UC Processing, LLC Coal

employee lifted elevator door and felt a sharp pain in his rib area

Employee was cleaning a plugged chute, when material pushed open an access door. Unknown to employee, when he repositioned himself he fell through the opening

Employees were removing lagging from a counterweight pulley and bolting off excess lagging. The belt was secured by clamps, counterweight picked, and system de-energized (i.e. locked out) prior to starting work. A (1) ton come-a-long chain link broke allowing the slack to be taken up quickly in the system. Employee was caught between rollers/pulley & belt

Employees were removing lagging from a counterweight pulley and buffing off excess lagging. The belt was secured by clamps, counterweight picked, and system de-energized (i.e. locked out) prior to starting work. A (1) ton come-along chain link broke allowing the slack to be taken up quickly in the system. Employee was caught between the roller/pulley and belt.

Employee was trying to get a piece of pipe loose that was hung up and when it slipped loose it hit him on the chin.

Employee was welding and raised his hood when another employee began grinding in the area. Employee eye became irritated over the course of the week, but kept on working till 6/16. Went to eye doctor on 6/16 and there was a small piece metal in his eye. Safety glasses were being worn under the hood.

Employee was pulling down on the elevator door to close it and it came down easier than he expected, pinching his left hand between the two door sections.

The employee stated that he was standing at the head of the sampling belt when he fell into a step ladder and injured his right hand.

Employee was removing a screen from a clean coal vibrator. He was using a utility knife to cut a portion of the plastic screen when it slipped contacted his small finger of the left hand causing an incision that required 2 sutures to close.

EE stood up after eating lunch, felt dizzy and fainted. When he fell, he hit his shoulder on floor. He had been under a doctor's care for bronchitis and was taking medication to lower his heart rate which was measured at 45 beats/minute.

Employee was dismounting a Cat end loader. As he descended the ladder he slid his hand along the hand rail, when he stepped to the ground he over extended his reach and "pulled" his left shoulder.

EE stated he was riding elevator from 1st floor to 4th floor. When he got off at 4th floor, he closed door and had his hand between doors. Doors open from top and bottom and must be pulled together. EE suffered a fracture to the middle finger of his left hand.

Stated: Employee reported on 01/18/2013 that he twisted his ankle from stepping in a crack in the floor at the prep plant. On 01/21/2013 he sought medical treatment for back pain and has not returned to work.

Stated: Employee was repairing chute above belt tail. He used torch to cut. Left torch lying on belt underneath his body and began using a grinder. He ground for about 15 minutes then repositioned himself and started grinding again. The sparks ignited gas inside his bibs. It burned his hip and leg. He was released to RTW but sought further treatment. He remains off work.

Stated: Employee was climbing ladder to secure when the bottom of the ladder slipped out. Employee fell on right shoulder. He continued to work. He sought medical evaluation on 11/21/12, was diagnosed with arthritis and slight rotator cuff tear. He continued to work. He underwent arthroscopic repair on 01/16/2013 and is now off work.

Stated: Employee stepped off scissor lift and strained knee. He went to the doctor and was released to RTW with restrictions of no kneeling or squatting. He returned to work but found it too difficult. He has become reportable.

Stated: Employee was assisting mechanic in changing the inside dual on the water truck. He was using a pry bar to lift on the tire and strained his lower back. Diagnosed with low back strain. Placed off work with medication and physical therapy.

Stated: Employee was cutting a dam from a deslime screen with a belt knife. The knife slipped and the blade went into his right forearm. The laceration required sutures to close.

Employee was found unresponsive/unconscious while being relieved by another Security Officer.

Stated: Employee was climbing ladder to weld a patch on a chute when the ladder slid side ways and he fell to the floor. He cut his right knee and received 5 sutures. Ret'd to work the next day.

Stated: The employee was in the process of changing out the springs on the feed end of the A2 desliming vibrator. The vibrator was being held up with a 3 ton come along hooked to a loop of 3/4" cable thru another metal plate. As he was putting the new spring in place, the cable pulled thru the metal plate. The spring mashed the small finger on his right hand.

