Eckman Plant: 365 MSHA citations Coal

EE was climbing onto truck to open tank lid. EE's foot slipped & EE fell backward onto ground hurting left shoulder.

Employee's vehicle caught fire on the way home. It occurred 1.5 hours after employee's scheduled shift. Employee raised the hood of the vehicle and received burns to face.

Employee was cutting hydraulic hose to make grease hoses. The hand grinder kicked back and they cut their left thumb.

An employee was sweeping the floor in the LO1432 Loader at the end of the shift. When EE straightened their back, EE noticed pain in the lower back.

When employee stepped off of the leaf spring and drag link to the ground, the left knee popped and buckled as it began to take weight resulting in pain and swelling in the affected area. Employee works 4 on and 4 off, EE began missing on January 28th 2023.

Employee was looking backward in an end loader when the bucket fell to the ground. The jarring action of the falling bucket along with the twisting motion caused a pull muscle in EE's back. Employee began missing on 10/16/2022

Lost control of a loaded coal truck. Driver had a head contusion. Neck and back strain. Lacerations to right hand and a corneal abrasion.

Worker was removing a piece of pipe off of classifying cyclone pump in basement of Prep Plant. Pipe rotated to a greater degree than anticipated, and smashed and cut-open worker's left hand.

Trucks were using a back road to access the truck dump due to the tracks being blocked by a train at the crossing. EE operating truck 807 proceeded around a horseshoe curve hauling clean coal from Eckman Plant to Dans Branch Load-out. The driver stated EE misjudged the curve and ran up on the berm due to poor visibility causing the truck to roll over.

EE was attempting to remove a D7 undercarriage roller. EE was striking the flange of the roller with a 15lb. sledgehammer when a fragment of the roller flange broke off. The piece of metal struck EE in the left thigh resulting in a 1" laceration in the thigh.

Mechanism beam hung on motor base. Used slate bar to pry beam away from motor base. Beam came loose and caught right hand between motor base and beam, causing a laceration on the ring finger.

Employee was attempting to cut a nylon zip tie with a utility knife. Access to the zip tie was very limited, employee's hand slipped on the knife and employee cut right index finger, the wound required stitches (6) to close.

Employee was hooking a chain to a chute that was being removed. After hooking the chain, employee stepped down off the chute and a jagged piece of metal punctured left boot in the area near the arch of left foot, causing a laceration of the foot.

EE was dismounting the 777B rock truck to refuel. When EE stepped from the bottom step to the ground, (approximately 30"), left ankle rolled over when foot contacted the ground. EE began to experience pain and swelling in the ankle.

Worker was aligning two pieces of pipe on a pump in order to bolt them together. One piece of pipe fell; and as a result, smashed and cut open the pinky finger on worker's right hand. Received outpatient treatment: 13 stitches to close wound and support brace applied to finger.

Employee was descending loader ladder using three points of contact and when left foot contacted the uneven ground they sprained an ankle.

EE pressure washing coal truck on side of road as EE stepped around truck another vehicle passed and EE was hit by side mirror of passing vehicle. Vehicle did not stop. Hit right elbow and back.

The employee was hauling coal to the preparation plant on the haul road. The truck got out of gear and flipped over onto its passenger side. The employee was not wearing seatbelt.

The employee was hauling coal to the preparation plant on the haul road. The truck went up onto the berm and flipped truck over onto its passenger side. The employee was not wearing seat belt.

Employee was operating 988F loader at feeder in clean coal yard when they came in contact with a/c blower mounted on ceiling of loader. Employee was attempting to replace a/c vents while blower was operating and their middle finger and index finger on right hand came in contact with blower causing injury to both fingers.

Employee was changing a screen panel in the plant when employee slipped and twisted an ankle, causing a fracture.

EE was assigned to clean up a caustic soda spill. EE had EE's PPE on and was using a 1" water hose to wash the spill to a drain. In the process of washing the spilled materials, EE dropped the hose into the area, and EE was splashed on the arm and cheek. EE suffered a 1st degree burn to EE's cheek.

Employee was using a hand grinder to clean up bore holes for pin fitting, when a piece of debris went in behind safety glasses and entered right eye. Employee was examined and no debris was found in eye. Employee did receive prescription eye drops as treatment.

Employee was hauling coal to the preparation plant on the haul road when they drove the truck into a ditch.

Employee alleges ee was trying to turn a push beam with a slate bar and in doing so hurt back. The event was not reported until Jan 25th, 2019. On Jan 29th ee presented an excuse that covered the days missed as being under Drs care for the alleged injury.

Employee was taping the clean coal chute from an elevated position when they lost their footing and fell. Employee was standing on a dryer bracket (approx. 6" wide) and slipped falling approximately 4 feet to the ground. They landed on their right shoulder and face. Employee received 5 stitches to the right eyebrow area, to close a small laceration.

EE was working on a belt at the vessel ref while using a box knife, the knife slipped and contacted the EE leg (thigh).

The employee was using a slate bar to pry the clean coal crusher door closed while another employee used a crib block to hit the door. The slate bar slipped and mashed the right hand of the employee and twisted his lower back.

The employee was closing the doors on a dryer and he grabbed the latch to latch the door when his hand slipped on the latch cutting his left hand under his left index finger. The latch had a sharp edge on it.

Employee stated he became ill from possible heat exhaustion.

Employee stated while positioning a feeder motor for installation, employee felt pain in his lower back.

Employee stated that while getting on a 988-G Front-End Loader, he slipped on the first step and while trying to grasp the handrail he pulled his shoulder.

Employee stated while picking up a piece of malloy (1 inch thick plastic) weighing approx 25 to 30 lbs, employee felt pain between shoulders (this will be a lost time accident).

Employee states he was spraying tracking switches w/PB Blaster on belt press #2 and, while removing mud from switch, bumped switch which allowed air to blow PB Blaster into his left eye. Employee received medical treatment, was taken off work by eye care physician for one day & returned to work full duty on next scheduled day.

Employee was using a utility knife to open a box of welding rods when the knife came apart sending the blade flying into employee's right thigh, cutting the employee. Medical treatment was sought and the employee received 3 stitches. There is no lost time associated with this injury.

Slipped on metal stairs & fell. Landed on right elbow and jammed right shoulder also. Elbow swollen. Shoulder sore.

Employee stated while washing around caustic tank with water hose, chemical splashed on his left arm on 7/14/11. Employee did not report injury until 7/13/11 after obtaining medical treatment. Employee lost 4 days work and returned on 8/8/11.

Employee was working in unnatural position and object entered eye under safety glasses. Medical treatment was received, requiring prescription eye drops.

EE states a co-worker was pulling a wheel barrow up the stairs when the wheel barrow slipped out of the co-workers hand the EE fell on his knee getting out of the way. Medical treatment was given and the EE missed one day and RTW to full duty on 5/31/10.