty was not reduced but the citations were reduced to 12 serious violations, one willful violation and one other than serious violation. Inspection: 313378242 - Al Solutions, Inc. The explosion, happened on Dec 9th actually threw him out of the building, but because they were not wearing fire resistant uniforms (which OSHA had already fined them for from a previous death) and the uniforms they were wearing were not chemically cleaned to remove all the zirconium and titanium fines from them it took approximately 5 minutes to put Steve out. He was life lighted to UPMC Mercy Burn Unit were he passed away on Dec 13th. |
This photo was sent in by his Daughter, Peggy Cohen.
~ 1947 - 1/2/2006 ~
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Fred G. (Bear) Ware Jr., 59
Fred was killed in January 2006 while working at the International Coal Group's at the Sago Mine, Buckhannon, West Virginia. He was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning/explosion.
He and 11 other men died from carbon monoxide poisoning. MSHA investigated the disaster and did not identify any contributing violations and assessed no penalties |
This photo was sent in by his widow Holly Zahnow
~ 3/17/1964 - 10/1/2014 ~
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Thomas "Tom" Zahnow, 50
Thomas was injured on the job in September 2014 while working for Axiall Corp. in Martinsville, West Virginia and he passed away October 2014. He died while replacing a faulty on on at tank valve containing liquid caustic soda was released burning Tom, James Starkey and Douglas Carson.
Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $21,000 penalty for three serious violations. The violations are under contest. Inspection: 997653.015 - Eagle Natrium, Llc |