EE was pulling a new replacemet beam for the Coal Vibrator using a come-a-long. The new beam was suspended from the monorail overhead. As he was positioning the beam laterally, the wheels encountered some resistance to rolling. As he manipulated the come-a-long hoist, the resistance was overcome & necessary pressure changed causing EE to twist & hurt shoulder. Missing work 7/14/10.

Stated: EE was using hose from water truck to wash belt drive concrete pad. The hose slipped from her hand and struck the right side of her nose. A metal band had been used on the hose near the nozzle which that is thought to have caused a laceration. The laceration was treated with 3 sutures.

He had climbed up onto a dryer in the plant. When dismounting the dryer he stepped down to the effuent box and then down onto the effuent pipe. The soles of his boot were wet, his foot slipped on the pipe, resulting in a possible sprain to his knee. Started missing scheduled work days 2-8-10, became a reportable incident on that data

Climbed up on 777 Truck to check the oil and reported feeling a stretching sensation in his left knee when he began to kneel down to open the engine acess compartment door. He stated he did not slip, strain, or fall. He worked until 1/29/10 when he had arthroscopy w/menisectomy on his left knee. EE began missing work on 1/29/10 and became lost time reportable accident on this date.

Reported: Attempting to get a measurement for a rock shield at A-3 cyclone separator. The end of the metal tape caught on a rought edge of the separator roller suddenly pulling the tape through his hand thus resulting in a laceration to his left thumb. Received medical treatment, 5 sutures wer required to close the wound. (No lost time).

IE was installing a section of C-channel when he noticed a pain in his abdomen/groin region. IE visited a local clinic later that day which diagnosed him with a swollen lymph node, NOT work-related. The following week, the IE's personal dr diagnosed him with a mild hernia. It was back and forth for awhile, trying to determine compensability. Finally determined compensable.

Employee reported: When attempting to carrying two shaker screens (approx. 32 lbs) from the warehouse shelf to the doorway of the building, pain was experienced to his low back region, possible strain to the lumbar section. He was to load the fiberglass screens onto the bed of a 1 ton truck.

Employee reported: When climbing down light plant stationary ladder, shoulder popped. He didn't slip, felt his body weight caused the shoulder to pop and experience pain.

Down in the tunnel under the sludge sumps, attempting to unstop a drain, EE slipped as he was attempting to step up over a pipe and bumped hie rib cage against a water pump resulting in a possible fracture to one rib. Continued to work all scheduled shifts until 8/25/08. Pain continued, went to DR on 8/26 and started missing scheduled work days on that date.

Employee reported: doing work in shop area of plant, bent over to pick up a piece of steel plate, experienced pain in lower abdomen. Sought medical treatment a few days later. Determined he had a hernia and could need surgery. Surgery was delayed until July 30, 2008; started missing scheduled work as of that date.

Injured stated he was helping another EE move a piece of plate steel (3/4" X 48" X 48"). The plate was not cut all the way, so he lifted the plate and slammed it down. The plate then broke, catching his finger on the steel horse beneath it.

EE was using a 10' pry bar attempting to remove material in chute. When applying pressure on the bar, material broke up, allowing sudden movement of the bar. EE's thumb was caught between the pry bar and an eyelet that had been welded on the chute, resulting in a small laceration to the right thumb. Laceration required 8 sutures to close.

Walking on the lower floor of the wash plant. Someone had removed floor grate to let wash down water exit. The grating was not replaced, was not marked at all. Later the employee was walking down that same grating and stepped into the open grate that was covered with water.

EE & coworker were to change screen of dryer. To remove upper cover of dryer, the chute above dryer must be released & moved to allow cover to be raised. EE climbed onto top of dryer to unlatch chute, when dismounting he placed foot on lid of effluent box. Lid moved causing him to lose balance & fall 38" to concrete floor onto lt. arm resulting in simple fracture to wrist.

Employee reported: He was attempting to unboard the operator's compartment of a Hitachi ZX370 trac-hoe. When climbing down from the cab, he lost the grip of the right hand-hold rail, allowing him to fall to the ground. He extended his left hand to break his fall. The weight of his body was applied to his left arm resulting in an impact fracture to the left forearm.

