North Fork: 1 recorded fatality Coal

Employee was cutting belt material when utility knife slipped and contacted their right knee causing a 1/2" puncture wound. Employee received two sutures.

The outside person spilled a pallet of cement block while loading into a scoop tractor bucket with a loader. When loading block into bucket by hand they felt pain in their lower back. They continued to work the rest of the shift and went to a MedExpress the next day to be examined. They were diagnosed with lower back pain and prescribed a muscle relaxer.

Employee pinched right index finger between the roof bolter chuck and the mine roof. This resulted in a laceration and required sutures.

After filling roof bolting machine with hydraulic oil had numbness and weakness in right arm.

Employee stood up from kneeling position and felt a burning sensation in right knee. Employee reported to employer the next day and was taken to medical facility to be examined. Employee was released back to regular duty. Over the next 7 weeks the employee had follow-up exams and was scheduled for surgery, which was done on 8/28/2019.

While constructing a ventilation wall a cement block fell off of the top row approximately 40" before it was secured striking employee on the left hand and fracturing two metacarpal bones.

Employee was cutting a nylon sling with a utility knife that slipped and contacted EE's left leg. This caused a 1/2" laceration to EE's left upper leg which required 3 sutures.

Due to a geological deformation of the roof strata on 5 right a roof fall occurred. The roof fell in the #3 beltline entry. 20 feet inby s/s 5972 continuing inby 1 x-cut to 50 feet outby s/s 5987 and also in the #4 primary escape way entry 50 feet inby s/s 5975 continuing 1 x-cut to s/s 5986.

Caused by a geological anomaly of the roof strata in the #4 primary escape way entry of main D a roof fall occurred. The roof fell at s/s 2897 proceeding inby one crosscut.

Employee was removing belt structure. Employee could not rotate fully and inadvertently threw belt structure rail from left hand onto right hand.

The miner struck a depression in the mine floor with Johnson underground two person man trip causing the steering wheel to suddenly jerk out of the miner's hand. The handle whipped around striking the miner's right hand causing a fracture to the hand.

Employee was setting cribs when a piece of rock, measuring 19" long by 14" wide on one end tapering to a point on other end and 4" thick, fell striking miner on left foot. The triangle shaped rock punctured the employee's outside left foot causing a laceration and fracture.

Employee was removing trash along 5 RT travelway which has a clearance of 38". The machine has an operating height of 33". Employee stated employee looked backward to visualize load when employee's helmet came in contact with the low roof removing employee's helmet and forcing head against the seat back in the operators compartment.

Employee was on knees shoveling beltline and removing belt structure that was stuck in muddy bottom conditions. Employee felt pop sensation and pain in lower back when trying to remove stuck piece of belt structure.

Employee was operating scoop tractor in belt drive area of 2 RT RMS. Work area was 37.5" in height and 18 feet in width. While positioning the drive with poor visibility due to mine conditions causing rubber tire of the machine to catch and push up 2" waterline along side the operators compartment striking employee on right side of head driving safety glasses into right eyebrow.

The employee was attempting to raise the low belt structure with a drill steel by pulling up while on EE's knees. The employee felt a pop in EE's right shoulder followed by pain.

Employee experienced left knee pain during course of normal duties as surveying chainman. Employee completed shift and sought medical evaluation on 8/16/15.

The employee installed the roof bolt closest to the left rib line. He moved the boom towards the center of the entry to drill the next hole. After sounding & examining the roof he proceeded drilling the 2nd hole. A piece of rock measuring 69" long, 23" wide, & 0 to 6" thick broke off the tapered edge that he was supporting. The rock hit him on a glancing blow to his lower back.

Employee was loading belt structure from a section that had just been completed. The belt structure that he was handling was approximately 4 foot long and weighed 35-45 pounds. The bottom of the structure caught an offset in the mine floor that could not be seen and stopped the movement of the structure abruptly, jerking his left shoulder.

Employee was hanging bolter cable in order to advance survey sights when they felt pinch in back. Further aggravated when drilling survey spads. Sought medical evaluation and diagnosed with lumbar strain.

Drill steels jammed and came out of drill head chuck leaving approximately 8 inches of exposed drill steel. Upon trying to realign drill steel and bolter chuck employee had finger pinched between both objects. Employee received a right index finger laceration.

Employee was hand loading 50 pound bags of rock dust onto the scoop. Mine height at location was approximately 44 inches and he was working on his knees. Employee felt a pinch in his lower back and he continued to work.

7 employees were setting-up a spill board on the belt tail when the spill board suddenly dropped and caught the employee's fingers.

Employee tried to clear a rock jam while the belt was running. The rock caught his hand and broke and cut his finger.

Employee turned into hanging T3 roof control strap edge. Strap caught employee under brim of hardhat and caused a laceration to the side of employee's head.

Belting-up on low belt structure, unknown person threw structure piece striking employee.

While moving bolting materials from a bucket liner to bolting machine and in a kneeling position, the individual felt a pop and immediate pain in his right knee. Employee had to push knee cap back into place. Shortly after incident the knee became warm to touch and swollen.

While walking along scoop employee caught his foot or tripped somehow and fell. Employee held his hand out to arrest his fall causing a dislocation of right shoulder. Employee insisted on returning to work restricted duty.

EE was walking into #1 entry intersection when he struck end of T-3 roof channel which was bent down on cut thru by miner head. EE received 4 stitches.