BEAR BRANCH 2: 6,405 MSHA citations Coal

EE was sitting in the mantrip and tried to reposition self by pulling self up by the bar that is on the canopy. EE grabbed the bar with EE's left hand and attempted to pull self up. When EE did EE felt a pain in EE's left shoulder.

EE was cutting a new piece of belt for EE's standoff chain on the continuous miner. EE was holding the belt with left hand while cutting with right. The belt knife slipped out of the belt striking EE's left hand.

EE was bolting on the operator's side of the bolt machine. EE swung the boom over and set the stab jack. EE installed the steel into the drill pot and when the steel made contact with the mine roof, a piece of rock became dislodged and struck EE on EE's arm resulting in four stitches.

EE was helping skive the face belt. Another employee was pulling the rubber that had been skived with a pair of vice grips when the rubber broke resulting in EE's knife slipping and striking EE on left hand. EE subsequentially received three stitches and returned to work at full duty.

Employee was going to get some lolo pins which were under a rubber mat that was under a piece of metal. Employee began to remove the metal when it slipped out of their hands, and they reacted trying to catch it resulting in their right index finger becoming smashed between the metal and the carrier.

Employee was attempting to put a Brookville mantrip that had derailed back on the track. The jack turned over causing the mantrip to land on a crib block. The crib flipped up hitting employee in the face.

while installing a roof bolt, a piece of drill steel came out of the tray and came in contact with the bolter arm as they were pushing the bolt to the top. the drill steel came out striking the employee above the right eye resulting in three stitches.

Employee was moving a rock out of the way of tool box, as employee moved employee twisted around and felt a pain in lower back. Started missing work 8/21/23.

Employee was splicing a belt, belt clamp come loose and struck them on forehead. 7 Sutures required. Returned to work full duty.

Employee felt a pop in EE's shoulder as EE was bending a 48" resin 3/4" roof bolt in the roof bolter machine bolt bender. The company was notified today (4/17/23) from the referred specialist that the employee has been taken off work due to EE's injury.

A roof bolter operator was operating a roof bolting machine when a piece of rock fell from between the bolt and rib and then struck EE's foot. The company was notified on 3/1/23 that the employee was diagnosed with a fractured left 4th digit toe.

Employee was using a knife. Cutting towards self, cut hand requiring sutures to repair the wound.

While unloading supplies they cut their left ear on a piece of mesh roof wire. 2 stitches.

Employee was hauling supplies at which time the motor derailed and they felt pain in neck/back.

Employee was cutting on a piece of conveyor belt and the knife slipped and cut EE's right forearm. 3 sutures required.

employee was struck by piece of rock and was diagnosed with a contusion. Employee started missing work on 9-27-22

Employee was hitting a rock with a sledge hammer and pinched a finger between the metal handle and the frame of a mobile bridge carrier, Required sutures to repair the wound.

Employee was using a hand held grinder and cutting a 1.5" metal pipe and struck leg with the grinder. Sutures were required.

Employee was walking beside elevator building, they stated that they stumbled and reached out to building to catch themselves and cut a finger on the metal siding. Sutures were required

Employee was assisting in putting broken belt back together. A small piece of rock fell and struck employee on the hand, sutures were required. No Lost Time

Employee was attaching a cable tie off strap to the low structure dolly when pulling up cable slack. They inadvertently caught left middle and ring fingers between the strap and dolly and fractured the finger tips in both fingers.

Employee was pulling slack out of the belt with a chain, the chain slipped loose and struck EE on the face and left eye area. 3 Sutures were required to repair the wound.

Employee was putting a miner chain together. EE was striking chain with a hammer when chain flew up and hit EE on left side of face leaving an abrasion and a small piece of metal in EE's left cheek.

Employee got out of buggy and when EE stepped out EE sprained EE's ankle

Employee was unhooking a pull chain when the chain tightened and caught EE's right 5th digit finger. Diagnosed with a fracture and a cut with 3 sutures.

