Aberdeen Coal

Employee was preparing to hook a shield for extraction from the face. He threw a chain/sling across the shield to be hooked up. When he stood up he wrenched/strained his back and was reporting to be in pain.

An electrician discovered that a roof fall had occurred, in the back entry of the return air course. The area that had caved was approx. 20' long, by 18' wide, by 6.5' high. The area was not used for travel or an escapeway. The area was dangered off w/ flagging tape and a row of timbers were set on all three sides of the cave.

Employee had delivered parts to the section and was headed outby. A shield hauler was headed into the section. The ee tried getting out of the haulers way by pulling into a x-c. The hauler hit the Isuzu Pickup Truck that he was driving. He was jarred by the collision. When the hauler stopped, ee was able to get out of his truck and walk around.

While cleaning coal from in front of the cats on the tail piece, the rib bounced sloughing some coal against right leg. Individual tried to turn and twisted right knee as the coal held foot against tail piece.

While flushing scrubber on permissible can setter, the valve on water hose was bumped and opened fully, the hose flipped around knocking feet out from under him causing him to fall on cap light battery causing a bruise that he was given a prescription for pain.

While cutting into the headgate, the face bounced, shaking the shear, knocking something electrical loose inside the shear. This caused a disruption in mining for more than 1 hour to secure repairs to the shear.

While moving belt hardware, individual felt pain and burning in right foot, saw doctor and it was felt that he tore tendon in foot.

Individual jumped off of belt structure after changing belt rollers, twisting right ankle upon landing. Has torn ligiment in ankle.

While getting ready to roof bolt a newly created face, the rib popped out some coal and a piece of the coal struck the individual in the back of the head and neck causing bruises. Doctor would not release individual to work until additional evaluations was completed.

While shoveling on belt slip, he fell against belt structure; did not see doctor until 6/5/07. Treated for bruise in muscle over left kidney; could not work for 2 days.

While using a hammer to remove a bearing on an underground truck, a small piece of metal was splintered off and it penetrated into the individual's right middle finger tip. Metal was removed by doctor.

A coal outburst/floor heave occurred near the stageloader; this action moved the stageloader and longwall power controller. The result restricted travel from the longwall face.

Tail gate shear operator was cutting into the tailgate of the longwall when the face bounced and some loose coal stuck operator knocking him down and causing a laceration to top of head requiring stitches.

At the start of the cut in the #1 entry, the miner operator started at the top of the face and cut down, cutting into the face 1 ft. to 4 ft. in depth. As the cutter head hit the mine floor a flare-up occurred over the miner bits. This lasted only 3-5 second and self extinguished.

At 9:15 pm a small bounce occurred on the 12th East longwall, the result of the bounce pinched the shear's headgate pump motor cable requiring the cable to be reentered. This was the only problem found from the bounce. This prevented mining for more than one hour.

While walking along the stageloader of the longwall a small floor heave occurred, this jammed the individual's left knee causing pain in knee joint. He is off work waiting for MRI.

A coal outburst and floor heave occurred on the belt line between x-cut 13 and 14. The area involved was 60 to 70 feet outby the longwall tailpiece. The result of the outburst and floor heave raised the beltline up and in some locations it was in or near the monorail. This disrupted mining for more than 1 hour.

Individual had just moved a water pump and was getting back into mantrip when struck top of head on overcast I-beam. This caused individual to jam neck. Did not seek treatment until 5/17/07. Diagnosed with neck sprain and given prescription.

While installing roof bolts, the drill steel got stuck in the hole and as the individual went to connect the chuck wrench to the head of the steel, he pinched his right ring finger tip between the steel and wrench. This caused a fracture to the finger tip.

Individual reached over the hands free chunk clamp to pull drill steel out of hole, individual hit wrong lever and closed the clamps on the edge of hand. Individual missed his next day of work and then reported injury on 5/7/07. Had only bruising and small abrasion on hand side of palm.

While picking up pump strained lower back; hurt back again on 5/30/07 falling down. On 6/19/07 individual notified company following doctors visit that surgery will be needed to repair herniated disc. Individual not off work, surgery scheduled for July.

While mining into the headgate a bounce/bump with floor heave occurred, causing damage to the longwall shear, resulting in mining being impeded for more than one hour.

While training the belt at longwall tailpiece, individual loosened the bolts to the belt roller bracket. Individual bent down to watch belt, placed hand on belt structure rail. The top belt roller bracket moved on the rail, pinching right middle finger tip between top roller bracket and bottom belt hanger bracket lacerating finger tip requiring stitches.

