Mining Incidents

King ICoal

GCC Energy LLC · Underground
Controlled by GCC SAB de CV
Hesperus, La Plata County, CO · Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 0500266
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
73
Years on record
2000–2008
Latest incident
Dec 2008
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

73 on file

2008 · 5 incidents

Struck by powered moving object

The employee was cleaning the feeder, when shuttle car came to dump. There was a cover hanging down off the side, the rear hit feeder with cover, causing cover to pop off; hitting the employee in the chest.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

While moving the rock duster on 488 scoop, the employee's finger was caught between the duster and the scoop light; smashing his left ring finger.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was walking in a low part of the section and walked into a piece of mesh. The corner sheet was hanging down. Employee had a zero hood on buttoned up under his chin. The mesh caught on his right ear and tore while trying to get it off. Laceration to right ear.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was roof bolting, swinging boom out. Got caught by head of bolter and rib, causing injury to right knee.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Complained of neck pain after cleaning out belt overcast. Initial doctor visit was released for full duty; visited doctor a second time and was put on restrictions. Released for full-duty 8/11/2008.

2007 · 13 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was preparing for start of shift when she stepped off sidewalk in front of bathhouse. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. Upon impact she smashed and cut her little finger on her right hand, and hit her head on steel post.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Pulling belt control box into 935 bucket with push plate. Employee rigged chain pulling the box into the bucket. He was in bucket with right hand on top of push plate. His fingers got caught between the back of the bucket and the push plate causing lacerations and fractures to right middle and ring fingers.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was loading timber in low clearance. Timber was green and he overextended his back. Employee did not seek medical attention until 10/29/2007.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was setting timbers in entry. A freedom car came into entry and struck scoop which in turn, the timber in the scoop knocked the employee off his feet and he landed on his tail bone.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While cleaning rock off miner, injured employee put his hands under rock to push in conveyor. At the same time, another employee tried using a pry bar and pry bar slipped, which caused the rock to smash the injured employee's finger, causing a partial amputation of the tip of his right index finger.

Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall of an intersection in 2 South Mains, #2 entry inby 6 ft. of crosscut #13. Roof measured 17' wide by 20' wide by 6' to 8' high. The cave measured approximately 37' long. Roof fall was reported to MSHA Emergency Response Toll Free Number 1-800-746-1553.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

While employee was pulling up mesh, he pulled a muscle in his back.

Struck by flying object

Employee was cutting frame on continuous miner when a piece of slag blew back in under his glasses and got into left eye causing an abrasion to his eye.

Struck against stationary object

Employee reported that while removing a piece of timber from the grizzly chute he received a splinter of wood in his right hand. He said that he scratched the splinter out with his finger and returned to his duties. Reported injury 4/19/07 and sought medical treatment. Infection from splinter.

Struck by flying object

Employee was under Mac 10 mantrip using air wrench to take bolts off leaf springs. Mud was packed around frame. Employee was wearing safety glasses w/side shields. Machine was blocked up from the weekend. Dirt got into left eye causing abrasion to eye.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was riding on floor board of Little Mac and was holding on to the fender wall when they hit a bump in the roadway cuasing the right front tire to come in contact with the fender and smashing employee's finger.

Struck by falling object

Employee was training RR Belt at belt tail, when a piece of coal fell from catwalk above, striking his arm just above the elbow.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was roofbolting an outside bolt, he attached the second drill steel and hit rotation. When the employee hit rotation his glove caught on the steel, which wrapped around the steel, causing employee to get sucked in and his clothing getting wrapped as well. Employee needed to have his clothing cut in order to be free.

2006 · 16 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee bent down to tie an object when his back gave out/locked up and started to spasm.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

While picking rocks from railroad belt, turned to throw rock and twisted/strained right knee.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was stepping out of the cab of Lo Trac, when his ankle gave out, causing him to fall and spraining his left knee.

Struck by flying object

Employee was gathering blocks operating scoop #488 at the #9 back entry when he ran over a piece of the 4"" polypipe causing it to pop up and enter the cab of the scoop striking the operator in the left rib cage.

Struck by falling object

A rock fell from the roof of the mine and landed on the miner. It then bounced off the miner and hit the employee in the mouth, chipping his tooth and scratching his eye.

Struck by falling object

Operating the #10 shuttle car, traveling toward miner at the #2 entry when a roof rib popped causing particles to fall and hitting operator in the right eye.

Struck by falling object

While cleaning rock off of the miner, a piece of rock fell off of the miner and struck the employee on the right foot. The rock was approximately 2' x 1 1/2' x 8"" thick.

Struck by flying object

The employees were pulling and old belt off of #2 belt with a 3/8"" high tinsel chain, when the chain snapped, striking the employee on the left shin. Employee taken to the ER where he received 3 sutures.

Struck against stationary object

While entering belt line #1 #4 tail, EE drove through both sets of doors into the belt line. He then made a turn to go down to #5 belt when he struck his head on a low hanging roof mat.