Employee was lifting & hanging mine cable which weighed more that 50 pounds. Strained lower back muscle.

EE was riding in motor when it struck a loose/bent track fish plate. The motor abruptly stopped and caused EE to hit mouth and shoulder against the frame of rail motor.

EE was moving obstructions off slope when EE lost footing, slipped and fell, landing on neck and shoulders.

EE was lifting and engine compartment lid to check engine oil and felt pain in back.

Employee was standing over next to off side of bolter. Draw rock fell. Stuck employee in the head and face and cut above left eye. Rock measure 2 foot long, 17 inches wide, 2 inches thick, #2 Entry 10 foot outby spad 18810.

Employee was getting supplies out of bed of bed of company truck. When employee exited truck, employee's hand slipped on to the hook of the bungee cord that's currently holding the brake light in place. The hook punctured employee's right hand, between thumb and index finger.

Employee was using a ball pen hammer hitting a packing gland when employee felt pain in shoulder.

Employee walking across track at the top of the slope to load oxygen and acetelene tank when they slipped and fell, got their boot off and ankle was swelling put ice pack on then ankle and took them to the ER.

2ND shift was splicing stacker belt at 6:50pm. Injured was standing behind another co-worker nailing. Co-worker was starting a nail and it ricocheted out, striking injured in corner of left eye.

Employee was going through a man door and slipped on a rock twisting back. Employee returned back to work until EE was placed off work by EE's doctor on 06/28/19.

Employee fell from head drive onto the ground, hitting their left knee against a boom jack.

Employee bent over to pick up a screwdriver, stepped on a rock, and lost their balance and fell in a hole/offset which caused their right foot/leg to pop out causing them to fall. Employee started missing 02/15/19.

Employee was cutting belt to make a splice when EE's knife slipped and cut EE's leg.

EE's were pinning a belt splice together and the belt clamp broke and struck left ankle and foot.

Employee was helping change scoop batteries when EE's finger got caught between the scoop tire and fender.

Employee was helping to hanging miner cable when they felt pain in their back.

Employee was driving an empty shuttle car toward the miner when employee hit a hole or dip in the roadway causing employee to strain lower back, neck, and right foot.

An ignition event behind the 4 North Seals, that resulted from Carbon Monoxide being emitted into the return air course.

Employee was draining water and mud from underneath 1A head drive. Employee turned, slipped and fell causing a rake to strike employee on the left side of face and mouth and cracked bottom front middle tooth.

Employee was doing maintenance work on miner and pulling back on a welded piece of metal on a shaft. The metal broke loose and hit the employee in the abdomen and hand. The metal caused a cracked bone and lacerated two small places on hand.

Employee was servicing the miner when a piece of rock fell in between bolts, striking employee's head, neck and right hand.

Elevator was down due to power surge caused by a thunderstorm. One miner was stuck for a short period of time.

Pneumoconiosis award date 05-24-18. Last day worked 12-18-14.

Employee was going to raise the lid up over the engine compartment and it fell on their right hand.

Elevator was down due to an electrical problem.

Employee was cleaning up around timber when it became dislodged and fell, striking employee's left hand (thumb). It was later determined that a bone in the employee's wrist was also fractured. Employee started missing on 03/07/18.

Employee was shoveling on tail piece when they felt bad pain in the middle of their back.

Hearing loss award 12/08/17 (11%). Last day worked 08/05/15.

Pneumoconiosis award date 11-29-17. Last day worked 03-07-15.

Employee was trying to get a belt pin out of a belt splice, while cutting a buckle out employee's knife slipped, puncturing employee in left leg.

Employee was getting a bottom roller, had it on right shoulder when ee tripped on a belt rail and fell causing injury.

Employee was bolting in #3 entry and when they swung to put the inside bolt up the drill steel hit the top causing a piece of draw rock to fall and strike them on the right arm.

Employee was crossing over pile of coal and rock when they stepped on a rock and lost their footing.