While cutting the tape off of the leads in a cable splice, the individual slipped with the razor knife and cut his left hand palm. The laceration required 8 stitches to close.

At approximately 2:15 am the tail gate travelway of the longwall was observed to be impassable by roof screens that were filled with rock from the immediate roof and some of the rock from the immediate roof had fallen on the mine floor. The area involved was approximately 60 feet long. This is a tail gate closure.

While pulling the cable trucks on the monorail with the monorail winch, the cable broke and flipped down the belt entry striking individual in the face. This caused a contusion to his right eye and lacerations to left temple area, bridge of nose and right cheek.

While cutting open rock dust bags with a razor knife, individual was cutting towards himself and the knife came through the bag and it struck him in the right lower thigh, causing a laceration that required 2 stitches to close.

A bounce with floor heave occurred at the head gate of the longwall moving stage loader and controller, impeding travel from the longwall face.

While walking into sump area to check pump, slipped and fell on mine floor injuring left shoulder. Did not seek medical care. Individual then saw doctor for pain on 4/23/07 at which time Doctor prescribed therapy and to stay off work for a possible torn rotator cuff which may need surgery.

While walking along the beltline to the longwall face the pillar yielded some and the rib popped. A chunk of coal flew out and struck individual on the left side of head causing a laceration requiring stitches.

Employee was retrieving tools from toolbox and an explosive device was detonated when he opened the box.

While helping set supplemental supports (cans) outby the longwall face in the tailgate entry, the rib of the yield pillar bounced and some coal blew out, a chunk of coal struck individual in the chin causing a laceration to lower lip and chin, requiring stitches.

A floor heave and coal outburst occurred at approximately 70 to 75 feet outby the longwall face centered at the tailpiece. Area involved 30 to 40 feet of rib and about 60 feet of floor heave. The result of this incident caused movement of the tail piece and stage loader reducing the walkway to 1 foot and disrupted mining for approximately 1 hour, no individuals were injuried.

A coal outburst occurred approximately 70 to 75 feet outby the longwall face on the beltline. The result of the outburst moved the tail piece and end of the stageloader, obstructing the walkway from the longwall face and this caused a disruption in mining for more than an hour. There were no injuries caused by this outburst.

As instructed by a District Manager letter dated 2/14/07 please find the following, employee was found expired on the belt line at x-cut 38 by a fellow employee. The investigation determined that the death was from natural causes.

While installing a roof bolt, employee slipped off the platform hitting right side ribs against the drill steel storage tray. Individual continued working. On 11/20/06 requested to be seen by doctor. The fall caused a fracture to rib right side.

While operating a Gehl steer skid, cleaning a roadway, individual turned Gehl and struck head against water line fire drop. Caused a laceration to right side of forehead requiring 6 stitches.

On 12/14/06, individual notified his supervisor that following a doctor's appointment, he had a hernia and needs surgery. Individual stated it was caused during a belt move about a month ago, no initial accident report filed. This reporting individual was one of the individuals affected by a reduction in work force on 12/14/06.

While cutting a flapper off the belt, the razor knife cut through the belt and then cut the individuals other hand. The laceration required 5 stitches to close.

While helping lift the de-watering pipe which was full of water felt pain in shoulder. No treatment until individual went to see doctor on 10/25/06 for continued pain, diagnosed with bursitis; given perscription.

While helping hold chain link fence up to attach to a timber as part of rib protection, a section of rib fell out stricking individual, knocking him down and fracturing his pelvis.

The cap rock just outby the longwall tailgate fell in, restricting movement off the longwall face. The Tailgate Closure plan went into effect immediately. All miners were informed.

The tailgate of the longwall section closed off due to caprock falling in.

The employee was setting a timber using a jack pot. The timber broke and hit him, and the jack pot hit him in the head.

The employee was shoveling coal fines away from the rib when he slipped on the wet floor and hurt his back.

Carrying a tow jack down to the longwall to put it in the back of a truck, he walked through a brattice curtain and couldn't see the rock prop on the other side, which caused him to smash his small right finger between the rock prop and the tow jack lacerating his finger open.

Raising monorail to hang on chains from the roof. EE rested the monorail on his head.

EMPLOYEE WAS HANDLING STEEL, MOVING & SORTING, WHEN A PIECE CAUGHT HIS GLOVE ON A SHARP EDGE, CUTTING HIS SMALL FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND.