Employee reported: He & a co-worker were servicing the clean coal silo feeders. He climbed the ladder to the walkway to the feeder & proceeded to grease the north side bearing. When stepping around the end of the feeder walkway, he lost his footing, falling to the top of the belt cover then down to the load out tunnel floor. The backside of his head hit the floor.

Employee reported: He & coworkers were preparing to change out a damaged scree of the cyclone refuse vibrator. He climbed up into the vibrator, when stepping down onto the cloor of vibrator, sole of boot placed onto a piece of angle iron, causing foot to slip resulting in twisting of knee. 8/15/06 MRI taken, tear in meniscus, started missing work 8/15/06.

Employee and a co-worker were moving a dryer screen from a storage location to the dryer. When picking up the screen, he lost his grip allowing screen to fall. The edge of the screen contacted his right middle finger resulting in a small laceration requiring 8 stitches.

Unboarding Komatsu refuse truck, when she stepped from last step to ground, ground was uneven causing her to twist knee. She continued to work all scheduled shifts until 1-19-06; on that day surgery was performed and she started missing work days.

Employees were positioning chutework on the second floor when it slid into injured's foot.

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE WAS INSTALLING NEW PVC CONDUIT TO EBR-48 DRYERS AND PVC CLEANER SPILLED INTO THE EMPLOYEES GLOVES. HE CONTINUED TO WEAR THE GLOVES UNTIL FINISHING THIS TASK. WITHIN 3 DAYS HE EXPERINCED A SEVERE RASH ON BOTH HANDS. THE CLEANER MATERIAL HAD IRRITATED HIS SKIN CONDITION. HE SUFFERS FROM PSORIASIS.

When cleaning the first floor of the prep plant with a water hose she felt pain and numbness in both wrists. Also after completing the task she had a hard time gripping with both hands. Medical information from Workers Comp. does not support employee's claim. The company does not believe it to be work related. Under protest and ordered by MSHA the company is completing a report.

EE slipped on mud or loose rock and fell on a piece of rebar vertically extended from the ground.

VICTIM & CO-WORKER WERE REPLACING A 14" PLASTIC WATER PIPE. THE WRAP-AROUND COUPLING WAS TIGHT & THEY COULDN'T GET THE CONNECTION BOLTS STARTED. THEY LEFT THE AREA TO RETRIEVE A PRY BAR. UPON RETURNING TO THE WORK SITE, THE CO-WORKER FOUND THE VICTIM LAYING ON THE PLANT FLOOR BLEEDING FROM A LACERATION TO HIS HEAD. THE VICTIM CAN'T RECALL WHAT OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO EYE WITNESS.

EMPLOYEE STATED, HE WAS CHECKING VIBRATION ON TROUGHING ROLLER AND A KEY STOCK WELDED ON THE ROLLER FOR A SPEED SWITCH CAUGHT HIS LEFT HAND CUTTING HIS MIDDLE FINGER (EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING GLOVES).

EMPLOYEE STATES, HE WAS DISMOUNTING VOLVO DIRT TRUCK AND MISSED HAND HOLD AND STEP AND FELL HURTING HIS BACK.

Employee states she noticed tingling in arm 2-27-04 when using hammer to assemble and disassemble metal shelving. i got progressively worse and went to dr. 7-12-04.

EE stated he was lying on his stomach lifting a drive shaft into position to hook it up, and felt pain. EE worked all scheduled shift until Nov 15, 04, on that day ee had hernia surgery and started missing scheduled work days.

EE STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO UNSTOP RAW COAL CHUTE WITH A METAL BAR AND SOMETHING HIT THE BARFORCING IT AGAINST HIS RIGHT LOWER LEG, CAUSING A 1" CUT TO HIS SHIN.

EE STATED, HE WAS INSPECTING VALVE ON "B" SIDE CLARIFIED MAKEUP AND HAD EXTENSION LADDER SET UP, IT SLIPPED AND HE FELL HURTING HIS (R) SHOULDER AND ELBOW.

EMPLOYEE INITIALLY STRAINED RIGHT GROIN 2/11/00 BUT CONTINUED TO WORK. CAME INTO OFFICE 1/9/03 & STATED HE WOULD NEED TO BE OFF WORK FOR SURGERY BECAUSE HERNIA HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HE WENT INTO TO GET IT REPAIRED 1/31/03.

