Spring Creek Mine Coal

EE was power washing a drill in the field when they tripped backwards over the wash wand and hit their head on the genset radiator shroud causing a laceration on the head requiring 3 staples to close.

Employee was operating a manlift. During the operation, the man-lift had a mechanical failure that caused the boom to retract into the housing causing the employee to hit their mouth on the handrail.

EE was boarding a blade when they felt pain and a burning feeling in their left calf muscle. Two days later the calf began to swell and bruise. On May 9th imaging revealed a ruptured (torn) Achilles tendon that will require surgery to repair.

EE was greasing a pin with a pneumatic grease gun when the adapter slipped off the fitting and injected a small amount of grease into the EE's LH index finger. Debridement and stiches were required to treat the wound.

EE was cutting a piece of wear plate off the dragline shoe. When it fell to the ground it cut through EE's boot causing a small laceration on two toes. Stitches were required to close the wound.

CV07 suffered a tear in the splicing with coal loaded on the belt. The head pulley created enough heat friction with the belt not moving to start the belt on fire. Fire was not fully extinguished in under 30 minutes.

EE was using a hydraulic tool to remove a wheel lock ring on a RTD. The tool slipped off of it's position landing on the EEs Rh index finger causing a laceration that required stitches.

EE started climbing the ladder on a scraper when EE slipped and fell causing a distal fracture to the radius on the left wrist.

Employee was preparing a coal sample by pulverizing it in the pulverizer. When pushing down on the lever with left hand to lower the plate to replace drawer with right hand employee felt a "pop" in left wrist.

Employee was dismounting equipment when EE's foot slipped causing EE to land on right hand/wrist. Employee states heard a "pop" and swelling was present. Employee was treated at a local medical facility where it was determined there was a ruptured tendon.

The hoist ropes came out of the boom point sheeves on the BE1570 dragline when the bucket contacted the spoil pile. The operator tried to lower the bucket which created heat/friction between the ropes and the structure, igniting nearby grease. A fire started that was not extinguished within 30 minutes of discovery.

EE was removing a haul truck tire lock ring when it shifted causing the EE's thumb to be pinched between the lock ring and a wheel lug stud, causing a laceration. The laceration required stitches to be closed.

Employee noticed smoke and flames coming from a haul truck that was idling in a parking ditch. There was no operator on or near the machine at the time. The fire was not fully extinguished in under 30 min. No injuries occurred.

EE working on hands and knees, felt a "pop" in knee. MRI revealed a torn meniscus.

Employee was attempting to cut a plastic zip tie with a pocket knife. The knife slipped causing a laceration to the employees left pinky and ring fingers. Sutures were required to close the wound.

Operator relocating loader to another pit when sparks and flames started coming from the front of the articulation. Mine rescue team extinguished all flames in 64 minutes.

Employee was pulling a drawer of coal from the riffler with their left arm and felt something pull in EE's left upper arm/shoulder.

Employee was exiting the right rear passenger door of a crew cab pickup when EE got feet hung up between the rear seat and the door pillar, causing EE to fall out of the vehicle and land on the right shoulder and hip area. EE sustained a deep bruise to the right hip area causing EE to miss the next scheduled shift.

Truck driver was walking around trailer when ee slipped and fell. The temperature was -6 degrees which contributed to slick conditions of the packed snow. The driver slipped, ankle rolled and ee fell fracturing tibia and fibia.

Employee was moving trailing cable with a cable hook when he slipped and fell to the ground landing on his right elbow tearing his right shoulder rotator cuff.

Employee was manually moving a dragline swing gear bearing retainer weighing approximately 150 lbs. when his middle left finger became pinched between the retainer flange and a walkway toe board. This resulted in a laceration to the top of his finger requiring 15 stitches. He was wearing heavy leather welding gloves at the time.

Employee was grinding on a spreader bar in the Weld Shop when the grinder kicked to the left after catching on metal causing the disc to cut through his coveralls and into his left knee. The laceration required ten (10) stitches.

Employee was helping a mechanic tighten a loose hose connection in the back of a lube truck when the mechanic bumped the truck rear door lever causing the door to come down and strike the employee across the back area resulting in two (2) broken ribs.

Employee was changing a park brake on a haul truck when the bolt he was using an impact on broke allowing the brake housing to pop slightly outward and strike the top of his right middle finger. This resulted in a 2mm fracture to the fingertip and a laceration to the side of the finger that required 4 stitches. He returned to work full duty on his next scheduled shift.

