Mining Incidents

Combs Branch JobCoal

Chavies, Perry County, KY · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1516883
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
65
Years on record
2000–2015
Latest incident
Mar 2015
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

65 on file

2015 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Installing 785C engine/torque engine got hung up and when it sprang loose the engine swung back jamming employees right wrist between scavenger pump and drive line bruised bones and pulling tendons.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Took short cut in parking area instead of walking on cleared graveled path. Slipped on ice and fell hurting back.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

changing tilt hoses on D11R reached above head trying to break the hose loose using an impact wrench felt muscle pull in right shoulder

2014 · 4 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Was tramming a drill down hill off drill bench at end of short shift and climbed berm turning the drill onto its side. Operator said he was ok and drove himself home. On 08/04/2014 went to doctor because he was still sore and was given the week off work. Neck strain and is cleared to come back 08/11/2014.

Accident type, without injuries

Mechanics had done some repairs on a 735 fuel truck. The truck had a Honda 2"" pump on the back and it was fired up to ensure everything worked properly. The pump was sucking air so it was shut off when it suddenly back fired and became engulfed in flames spreading throughout the truck.

Struck against a moving object

Had been sweeping community roads with a John Deer farm tractor with a sweeper attachment and was bringing it back to the shop. The tractor stalled on the hill of a mine access road and traveled backwards into a drain. Was wearing seat belt but received cuts on the head that required staples and stitches.

Struck against a moving object

Re-establishing angle of repose on spoil bank. Bench collapsed and excavator fell to mine pit. Operator received broken ribs, fractures orbital socket and a laceration to right eye.

2012 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down ladder on caterpillar 789 rock truck at quitting time and when he got to the bottom and stopped on the ground, his foot slipped and he twisted his right knee ** has been off work waiting for workers comp to approve MRI **

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was steam cleaning the deck on Ingersol Rand highwall drill when he slipped and fell striking his head on bracket causing laceration to top of head.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was helping air conditioner repairman change the coils on a/c unit in 777 rock truck. Repairman tossed a gallon tub of cleaner to employee and it hit the handrail and the lid came off and splashed into employee eyes

Struck by falling object

EE was operating a chain saw cutting trees. A tree kicked back sideways and struck EE on left knee. MRI shown torn ligament. Surgery is being scheduled to repair ligament.

2011 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was removing cap from air line and failed to completely turn off valve allowing air pressure to be under cap. When cap was removed it struck EE on hand. EE was operating Cat 994 endloader.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Helping clear a blockage in pipe in washer plant, employee was reaching and pulling and felt a pain in his right side. Went to doctor on 3/14/11, pulled muscle in lower back.

Struck against a moving object

EE was coming down the hill as another EE pulled out of the parking lot. EE's lost control on the snow and ice and the two pickups collided. One EE was injured having pain in his left shoulder and is schdueled. for an MRI 1/26/11. Both EE's were wearing their seatbelt.

2010 · 4 incidents

Struck against stationary object

EE bent down to reach under shelf to turn on light switch and his hard hat fell off and as he raised back up his head hit a pipe clamp causing a laceration to the top of his head.

Struck against stationary object

EE was climbing up the ladder on Cat 789 Rock Truck, when he bumped his right knee on the steps. By Monday, 7/26/10, knee was swollen and warm. Went to doctor and was admitted to the hospital and had surgery on 7/28/10 to drain infection from knee.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists. Surgery on right hand 6/2/10.

Struck against a moving object

EE was hauling a load of coal up a grade after a rain shower and truck spun out. EE attempted to stop and put truck in reverse and missed getting it into reverse and truck slid backwards, down the hill and hit the berm and turned over on left side.

2009 · 2 incidents

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was welding on roller frame on Cat D9N dozer when some hot slag metal burnt thru his pant leg and went down into boot and caused burn on top of foot.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down ladder on endloader. When he got to the bottom his foot slipped and he caught the ladder but strained a muscle in lower back.

2008 · 2 incidents

Fall from machine

Employee was helping remove a wear plate from transfer chute on refuge belt line. After cutting plate he stepped back to be clear and his foot slipped and he fell approx. 4 ft and his right inner thigh hit a slate bar that had been stuck in the ground. the end of the bar contacted right inner thigh causing avulsion.

Fall from ladders

Employee was standing on a step ladder while adjusting the door on a feeder and the ladder collapsed and he fell approx. 3 (three) feet onto a concrete floor.

