Coal Miner Dies in Southern West Virginia Processing Plant

Tragedy struck the small town of Whitesville, West Virginia, on Tuesday morning.

14-year veteran mine worker and electrician, Eric Bartram, 41, experienced a fatal injury around 10:30 a.m. at the Marfork Processing Plant.

Alpha’s CEO, Andy Eidson, has stated, “The entire Alpha organization is deeply saddened by this accident. Our hearts are with Eric’s family and loved ones. We are heartbroken to learn of his loss.”

The Marfork Processing Plant is operated by Marfork Coal Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources.

West Virginia’s Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training Office is currently conducting a full investigation, and no further details about how Bartram died have yet been released.

Mining and work-related accidents can lead to devastating injuries and even death. These unfortunate events can be even more tragic if negligence is involved. While we don’t know if negligence was involved in this particular event yet, negligence can and does occur more often in factories, mines, and processing plants than many people believe. Prioritizing safety is crucial in these types of work environments due to their inherent dangers.