FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 14, 2022
UMWA Mourns Loss of Ohio County Prep Plant Construction Worker
[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:
“The hearts and prayers of every UMWA member are with the family of Jeffrey Phillips, who was killed in an accident today at the Ohio County Prep Plant in Benwood, W. Va.
“Brother Phillips was a member of UMWA Construction Local Union 1998. He was 44 years old.
“Our safety experts are on the scene and are working with the UMWA Local Union 1473 Safety Committee, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, the West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training, and the company to find out what caused this tragedy.
“Operations at the mine and plant have been shut down after the accident and will be suspended while the investigation continues.
“This is the third coal mine fatality of 2022 and the first UMWA worker to be killed on the job since December 19, 2019.
“We are truly saddened by the death of Brother Phillips and we will not rest until we know the circumstances of his death so that we can prevent something like this from ever happening again.
“I ask that we all lift up the Phillips’ family in our prayers.”
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