Tracking system was down due to a cut in the fiber optic cable.

Employee was pulling excess hi-line into break slipped on loop of cable covered with mud causing employee to strain lower back.

Employee was packing two buckets of miner bits across the section to the miner and employee's back gave out causing employee to fall to the ground.

Employee was walking down the catwalk on stacker belt and went to step down the step when their foot flew out from under them.

Employee was putting tire on shuttle car and was lining key steel up on hub when employee strained or over-exerted self some how as employee was pushing, turning, and lining it up. Employee started missing 07/13/2017.

Employee was standing at track where mantrip was parked, talking with other employees when EE stated that EE was feeling lightheaded and dizzy. As soon as EE said that EE collapsed.

Pneumoconiosis award date 04/11/17. Last day worked 05/14/15.

Employee was going through timbers to see what would set and what would not when ee felt pain in lower back.

Employee said when employee got off Mac 8 that employee's knee went the wrong way and that employee's knee cap moved out of place. Employee was placing employee's tools in employee's belt when employee lost employee's footing.

Pneumoconiosis award date 10/17/16. Last day worked 09/29/14.

Pneumoconiosis award date 09/09/2016. Last day worked 7/23/2014.

Pneumoconiosis award date 06/22/16. Last day worked 09/08/06.

Pneumoconiosis award date 05/03/16. Last day worked 07/23/11.

Employee was helping another employee load concrete block when EE aggravated hernia. Employee started missing 02/01/16.

Employee was working on a lead inside of a starting box and as EE was cutting the insulation off the lead EE's knife came out and struck EE's left arm.

Operator was pushing coal with dozer when a rock came out of the silo stacker tube and went through the side glass.

Employee was traveling down the roadway when he ran over a rib that had rolled out causing him to hit his head on the canopy. Employee started missing 08/24/15.

Hearing loss award date 08/11/15. Last day worked 08/27/14.

Pneumoconiosis award date 07/10/15. Last day worked 04/18/12.

Pneumoconiosis award date 06/22/15. Last day worked 07/10/08.

Employee was assisting in pulling lolo up, it had cleared the corner of the intersection and he stepped over next to corner when the brow fell off the corner striking him around the waist/hip and knocking him down causing him to twist his knee. Employee started missing 06/01/2015.

Employee was installing a roof bolt when it kicked back and struck his wrist.

Elevator was down due to an electrical problem.

Employee was struck by a water line being pulled by equipment.

Employee hit his head on highline and felt pain in his neck. Employee started missing 03-05-15.

Employee was walking down #4 entry when he stepped in a hole causing him to twist his knee.

Employee inadvertently cut his leg while trimming a buckle off of a splice. Injury required stitches.

Pneumoconiosis award date 01/11/2015. Last day worked 07/02/12.

Employee was getting a belt splice board off of the miner and hanging it up to the top so that it wouldn't get damaged. He hung one side up and it came around and hit him in the mouth.

Pneumoconiosis award date 10/20/2014. Last day worked 12/2/2011.

Employee was loading belt structure when he felt pain in his lower back.

Employee was moving a roof bolt strap, while pulling one strap his wrist hit another strap cutting it. Injury required five stitches.

Employee was putting roof bolt up, strap or plate knocked hard hat off and bolt hit him in top of head. Injury required three staples.

Employee was pulling a piece of loose draw rock when he pulled up slate bar hit him in the mouth. Chipped tooth.

Employee was backing carrier into #3 entry at tailpiece. As he was backing around tailpiece a piece of rock busted from the bottom striking him on his left foot. Injury ultimately required partial amputation of the injured foot.

Employee was setting timbers when a previously set timber was knocked over causing it to strike him on the back of his right leg. Employee started missing 03-03-14.

Employee was loading bottom stands. Two stands were stuck together; as he pulled them apart and started lifting a stand up he felt pain in his lower back.

Hoist down due to cold temperatures, sensor iced over.