2007 · 4 incidents

Struck by falling object

EE had a piece of metal on the bumper of his welding truck and was using a cutting torch to cut a piece for the blade of. Bulldozer when the metal fell striking him on the left foot.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating D-11 dozer in an area with some large boulders. He got on top of one of the boulders and it shifted and moved. The bulldozer slid about 6 ft to one side and when it stopped, it jerked employee to the side straining a muscle in his neck.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating a Caterpillar 777 Rock Truck and he claimed that the endloader operator dropped a rock in the bed of the truck and shook him around and hurt his neck. Doctor has him in physical therapy at present time. Employee stated that he was wearing seat belt.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Mine owner was operating a Caterpiller 245 Excavator and was cleaning the highwall when a rock rolled down and struck the cab. Owner had laceration to left hand and two broken fingers. Returned to work the same day.

2006 · 7 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee notified company on 12/14/06 that he injured his back on 12/5/06 climbing on or off a D9L bulldozer. He went to doctor and had an MRI done. Test show ruptured disk in lower back. Doctor is saying surgery is necessary.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was helping cut and weld on loader frame on 966 F endloader when a small grease fire started in a hole on the frame. Another ee attempted to use an air hose to blow put the fire and blew hot grease on ee causing minor burns to face and neck

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing up in the bed of his welding truck when he hit his knee on bumper. Went to ER on 9/5/06. ER doctor said employee had some strained and torn ligaments in left foot. Reported to company on 9/5/06 when employee went to doctor.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was side cutting a road down the side of mountain when a large rock rolled out of the cut and hit the ripper of the back of the bulldozer causing it to jerk sideways. Employee complained of pain in his back. X-rays & MRIs were negative. Has appointment with another doctor on 8/24/06.

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

Employee was helping remove engine cover plate on 980C endloader and got his thumb caught between the cover and another piece of metal when setting the cover down.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was going down access road to leave the mine when a coal truck, a Mack 800, crossed over to the wrong side of the road and struck employee's vehicle.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on the emergency brake on a Caterpillar TC-30 Forklift and strained a muscle in his neck. He reported it on 2/15/2006 and went to the doctor on 2/15/2006 and a follow up visit on 2/17/2006 when the doctor put him off duty till further notice.

2005 · 10 incidents

Struck by flying object

Rotating tires on a 994 loader. While adding air to the left rear tire it blew out.

Struck by flying object

Rotating tires on a 994 loader. While adding air to the left rear tire it blew out.

Struck by flying object

Rotating tires on a 994 loader. While adding air to the left rear tire it blew out.

Struck by flying object

Rotating tires on a 994 loader. While adding air to the left rear tire it blew out.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was stepping down out of the back of his welding truck and stepped on a rock and lost his balance and fell. He landed on his left wrist causing a fracture of the left wrist.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee said he was starting a Honda Pump to fuel a 992C Endloader and when he pulled the starting rope he felt a pain in his lower back. He did not go to the Doctor until the following week and Doctor told him to take off work starting 04/20/2005 until further notice.

Struck by falling object

EE was operating a D-11R bulldozer when a rock or rocks came off the highwall, striking the bulldozer on the ripper. A piece of rock bounced off the ripper and came thru the back glass and struck EE on the right shoulder, causing a dislocation of the shoulder. Outpatient surgery was performed to put shoulder back in place and EE went home.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was checking the engine oil on Caterpillar 16G Road Grader when his foot slipped and he fell, hitting the top of his head on part of the grader causing a laceration that required 4 staples.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was bent over putting an oil pump on the air compressor of a drill when he felt pain in his lower back on the right side.

Fall from machine

Employee was helping mechanic work on automatic greaser on Cat 994 Endloader when the step he was standing on broke loose on one side and the employee fell approximately 5 feet to the ground. He had a small laceration on left forearm that required 2 stitches and he returned to work.

2004 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING CHANGE THE BUCKET TEETH ON 994 END LOADER. HE WAS DRIVING THE PIN OUT OF THE HOLDER WHEN A PIECE OF METAL CAME OFF THE PIN AND STRUCK HIM ON THE LEFT FOREARM.

Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE HAD BACKED ROCK TRUCK IN TO BE LOADED WHEN A LARGE ROCK ROLLED OUT OF THE SPOIL PILE & STRUCK THE TRUCK ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. EE WAS THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL & DOOR, INJURING HIS RT. SHOULDER.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CHECKING WATER SPRAYS AT THE HEAD ROLLER ON 105 BELTLINE AND WHEN HE PUT HIS HAND OVER TO CHECK SPRAY A BLOCK OF COAL OR SLATE BOUNCED OFF THE BELTLINE AND HIT HIM ON LEFT HAND BREAKING LEFT FINGER.

2003 · 6 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HOLDING A PIN KNOCKER AGAINST THE PIN ON THE BUCKET TOOTH OF 994 ENDLOADER. AS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE STRUCK THE PIN KNOCKER WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER, A PIECE OF METAL CAME OFF PIN KNOCKER AND HIT EMPLOYEE ON LEFT THUMB CAUSING A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED 5 STITCHES.