While at his residence the employee woke up early in the morning to discover his eyes had sustained flash burns from performing extensive weld work over the last 3 days. The damage over time was either sustained from reflection while working in close proximity to another welder, or from a small gap that was identified in his welding hood.

Employee stuck his hand into a moving heater/ac fan blade while attempting to replace the cover for it that had just fallen off. His right index finger was cut by the fan blade resulting in three (3) stitches.

EE was purging propel lube lines on a 1570 Dragline. Contractors were working above him & accidentally knocked over an open bucket of EPA 2000 Solvent which in turn fell on top of him. He was correctly following all safety procedures put in place for this project. He suffered a chemical burn on his left eye which required prescription medication.

Employee stopped dozer to look behind when his neck popped. He could not turn head to side afterward. The mine believes due to no noted mechanism of injury that this is not work related. Potential causal factors found include employee having a metal plate in his neck from a previous non-work related event, and that he was "breaking a philly" the previous day.

The EE was trying to remove a door panel that was stuck. When it came loose, his hand came into contact with a sharp edge, resulting in a laceration to his finger that required medical attention (3 stitches to a finger).

Employee was opening the heater valve door to turn on the dozer heater valves when a gust of wind caused dust to swirl up underneath his safety glasses getting into his left eye. This resulted in his cornea being scratched. A prescription antibiotic was applied. Employee returned to work on his next scheduled shift.

Employee was laying down some metal shelving on a push cart when his left ring and pinky finger were caught in a pinch point causing the ring finger to be lacerated and the pinky finger to lacerated and broken. Employee lost approximately 25% of the distal bone of the pinky.

Employee was exiting the cab of the vehicle she was driving that had been parked with the driver's side front and rear axles partially on a stem pile increasing the distance from the vehicle step and the ground. As the employee's left foot contacted the ground, her knee buckled. An MRI revealed a torn ACL. Surgery to repair the torn ACL took place on 07/16/2009.

Removable stairs were not level or secured from top of dragline shoe to rev-frame platform. Injury was stepping down onto second step when stairs came loose. He lost balance falling approx. 3' onto his left side, striking the toeboard of a catwalk on top of the shoe, fracturing the 12th left rib.

Employee was removing bolts from the belly pan of a scraper to perform maintenance work when the hinged pan swung down pinching his right index finger causing it to be lacerated on both side from the middle joint up. This resulted in 17 stitches.

Task to remove cable guide of "A" frame, stagged in shop, when partially cut loose by air arcing, cable guide broke loose and dropped about 16 inches to floor, striking welder on top of right foot as he stepped back and rested on steel toe of left boot.

EE was lifting a bucket of approx. 20 to 25 lbs. of bolts and other materials from the ground to the flatbed of his pickup when he sustained an umbilical hernia. He was evaulated by a physician and fully released. On 2/21/08 the employee underwent outpatient surgery to repair the hernia and received a full work release to return on his next regularly scheduled shift.

Two employees were in the process of inspecting topsoil piles while driving on a two track road when they noticed flames coming from the engine compartment of their pickup truck and underneath it. The truck cab burned down along with approximately 20 acres of BLM land. The fire burned for approximately 1 hour.

Employee was working from a walk platform. As the platform is designed to fold up, the weight of the employee standing on the edge caused the platform to fold unexpectedly pinching his left leg at shin height between the platform and a metal structural brace. He suffered a 1" laceration to his left shin that required 2 sutures.

Employee put himself in a precarious position so that when he slipped, his leg became wedged between two pieces of iron.

Employee was lowering a manlift and felt something get in his eye. He was wearing safety glasses at the time.

While attempting to locate the heater valves in the engine compartment of a blade, the employee fell approximately 3 and 1/2 feet to the ground. The employee felt sharp pain in his right shoulder and both hips. He was unable to return to his next scheduled shift.

EE was attempting to place the de-watering pump back into the cradle after he was finished de-watering a blasthole when pump slid into postion pinching the tip of the his finger between the cradle and the pump. He was in compliance company and mine rules and regulations.The accident did not involve the mining system, job skills or protective equipment.