Struck by falling object

EE was roof bolting in 3 West section 6 to 7 enty #7 cross-cut. He was putting in the outside bolt on the right side, when a coal brow on the rib fell hitting him on the lower back.

Struck by flying object

While roof bolting, drilled thru the pan with first steel, causing a piece of metal to lodge in eye. Employee was wearing safety glasses and was following safety procedures.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Carrying stopping panels, bent over in low area of the mine, felt pain in lower back.

Struck by falling object

Employee was bent over, moving mining cable, when a rock approximately 2'x1'x2"" fell, striking the employee on his lower back. The employee had just scaled some rock from the same area, and said the remainder looked good.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Rock dusting from #6 beltdrive towards overcast, while going up overcast, Lil Mac powered out and started back down the ramp, when he fell off the machine landing between belt and machine and he lost his hard hat and light. When he raised up, he came in contact with belt roller, hitting his head and catching his hooded sweat shirt, ripping hood from shirt.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

STOCKING ROOF BOLTER WITH MATERIAL. WHEN LIFTING FELT A PULL IN LOWER AREA OF STOMACH.

Struck by falling object

The employee was attempting to hitch a splice trailer to the back of his golf cart, when he dropped the hitch on the golf cart, mashing his finger. Laceration to left, middle finger, received stitches. Is able to work, with the limitations given.

2005 · 5 incidents

Struck by falling object

Ee was trying to pry a rock loose in the lump/nut bin when a rock came down on her ring and little fingers. Little finger ended up receiving sutures.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was moving roof mats from the scoop, when he stepped in a hole in the mine floor, twisting his lower back and hip. After the initial Dr. consultation, he is expected to be off work for at least one week.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Lifting two 5 gal cans of oil off trailer & felt sharp pain in lower back

Struck against stationary object

The employee was opening a vent hole in a stopping for a scoop charger, when he scraped the back of his hand across a sharp corner of Kennedy panel.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While roof bolting, the employee turned and reached for a bolt, when he twisted his back.

2004 · 8 incidents

Struck against a moving object

The employee was running a shuttle car when he hit a bump in the road and jammed his back. The accident was not immediately reported to the employer and medical help was not sought until 12/09/04.

Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall in xcut at xcut16 between #4 and #5 entries. The fall is approximately 15' wide x 34' long x 7' to 9' high. There were no injuries related to this fall.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Two employees were trying to take a link out of a drive chain, when a piece of metal broke off the chain link, striking an employee in the right eye, causing a deep cut on the top of the eyelid. Employee was taken to the emergency room, where he underwent surgery on his eye, and then was released from the hospital the next day.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was drawing canopy back over load. Placed rt hand up where canopy cylinder was, pinching midddle finger.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE SCOOP & HE HAD ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND WHEN THE OTHER LEG GOT HUNG UP IN THE SCOOP CANOPY.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS IN A HURRY, SO WHILE MOVING A MINER CABLE HE RAN HIS HEAD INTO THE RIB. THE IMPACT KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND AND RESULTED IN A MILD CONCUSSION AND NECK STRAIN.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE POWER HAD BEEN OFF. ONCE THE AC POWER WAS RESTORED, EE WAS TRYING TO BEND ROOF BOLT AGAINST ROOF, AS RESIN HAD ALREADY SET UP. HE WAS USING HIS WRENCH TO BEND BOLT BY INCREASING PRESSURE ON HIS DRILL HEAD. AS PRESSURE ON DRILL HEAD INCREASED, WRENCH SLIPPED OUT OF HAND AND STRUCK EE ON THE FACE.

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROOF BOLTER WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK SWUNG DOWN FROM THE ROOF STRIKING HIM IN THE LOWER BACK.

2003 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

THERE WAS A LOOSE PIECE OF COAL ON THE GROUND WHEN THE EE STEPPED ON IT AND TWISTED HIS KNEE. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY JUST A FIRST AID INJURY, UNTIL 1/27/04, WHEN WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT SURGERY (ME DICAL TREATMENT) WAS NEEDED.

Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL OF INTERSECTION, 2 SOUTH MAINS, ENTRY #4, X CUT #12. ROOF FALL MEASURED 17' LONG X 17' WIDE X 6' HIGH. REPORTED TO MSHA AZTEL FIELD OFFICE AT 4:40 PM, 7-31-03. HE MESSAGE WAS LEFT ON ANSWERING MACHINE.

2002 · 11 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED DURING WEEKLY EXAMINATION OF THE 2 SOUTHWEST BLEEDER ENTRIES. VENTILATION NOT AFFECTED. CALLED OUT AT ABOUT 1140 AM.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS PICKING UP SHACKER SCREEN AND FELT PAIN IN BACK. EMPLOYEE DID NOT REPORT ACCIDENT UNTIL 12/3/02.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CLEANING FACES IN & OUT OF SCOOP AND HANGING CURTAINS. STARTED HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN GROIN AND RIGHT TESTICLE. PAIN HAD BEEN OCCURING OFF AND ON FOR 2 WEEKS OR SO BUT NOT THIS BAD. CONTINUED W ORKING UNTIL SURGERY ON 11-25-02.