STATES, HE WAS REPLACING CROSS SHAFT BEARING W/SPLIT TYPE AND WAS LIFTING BEARING IN PLACE WHEN HE STARTED HURTING IN (L) BACK AND GROIN.

EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING PLATE OFF FORK LIFT & FELT BURNING IN LEFT GROIN.

EE STATED HE WAS LIFTING A MOTOR OUT OF THE BED OF TRUCK TO PUT ON 2 WHEEL CART AND FELT STRAIN IN LT. GROIN. *<EE STARTED LOSING TIME 8/28/02>.

DISMANTLING A1 CC VIBRATOR, CLIMBING, LIFTING AND STATES HE HURT HIS LOWER BACK. STARTED LOSING TIME 6/24/02.

EE STATED HE WAS STEPPING OFF VIBRATOR ON 2ND FLOOR AND HURT LOWER BACK.

EMPLOYEE STATES, HE WAS PUTTING IN FLOOR GRATING AND HURT HIS LOWER BACK WHILE PICKING UP A PIECE.

EE STATED, HE WAS CUTTING TOP OFF PLASTIC BUCKET USING A UTILITY KNIFE AND THE KNIFE SLIPPED CUTTING HIS UPPER RIGHT LEG.

EMPLOYEE STATED, HE WAS THROWING BAG OF TRASH INTO DUMPSTER BEHIND WAREHOUSE AND HURT HIS LOWER BACK.

EE WAS CUTTING A PLASTIC BUCKET WITH UTILITY KNIFE AND HE CUT HIS R LOWER LEG.

EE 3RD SHIFT PLANT MECH. WAS CUTTING METAL WITH A TORCH IN A VESSEL ON THE 3RD FLOOR. TWO RUBBER MIXING LINES WERE BESIDE WHERE CUTTING WAS TAKING PLACE. A SMALL FIRE STARTED ON THE RUBBER MIX ING LINE AND EE GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISH TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AT THIS TIME AN IGNITION OCCURRED INT HE MIXING LINE ACETYLENE OR UNKNOWN GAS. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WAS NO INJURIES

EE STATED HE WAS LIFTING 6" PLUG VALVE & FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK

EE STATED HE WAS CUTTING BELT USING KNIFE AND THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS RIGHT KNEE (3 SUTURES).

EE STATES SHE STRAINED HER HANDS OR WRISTS PERFORMING UTILITY WORK

EMPLOYEE STATED, HE WAS PUSHING WITH HIS HAND A METAL HOLDDOWN BAR, AND IT GOT CAUGHT ON A BOLT THE HOLDDOWN STRIP SLIPPED AND CAUGHT HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER CUTTING IT.

EMPLOYEES WERE WELDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF #1 RAW COAL SILO ON 2ND LANDING. THEY WERE WELDING SCAFFOLDING ON A SECONDARY "DRIBBLE" CHUTE ADJACENT TO THE #1 DOOR OF #1 SILO, DISTANCE FROM DOOR OPENING TO WELDING AREA IS APPROX 22'.

EE STATED HE WAS LIFTING A SMALL REDUCER ON A-4 SECONDARY SEPARTOR ALONG WITH 2 OTHER EE'S & FELT IN LOWER BACK.

EE STATED HE WAS PUSHING 4 WHEEL CART WITH 350 H.P. MOTOR INSIDE ON 1ST FLOOR. AS HE WENT ACROSS FLOOR DRAIN, THE CONCRETE LIP ON DRAIN STOPPED FRONT WHEELS AND FLIPPED CART FORWARD. EE FELL B ACKWARD ONTO (L) ARM.

EMPLOYEE STATED HE WAS HOISTING BUCKET OF MATERIAL FROM GROUND TO PLATFORM ON REFUSE BELT,& BUCKET HUNG ON PIECE OF METAL. AS HE PUSHED CABLE, HIS GLOVE GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN CABLE AND SHEAVE; CAUSED FRACTURE OF L INDEX FINGER DISTAL