The employee was cutting a "flapper" off the belt. The flapper was approx. 60' long and 14" wide. He needed to cut it into shorter lengths so he could drag it out of the structure. He was cutting towards himself and when the knife slipped it cut his thigh. He required 3 stitches.

The employee was bending over getting dressed in the bath house and felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

The shearer was cutting from the head to tail gate. The shearer was cutting to the bottom rock. At shield #109 the shearer operator saw flame on the headgate side of the shearer. The flames were extinguished immediately.

Afternoon Shift Shut belts off at about 3:20 to replace a bad roller. After the roller was replaced the belts were restarted and the beltmen checked belts as they were starting, all started down to # 16. Beltman went into # 16 drive and tried to start the belt but it would not start. A beltman went to the tail to check for a plug and found the roof fall (4:20 pm)

A bounce occured that disrupted ventilation. The face fan was displaced from the force of the bounce and had to be moved and ventilation re-established.

The Employee was standing by the pager phone on the headgate relaying information off the face to the surface. A bounce occurred on the pillar just outby the headgate controller. The impact of the bounce blew a ?rock prop? on him striking his left foot.

The employee was dropping miner cable off of the hangers. As he lifted the cable off the hangers, he slipped and fell back onto his elbow.

The Employee was cleaning out for a timber (outby work area). A small piece of cap rock fell from the roof and struck him on the wrist. The rock cut his wrist and required 5 stitches.

The continuous miner operator was attempting to make a cut. The coal seam had a rock spar running vertically through the face from 3 to 15 inches thick. A flame occured about mid cut and traveled to the floor. The flame only lasted about 15 seconds.

The employee was walking. He slipped and fell on a wet rock. He attempted to catch himself and injured his right shoulder.

EE was assisting the miner operator in clearing some cap rock off the head of the miner. As they pushed, the cap rock broke and EE's hand slid along the edge of the rock. The sharp edge cut through EE's gloves and cut his left thumb. EE was transported to the hospital where he received 5 stitches.

The graveyard longwall foreman came off the face to find the top from 25' inby the belt tailpiece to approx. 40 outby had fallen. The fall was approx. 18" thick and did not exceed the anchor point of the roof bolts. A horizontal shear had broken the bolts off. The seconary escapeway was blocked and production was interupted until 07/31/2005 at approx. 4:30/pm.

The employee was stepping through a Kennedy mandoor and as he shifted his weight through the door, his foot slipped on the wet surface and he twisted his knee.

The employee was washing the feeder breaker. He started to wash it off from the outby end of the feeder. The hose was pulling ?hard? but not stopped. He continued to pull the hose and wash, when the hose came free and employee lost his balance and he slipped on the wet floor. As he fell, his right ankle rolled under him.

The Employee was roof bolting in the 12th East section. He was pushing a bolt to the roof using the head of the roofbolter. The roof bolt he was pushing bent smashing his finger between the roof bolt and the machine.

The employee was taking a load of blue Aqua-line into the 12th East section. The load made contact with the pipe that was already in place and the pipe that was already hung, broke free of the tie wire securing it and hit the employee in the head.

EE WAS SHOVELING COAL ON A BELT. HE WAS IN A BOX CHECK AREA AND THREW A LUMP OF COAL ON THE BELT. IT HIT A CABLE AND BOUNCED BACK OUT AND LANDED ON EE'S FOOT.

EE was bolting the face in the 11th East section. He had put the bolt in the hole and run I up the first stage. He then dropped the head to insert the wrench between the head and the bolt head. As he ran the bolter head up to engage the roof bolt, the bolt bent pinching the little finger of his left hand between the wrench and the jaws of the bolter.

The employee was removing an axle from a Pod Duster with a 48" pipe wrench. The pipe wrench slipped off of the axle and the employee's thumb was smashed between the pipe wrench and the frame of the duster.

EE REACHED UP TO CUT OFF A PIECE OF WIRE FROM THE ROOF AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK (ROCK LOCKING FOR MICON).

Injured enmployee was operating a 975 Eicmo Tractor with a loaded trailer that was jack-knifed in the entry. In attempting to straighten out the units , the rib hit and a piece of coal rib struck the injured left hand cutting the small finger. Stitches were required.