Hoist was down due to an electrical problem.

Employee stated that he may have pulled a muscle in his right side while packing belt structure to scatter for the next set-up. He stated while packing the structure he felt a sharp pain in his right side that made him uncomfortable to stand, sit, or lay and the pain was getting worse. Employee later required hernia surgery and started missing 01-15-14.

Employee had low air pressure in buggy tire, got off the buggy to check tires. He stepped on wet track and his feet gave way causing him to fall, striking the buggy and landing on the concrete floor.

Hoist was down due to stripped coupling.

Employee was bolting on the left side of the truss bolter when a rock fell and struck him on the right hand. Injury required 3 stitches.

While getting tools from his tool box the lid fell catching his hand.

Employee riding in a mantrip with his hand on the edge of the fender and as the mantrip was backing up it hit on offside in the rib catching his hand between the mantrip and rib severing his fingers.

Bolt bin in the shop fell, employee jumped out of the way slipped and fell.

Employee was using a bolt wrench, swung and hit his index finger against canopy with wrench.

Employee and two other people were loading a sheet of metal in a scoop bucket, employee felt pain in right bicep. Employee started missing 10-25-12.

Employee was trimming a belt when he stumbled and cut his leg with his belt knife.

System was down due to electrical problems.

Employee was packing tools through mandoor when he slipped and tried to catch himself from falling. Injury required stitches.

Employee was removing an old tracking tag from his hard hat when he inadvertently cut his left thumb.

Employee was scattering belt structure when he experienced low back pain. Employee stated that this may be a reoccurrence of an old Army injury.

Employee was pushing against rail motor with lifting jack when jack came out catching his right hand against the rib. Resulting in a fracture.

Brake car/hoist was down due to an electrical problem.

Employee was taking water line loose when water gushed out causing him to fall. Employee started missing 08/08/12.

Employee was attempting to splice belt when he inadvertently cut his right leg. Injury required stitches.

Employee was bolting a brow up when a piece of rock came down the drill steel, broke off and struck him on the left jaw.

Employee was lifting/throwing supplies when he felt pain in his back. Employee started missing 04-19-12.

Employee was throwing roof bolts when he twisted his back. Employee started missing 04-16-12.

Employee was attempting to make a D-belt when he inadvertently cut the palm of his right hand. Injury required 4 stitches.

Under investigation. Employee started missing 04-02-12.

Elevator was down due to electrical problems.

Employee was exiting a scoop when he hit his elbow on the canopy post. Employee had surgery 01-12-12.

A rock fall was found one break out-by 2 West seals on 1 North Mains. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 40' long x 4'+ thick.

Employee was carrying a can of oil when he felt pain in his back. Employee started missing 10-28-11.

Employee was making a belt set up and when he went to throw a roller under the bottom belt his finger got pinched against the rib.

Employee was cutting belt and in the process cut his leg.

Found by weekly examiner and MSHA Inspector.

Elevator was down due to a relay not working.

Employee was throwing belt structure across the belt while the belt was off. The belt rail hit side of back bridge, bounced back and hit employee on the right side of jaw.

Employee was hitting an ease out with a hammer. He was holding ease out with his left hand when ease out broke. His hand slipped on ease out cutting his little finger on his left hand.

Employee was struck by a metal chip from impact of a hammer against a chain hook.

Employee was operating scoop when a piece of draw rock fell out between bolts and hit him on the right shoulder.

EE was bolting roof when a draw rock fell and hit him on the right shoulder. Bruising it he worked until 6/21/11 was off 2 days came back on 6/24/11.

Employee was attempting to lift the left boom hinge guard on a new continuous miner with a bar. His hand slipped causing the guard to fall and strike his left hand.

Employee was riding in the mantrip on the inby end facing in on the rib side, when the mantrip struck something, causing it to fly up and strike the employee on the left forearm.

Rock fall occurred on 3 East Mains off 1 North Mains crosscut break #47 in the #5 entry. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 20' long x 5' thick.