EE STRUNG OUT A CUTTING TORCH, TURNED ON THE FUEL GAS (PROPANE) AND LIT THE TORCH. HE THEN OPENED THE OXYGEN VALVE. WHEN HE DID SO THE OXYGEN FEED LINE EXPLODED. A FIRE RESULTED AT THE HOSE REEL WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A HAND HELD DRY CHEM. EXTINGUISHER.

EMPLOYEE HAD PRYED THE OUTSIDE BEAD BAND OFF OF A 23 1X26 TIRE, PULLED THE TUBE OUT AND STARTED TO PRY OFF THE INSIDED BEAD BAND WHEN THE BAR SLIPPED OUT HITTING HIM IN THE UPPER LIP. HIS LI P WAS CUT AND NEEDED STITCHES.

INATTENTION TO ACTIVITY-LACERATION SUSTAINED WITH NO IMPAIRMENT.

REPETITIVE TRAUMA TO ELBOW FROM OPERATING VARIOUS TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. SINCE THIS IS AN ILLNESS, THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT IS THE DATE TREATMENT WAS GIVEN.

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN ACCESS ROAD, THE PICKUP THE EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING STRUCK A HOLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCING A BACK STRAIN.

EE DESCRIBES THE ACCIDENT AS FOLLOWS: " I WAS SURVEYING ALONG A SCRAPER CUT (2'DEEP) WHEN I LOST MY FOOTING ON THE UNEVEN AND LOOSE MATERIALAND FELL AND INJURED MY LT. WRIST."

WHILE TRAVELING TO THE YARD FOR LUNCH BREAK. THE SCAPER OPERATOR EE CAME AROUND A CORNER ON THE MINE ROAD. HE TOOK THE CORNER WIDE DUE TO HIS SPEED. THE SCRAPER HIT A DITCH WHICH CAUSE HIM TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DOOR FRAME. CAT BEHIND EAR AND NECK THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

AFTER COMPLETING REPAIR OF A CAMERA AT THE TAG READER ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS, EE WAS RETURNING TO HIS TRUCK AFTER DOING A FINAL EQUIPMENT CHECK AND TRIPPED OVER A PARTIALLY EXPOSED CABLE & ROLLED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT APPROX. 15'. THIS CAUSED A BACK SPRAIN.

THE EE WAS RAISING THE BELLY PAN FOR A D-9 DOZER. THE JACK LIFTING HANDLE HIT THE "T HANDLE"FOR THE JACK RELEASE VALVE, CAUSING THE JACK TO FALL AND PINCH THE EE'S HAND. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED TO CLOSE THE WOUND ON THE LEFT SMALL FINGER.

THE EE WAS REPARING THE MANLIFT OF THE 120 SHOVEL. WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE LATCH MECHANISM, THE LIFT SWUNG AWAY FROM THE SHOVEL CAUSING THE EE TO LOOSE HIS BALANCE AND FALL APPROX. TWELVE FEET T O THE GROUND. THE INCIDENT BECAME REPORTABLE ON ON JAN 11,2001, WHEN THE EE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A CHIPPED TOOTH.

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING DRAGLINE TRAIL CABLE ONTO THE REAR DRUM OF A CABLE TRUCK. A ROPE WAS LOOPED THREE TIMES AROUND THE PLM CONNECTOR. AS EMPLOYEE STARTED TO LOAD THE CABLE ONTO THE DRUM, HE T RIED TO ASSIST THE PLM COUPLER OVER THE LOADING BAR. HIS GLOVE CAUGHT ON ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS ON THE PLM COUPLER PULLING HIS LEFT HAND INTO THE BAR FRAME, PINCHING LEFT RING FINGER.

THE EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OF A DOZER. HE PLACED HIS HAND NEAR THE AIR DUCT TO CHECK FOR AIR FLOW ANDTEMPERATURE. THE GUARD HAD BEEN REMOVED AND A VANE FROM THE SQUIRREL CAGE APPARENTLY EXITED THROUGH THE DUCT AND STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT MIDDLE FINGER. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED.

DISMOUNTING AN 11R22.5 TIRE FOR REPAIR. WHILE BREAKING THE BEAD-SWUNG BEAD AXE BETWEEN RIM AND TIRE. BEAD AXE MADE CONTACT WITH THE RIM CAUSING A METAL CHIP, WHICH FLEW INTO LEFT EYE BETWEEN THE RIM OF SAFETY GLASSES AND CHEEK.