 During the years 1971 through 1991, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, MSHA, has documented 277 lives saved by the use of canopies of mining equipment and underground coal mines. MSHA believes that there have been additional saves but not documented. MSHA made an effort to document saves before the 1988 Roof and Rib Regulations were promulgated. Ronnie was operating a scoop, cleaning debris in a return air course which required timbers to be removed. When he dislodged some of the timbers, the mine roof dropped to a four-feet thick, fell and trapped him for approximately 20 minutes. We've asked Ronnie to tell us his story. Well, I was operating a scoop. Larry Lindsey and John Hoblin was operating a pinner. And I would scoop on one side and clean up a few feet and then I would go around and they would come in where I was at and I'd go on the other side and start cleaning back towards them. And my scoop got low and I told them that pull up and stop them, talking to them, told them that I was going to go put my scoop on charge. And we sat there and talked for about three to five minutes about the rough conditions and asked them how it was drilling and everything. And I started to scoop up and got me another load of gobb to take with me on the way down. When I put it in reverse and turned the back light on and started backing up and when I turned around it just failed. I was listening for Larry and John to holler because I know they would be hollering and I was wanting to get make sure that that they was all right. I mean to where they seen me or the rock get and get them. I didn't know whether the rock had fell on them or not or nothing. And they was hollering from where they was at and I couldn't hear them. So they had to run around about 11 breaks to get to where I was at because we had other rock falls that was working around. And when Larry got to the corner he hollered and asked, was it all right? And I said yes, I answered him. And then I knew that they was all right. Ronnie, what was some of your first thoughts right after the roof failed? Well, my main concern was the canopy going to hold it up because we had talked about it several times, different ones of his head on how stout they really was. And I seen real quick that it was plenty stout. What did you all have any communications? Yeah, he hollered and asked if I was all right and I told him yes, I was fine. And he hollered back at John, told him to go get some call for some help. And John ran to the phone and called and Larry started removing some of the rocks so I could get out. Did he was kind of happy to see you? Yeah, we were both pretty happy to see each other. Did he make any comments? Yeah, he said that you look good enough that I could almost kiss you. And I told him, I'd almost let you. So what started out to be a bad day turned out to be a good one, didn't it? Actors all over and done. What kind of advice would you have to fellow coal miners out in the coalfield who some of them still prefer to run equipment without canopies? Would you have any advice to them? Yes, sir. If they was knocking any timbers or anything supporting the roof, I would advise them to have a canopy. How big a family do you have, Ronnie? I have four children, wife and four children. I got a daughter, it's 23, I got a son that's 20, got two twin daughters, it's 11. I guess it all happens so you get home safely, wasn't it? Yeah. Ronnie, I noticed you got a beautiful farm and you're building a new home. Do you think all this would be possible without that canopy? No. If it hadn't been for the canopy, I don't think I'd have been here today. I know I wouldn't have been here today.