Employee was walking to get supplies when he stepped in a hole and strained his right knee. Employee started missing 03-02-11.

Slope car was down due to changing out magnetic switch.

Employee walked under an overcast and he raised up too soon and hit the last I beam. Employee started missing 04-18-11.

Pneumoconiosis

Employee was swinging the boom of roof bolter out to put up a rope bolt. As he was swinging the boom, his left hand was on the canopy and as a result his fingers were mashed between the canopy and the top.

Employee was scattering belt structure for a belt set-up and when he stood a belt stand up against the rib it rolled out and struck him on the right hand and neck.

Employee was replacing a hydraulic fitting when his foot slipped injuring his right knee. Employee later required treatment and started missing on 01/06/14.

Rock fall occurred on 1st right off 5 West # 2 entry, 5 pade # 9939 inby 5 pade 1 Brk.

Employee was bolting top when a piece of draw rock fell and struck his right hand index finger.

Employee was walking toward miner when he stepped on a rock and creeled his ankle and fell on his knee. Employee started missing on 07/19/10

Employee was turning a cutterhead motor when it rolled over and mashed his finger.Injury required stitches.

This is an accumulative effect of many years of repetitive motion. Employee started missing 09-14-10.

Rock fall occurred in 2 East Mains cut through to 1 East Mains #5 entry. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 60' long x 6' thick.

Employee got off slope car at bottom of slope. While he was walking he slipped and fell hurting his left knee.

Rock fall occurred in the bleeder entry on 1 right off 5 West Mains at break #26 between #3 and #4 entries. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 30' long x 6' thick.

Rock fall occurred on 1 East Mains in the #5 entry at break #51 and extending to break #52. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 50' long x 4' high.

Employee was operating continuous miner when a piece of drawrock fell and struck him on the lower right leg. Employee started missing 11-30-09.

Employee was walking down #2 entry around roof bolter sitting in roadway when a piece of drawrock fell and struck him on the back of neck and upper back.

Employee stepped in a hole at the end of the track and twisted his knee. Employee started missing 11-11-09.

Rock fall occurred at break #13 in the 1st Right off 1st Left off 1 East. The rock fall started in the #1 entry and extended across the #2 and #3 entry and then in-by the #3 entry at break #13 to break #15. The rock fall was approximately 20 feet wide, 4 feet thick and approximately 295 feet long.

Employee was hanging roof bolter cable when his back started hurting.

Pneumoconiosis

Employee was attempting to put impact roller in tunnel belt in front of feeder when he felt pain in his upper right arm/shoulder and rib cage on right side. Employee started missing 09-10-09.

Rock fall occurred at break #11 in the 2nd Right off 1st Left off 1 East. The rock fall started in the #1 entry and extended across the #2, #3 and #4 entries and fell 10 feet in the intersection of the #5 entry. The rock fall was approximately 20 feet wide, 8 to 10 feet thick and approximately 230 feet long.

Rock fall occurred in 1 East Mains at break #47 in the #6 entry and the #7 entry. Rock fall in the #6 entry measured approximately 20' wide x 60' long x 4' thick and rock fall in the #7 entry measured approximately 20' wide x 50' long x 4' thick.

Employee was working on dust box on bolter when a rock fell out between rib and first row of bolts and struck him on his left knee.

Rock fall occurred in the 1 East Mains from break #45 to break #47 in the #5 entry. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 180' long x 5' thick.

Rock fall occurred in the 1 East Mains in the #1 entry between break #57 and break #58. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 30' long x 5' thick.

Employee was putting conveyor chain together on the miner. A piece of metal chipped off the hammer and struck his left forearm while he was driving the slat on. Injury required stitches.

Rock fall occurred in the 2 North Mains main return at break #22 in the intersection of the #2 entry. Fall measured approximately 60' wide x 40' long x 6' high.

Hoist was down due to an electrical problem (dead batteries).