Struck against a moving object

MINER WAS DRIVING SHUTTLE CAR OVER ROUGH SPOTS HIT BUMP AND JAMMED NECK ON CANOPY OF BUGGY. RETURNED TO WORK THINKING HE WOULD FEEL BETTER. HEADACHE GREW WORSE AND NUMBNESS IN HANDS INCREA SED. MINER DROVE SELF TO HOSPITAL. HAD SURGERY ON C5 AND C6 DISKS.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING ON THE MINER TRACKS AND A METAL BAR FELL ONTO HIS LT. ARM.

Fall onto or against objects

LEAVING THRU KENNEDY MAN DOOR, SLIPPED AND HIT RT. KNEE ON DOOR FRAME.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE SLIPPED WHILE UNLOADING CARGO INTO SCOOP BUCKET.

Struck by falling object

OBSERVING BOLTING OPERATIONS WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK CAME DOWN HITTING HIS LEFT HAND WHICH WAS ON TOP OF BOLTER.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS LOADING A PICKUP WITH UNILOADER WHEN A PIECE OF COAL FELL OUT OF THE BUCKET STRIKING HIS LEFT KNEE.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS ROOF BOLTING WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK BROKE LOOSE FROM THE ROOF, STRIKING HIM IN THE LEFT FOOT AND ANKLE.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE STATED THAT HE WAS LIFTING TOUNGE ON ROCK DUSTER TRAILER TO HOOK UP TO HITCH ON GOLD CART WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

2001 · 10 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED DURING A REGULAR WEEKLY MINE EXAMINATION. THE INTERSECTION OF SECTION3 RIGHT ENTRY 4 AT CROSSCUT 24 BROKE ABOVE THE ROOF BOLTS. ESCAPEWAYS & VENTILATION NOT AFFECTED

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ALIGN DRILL TABLE OF ROOF BOLTER WITH DRILL STEEL. WHEN HE SPUN TABLE, HISGLOVE CAUGHT, TWISTING HIS FINGERS, ORIGINALLY, ONLY FIRST AID TYPE CARE WAS GIVEN. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, WHEN PAIN PERSISTED, DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO BE SERIOUS.

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING ROOF BOLTER ON HIS KNEES. A ROCK SLID OFF OF THE ATRS STRIKING HIM IN THEFOOT.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED AT ABOUT 6:00 AM BY THE PRE-SHIFT EXAMINER. AN INTERSECTION FELL ABOVE THE ANCHORAGE ZONE AND ESCAPEWAYS WERE NOT AFFECTED. AZTEC. NM FIELD OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS PRYING A ROCK WHICH WAS LODGED IN A CHUTE. SHE SLIPPED AND FELL. ORIGINALLY, ARM JUST ACHED. AFTER PAIN PERSISTED, AN MRI WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED, AND SURGERY WAS SCHEDULED FOR JAN.28.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED AT ABOUT 0600 BY THE PRESHIFT EXAMINER. AN INTERSECTION FELL ABOVE THE ANCHORAGE ZONE IN SECTION 3 RIGHT, ENTRY #6, XCUT 13. VENTILATION & ESCAPEWAYS WERE NOT AFFECT ED. AZTEC, NM FIELD OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED AT 0655, 9-21-01.

Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS HAMMERING ON CHAIN LINK FOR FEEDER BREAKER. A PIECE OF METAL STRUCK HIM IN THE LEFT EYE.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE FELT A FOREIGN OBJECT IN HIS RIGHT EYE. HE DOES NOT REMEMBER WHEN IT GOT THERE BUT HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON MANTRIPS AND GOLF CARTS PRIOR TO THIS. HE DID NOT REPORT INCIDENT UNTIL 9/7/0 1 ALTHOUGH HE SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT ON 9/4/01.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WALKED BENEATH SUPPORT ARM OF ROOF BOLTER. HE HIT HIS HEAD ON SUPPORT ARM CAUSING HIM TO CHANGE POSITION SUDDENLY, STRAINING HIS BACK.

Struck by flying object

THE MECHANICS WERE CHANGING A BEARING RACE ON A CONTINOUS MINER WHEN EE APPROACHED THE SCENE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. A SMALL PIECE OF METAL STRUCK HIM IN THE EYE. EE WEARS PRESCRIPTION GLASSES.

2000 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL MEASURING 16' WIDE BY 13' LONG BY 4-4 1/2' THICK OCCURRED ABOUT 16' INBY X-CUT #6 IN SECTION #2 RIGHT. AREA WAS WELL BOLTED. 5' RESIN GROUTED ROOF BOLTS WERE IN USE.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING COVER FROM MANTRIP BATTERY. COVER STUCK WHEN HE LIFTED CAUSING PAIN IN LOWER BACK. REPORTED 11-29-00.

Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING A SHUTTLE CAR. HE TURNED FROM CROSSCUT #17 INTO #1 ENTRY. HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER. HIS TIRE HIS THE RIB, JARRING THE OPERATOR.