No Value Found

EE WAS USING A LONG HANDLED SCRAPER TO HELP UNBLOCK VIBRATOR SCREEN AT RAW COAL HOPPER WHEN SCRAPER GOT HUNG AND JERKED & TWISTED EE'S LEFT ARM. GOING FOR CT SCAN.

Struck against a moving object

EE WAS DRIVING ACROSS JOB AND DOWN ACCESS ROAD BEFORE WORK TIME. HE WAS LOOKING FOR TURKEYS AND DROVE PICK-UP TRUCK INTO A DITCH. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT & HE WAS THROWN INTO THE FLOO R ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON MINE PROPERTY.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS UNLOADING A ROLL OF BELT LINE OUT OF PICKUP TRUCK AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK. HE KEPT WORKING UNTIL 10/21/03. PAIN HAD NOT GOT ANY BETTER AND HE WENT TO DOCTOR. TOLD BY DOCTOR TO STAY OFF WORK UNTIL RESULTS OF MRI WAS BACK.

Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING BROKEN TRACK BOLT OFF D9N AND A FOREIGN OBJECT GOT INTO LEFT EYE. EE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

EE WAS SWINGING SLEDGE HAMMER AGAINST CENTER PIN ON LOADER CAUSING NECK SPRAIN.

2002 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE DEVELOPED NUMBNESS IN HANDS AND DR. DIAGNOSED PINCH NERVES IN BOTH ELBOWS DUE TO OPERATING CONTROLS ON 16G MOTOR GRADER AND RECOMMENDED SURGERY TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING OUT OF MACK 800 WATER TRK AND WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE GROUND HE TWISTED HIS KNEE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAD HELPED CHANGE CUTTING EDGES ON D-11 DOZER & BUCKET TEETH ON 944 ENDLOADER WHEN LOWER BACK STARTED HURTING. WENT TO EMERGENGY ROOM. X-RAYS NEGATIVE - PRESCRIBED MUSCLE RELAXERS & SENT HO ME FOR A DAY.

2001 · 6 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAD HELPED MECHANIC FIND AND REPAIR AN AIR LEAK THAT WAS ALLOWING DUST INTO THE DUCT WORK AND CAB AREA. EE REMOVED LOUVER FROM DUCT AND WAS CLEANING DUCT WORK WHEN FINGER GOT INTO FAN BLADE.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO KNOCK PINSIN 994 BUCKET AND FELT A PAIN IN HIS NECK AND LEFT ARM STARTED GETTING NUMB.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS PRYING ON A PIECE OF TIN WEAR ON DOZER WHEN PRY BAR SLIPPED AND EE CUT HAND ON A PIECE OF TIN WEAR,

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE REMOVE BRAKE CALIPER FROM FRONT WHEEL ON 777 ROCK TRUCK WHEN THE CALIPER STARTED TO FALL EMPLOYEE TRIED TO CATCH IT AND IT PULLED HIM TO THE GROUND INJURING HIS BACK. CALIPER WEIGHED APPROX. 150 LBS.

Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING ON D9N DOZER AND HIT HIS LEFT KNEE ON THE TRACK. EMPLOYEE DID NOT GO TO DR. UNTIL 6/13/01 WHEN A MRI WAS DONE AND PAIN MEDICENE PRESCRIBED.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IN THE RIGHT WRIST AND UNDERWENT SURGERY ON 4/26/01

2000 · 4 incidents

Struck against stationary object

EE BUMPED INTO SIDE OF BED ON ROCK TRUCK CUTTINGHIS HEAD.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BENT OVER USING A CUTTING TORCH TO REMOVEA PIECE OF METAL PLATE FROM SCREEN & WHEN HE STOOD UP HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK. EE KEPT WORKING & DID NOT GO TO DR UNTIL 10/17/00. NO LO SS DAYS & NO DR VISITS UNTIL 10/17/00

Struck against a moving object

EE WAS COMING IN TO WORK WHEN A COAL TRUCK TURNED AROUND ON THE HAUL ROAD AND HAD NOT GOT BACK TO HIS SIDE OF THE ROAD. EE'S PICKUP TRUCK HIT THE COAL TRUCK HEAD ON.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE SAYS BACK PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED 11/19/93 WHEN EMPLOYEE MISSED 28 DAYS OF WORK. HE SAYS HE HAS HAD ONGOING BACKPROBLEMS SINCE THIS ACCIDENT. COMPANY WAS NOTIFI ED ON 6/23/00 THAT HE WOULD BE OFF WORK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.