Hoist was down due to the emergency stop button.

Employee was building a brattice when he tripped over blocks causing him to fall on his left hip.

Rock fall occurred in 1 East Mains in the #3 entry at break 48. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 40' long x 4' thick.

Hoist was down due to no power. The processor and DC to DC transformer had to be replaced.

Employee was pulling on a rock that was hung up in his carrier chain when he felt pain in his lower back.

Rock fall occurred in 1 Left off 1 Right off 1 Left off 1 East Mains in the #5 entry starting at break #8 and extending to break #11. The rock fall was approximately 18' wide x 200' long x 9' thick.

Rock fall occurred in 2 East Mains at break #6 in the #1 entry and extended over to the #3 entry and included the intersection of the #3 entry. The rock fall was approximately 5 to 6 feet high, 140 feet long and 20 feet wide. Rock fall occurred in 2 East Mains at break #4 in the #1 entry. The rock fall was approximately 5 to 6 feet high, 20 feet long and 20 feet wide.

Rock fall occurred in the 2 East Mains at break #6 in the 4 right crosscut and extended to and included the #5 heading. Fall measured approximately 18' wide x 55' long x 8' high.

Employee was sliding 3/4 inch by 4'x 4' piece of metal off a scoop, when the metal hit the ground it rocked back, smashing his little finger on left hand between scoop and piece of metal.

Employee was changing a bearing on lolo tail piece. When he hit the hammer against the bearing, a piece of metal struck his right hand. Injury required stitches.

Employee was unloading belt stands when two belt stands fell over and struck his right hand against another belt stand. Injury required stitches.

Employee was installing an expanded metal head drive guard when it flipped back and struck him on the right wrist. The injury was a laceration and required 3 stitches to close the wound.

Employee was throwing switch to side track rock duster, when switch sprung back and struck his right knee, causing him to fall and twist his left knee.

Employee was cutting a piece of belt to put in the throat of the continuous miner and cut his left hand with a belt knife. Injury required stitches.

Rock fall occurred in the 3 right bleeder off 1 left off 1 East Mains. The rock fall was approximately 20' wide x 30' long x 5' high.

Employee was helping a certified electrician work on a roof bolter cable when his utility knife slipped and cut his left hand. Injury required stitches.

Employee was cleaning de-mister out on miner when a piece of draw rock fell on his right foot.

Employee was pushing belt over with scoop, when scoop struck rib, causing rib to roll off on his back.

Rock fall occurred on 1 East Mains in the #3 entry at break #35. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 20' long x 5' thick.

Employee was drilling starter hole when a piece of rock fell striking him on the arm. Employee started missing 10-30-08.

Rock fall occurred on 1 North Mains at break 159. Brow fell out across track. Fall measured approximately 20' long x 2-4' wide x 4' thick.

Employee was ground faulting a power center when he bent over his knee felt like it fell out of place. Employee required surgery and started missing 12-03-08.

Rock fall occurred on 1 North Mains at break #44-46 in the #4 entry. Fall measured approximately 22' wide x 130' long x 7' thick.

Employee borrowed an additional slate bar off the roof bolter to help clean drawrock off miner. When employee returned the slate bar the roof bolter operator inadvertently caught his right foot under the back bumper. Injury resulted in a fracture. Employee started missing 09-10-08.

Rock fall occurred in #5 entry break #21 through #22 on 1st left panel off 2 right panel off 1 left panel off 1 East Mains. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 100' long x 5' thick.

Rock fall occurred in #3 entry break #12 through #13 on 1st left panel off 1 right panel off 1 left panel off 1 East Mains. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 100' long x 6' thick.

Employee failed to secure equipment.

Rock fall occurred on 5 West off 1 North Mains at break #32 in the 3 left crosscut. Fall measured approximately 20' wide x 25' long x 5' thick.

Employee was pulling welder in scoop bucket and caught his right hand between scoop bucket and ram. Injury resulted in a fracture and required stitches.