The area of cutting and welding had been wet down, dusted with up to 4 inches of rock dust and fire retardant foam applied 15-18 inches thick. Project had been in progress about 3 hours (replacing headgate spray boom). A spark ignited methane on the floor on the inby side of the lowered cowl. It was immediately extinguished. This occurred about shield 10 of the face.

Employee was pulling ventilation tube from scoop bucket using a nylon strap hooked to roof mesh. The strap gave striking him on the left palm causing a laceration.

Employee was traveling down the face following the shear, a shield failed to move in on auto and he reset the controls moving the shield in. As he turned to walk away a piece of coal struck him on the cleft cheek and air stream helmet causing lacerations and a fractured cheek bone.

Cutting with oxygen and aceteyline torches was being conducted on the tailgate cowl at shield 20, when a spark or slag igniteda bleeder in the floor under the shunck breaker.

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A 975 TRACTOR AND MOVING IT TO THE SURFACE WHEN HE HIT A POT HOLE JAMMING HIS BACK.

At appro 1:00 AM May 12,2004 a non injury gas ignition occurred at shield # 114 area, When a mechanic welding a non-skid foot pad on the shield toe, ignited a methane pocket trapped in the lower enclosed pan. All legal gas checks had been made and area wet down before starting of welding.No injuries or property damage occured and the flame was self extinguished.

ROOF FALL IN TAILGATE OF 10TH EAST LONGWALL - CAUSING AN IMPASSABLE CONDITION - VENTILATION WAS NOT CHANGED.

Weekly examiner found roof fall at IN BLEEDER Entries at 25 cross cut old #12 belt east side of Mine (2' x 5' high and 20' x 25' in size).

Employee was pulling 12/4 cable and it caught on a lump of coal, as he pulled harder the cable came loose and his right knee gave. He was examined by x-ray and an orthopedist and no medical treatment was given. EE was later re-evaluated and a scope was performed on his right knee on 5/7/04.

EE WAS OPERATING A CAN SETTER UNDER A FAKE ROOF SUPPORTED WITH TRUSS BOLTS. THE CHAIN BINDER HOLDING NO BOTTLE CAUGHT THE TAIL OF THE TRUSS BOLT, AS THE TAIL CAME LOOSE IT HIT THE EE IN THE RIGHT EYE OF SAFETY GLASSES, PUSHING THEM INTO THE EYE AND SURROUNDING AREA.

EE CUTTING TIMBER WITH A TIMBER SAW, THE SAW BOUNCED OUT OF THE CUT GROOVE AND HE CUT HIS FINGER.

THE INJURED EE WAS WALKING FROM THE SECTION TRANSFORMER TO THE ROOF BOLTING MACHINE. AS HE WAS WALKING HE DISLODGED A 2' BY 2' SLAB OF COAL FROM THE RIB WHICH STRUCK HIS KNEE. NO CUTS OR BRU ISING OR SWELLING WAS VISIBLE. X-RAYS SHOWED NODAMAGE TO THE KNEE JOINT.

THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS RIDING IN THE BACK OF AN OPEN MANTRIP. AS THE MANTRIP PULLED OVER TO ALLOW ANOTHER VEHICLE TO PASS, A WIRE HANGING FROM THE ROOF STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE IN THE RIGHT EYE. HE WAS WEARING SAFTEY GLASSES WHICH WERE BROKEN BY THE WIRE. HE WAS TREATED & RELEASED THE SAME DAY. ON 12/3 HE EXPERIENCED PAIN & WENT TO A DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED SURGERY TO RELEAVE PRESSURE.

THE INJURED EE WAS JOINING TWO LENGTHS OF WATER HOSE. A SMALL ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN OPENINGS IN A WIRE MESH MAT AND STRUCK HIS RIGHT HAND CAUSING A CUT ON THE LITTLE FINGER ON THE RIGHT HAND. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED.

THE INJURED EE WAS OPENING A BUNDLE OF RESIN GLUE CARTRIDGES WHICH WAS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE ROOF BOLTING MACHINE. HE WAS USING A UTLITY KNIFE. AS HE WAS CUTTING THE OUTER PLASTIC WRAPPER, THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS LEFT THUMB. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED.

EMPLOYEE WAS SETTING SQUARE SETS ON BELT LINE AND A CHUNK OF COAL FELL AWAY FROM THE RIB STRIKING HIM ON THE RIGHT LEG.

THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS A MECHANIC WHO WAS SENT TO REPAIR A FLETCHER ROOF BOLTING MACHINE IN USE IN THE EAST MAINS. AS HE WAS REMOVING THE HYDRAULIC FILTER HOUSING HIS HAND STRUCK THE FRAME O F THE MACHINE CAUSING A LACERATION OF THE RIGHT HAND. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED.

THE INJURED EE WAS HANGING THE ROOF BOLTER CABLE ON INSULATED "J" HOOKS AS THE BOLTER WAS BEING TRAMMED. AS HE WAS HANGING THE CABLE, IT BECAME TIGHT AND PINCHED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE CABLE AND THE END OF THE J HOOK CAUSING A LACERATION OF THE RIGHT HAND.

INJURED EE WAS SETTING A TIMER. THE CAP PIECE FELL OFF TIMBER AND STRUCK HIM IN MOUTH, CAUSING A LACERATION OF THE UPPER LIP. THE LACERATION REQUIRED SUTURES.

THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING MOVE A LENGTH OF 1" WATER HOSE TO A ROOF BOLTING MACHINE. THE HOSE WAS STUCK AROUND A CORNER SO HE PULLED HARD ON THE HOSE. HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF THE HOSE AND H E FELL BACKWARDS AND HIS LEFT LEG WAS UNDER HIS BODY AS HE FELL. THE FALL BROKE THE TIBIA AND FIBIA OF HIS LEFT LEG.

INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A ROOF BOLT IN A HOLE HE HAD JUST COMPLETED DRILLING. AS HE PLACED THE WRENCH ON THE HEAD OF THE ROOF BOLT HIS LITTLE FINGER OF THE RIGHT HAND WAS PINCHED BETWE EN THE ROOF BOLT AND THE WRENCH. THE FINGER WAS CUT AND REQUIRED SUTURES.

A PRE-SHIFT EXAMINER DISCOVERED A ROOF FALL IN AN INTERSECTION IN AN OUTBY AREA OF THE MINE. THE FALL EXTENDED ABOVE THE ANCHORAGE ZONE OF THE ROOF BOLTS.

WHILE TRYING TO STEP OVER A TOOL BOX-LOST FOOTING AND RAISE RIGHT HAND TO MAINTAIN BALANCE AND CAUGHT RIGHT INDEX FINGER BETWEEN SIDE SHIELDS WHILE IN MOVEOUNT-CATCHING RIGHT INDEX FINGER.

INJ EE WAS OPERATING A SHIELD HAULER AS HE DROVETHRU THE FIREDOOR, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRAME OF THE DOOR & A BLOCK FELL & STRUCK HIS HEAD/NOSE HE SUFFERED A FRACTURE TO THE NOSE Y

INJURED WAS CHANGING BITS ON THE SHEARER WHEN A LUMP OF COAL FELL FROM THE ROOF AND STRUCK HIS RIGHT HAND. THE CUT REQUIRED SUTURES.

WHILE GETTING OUT OF EQUIPMENT, EE'S FOOT GOT CAUGHT CAUSING HIM TO SLIP AND FALL, INJURING RIGHT SHOULDER.

A PIECE OF COAL POPPED OUT OF THE FACE AND STRUCK EMPLOYEE IN THE EYE. THE COAL WAS REMOVED BY THE MD. PRESCRIPTION EYE MEDICATION WAS GIVEN.

INJURED EE WAS ADVANCING SHIELDS ON THE LONGWALL FACE. A LUMP OF COAL CAME OUT OF THE FACE AND STRUCK THE EE IN THE FOREHEAD. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE SHIFT THE EE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. SUTURE S WERE APPLIED TO THE CUT.

EE WAS LIFTING HYDRAULIC JACK & HIS FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE JACK & THE FRAME OF THE HEADGATE/STAGELOADER CAUSING A CUT TO THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER

EE WAS WORKING ON A CREW MOVING A SHUTTLE CAR OUT OF THE MINE. AS EE WAS MOVING THE TRAILING CABLE, THE OPERATOR TURNED ON THE CABLE REEL AND THE TENSION OF THE CABLE PULLED THE EE'S WRIST (RI GHT). AFTER TWO DAYS, THE EE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND X-RAYS REVEALED A FRACTURE; A HARD SPLINT WAS APPLIED.

INJURED EE WAS HANGING A TRAILING CABLE AND THE HANGER BROKE AND THE CABLE FELL. EE SUFFERED A FRACTURE OF THE RIGHT THUMB.