All MSHA-reportable accidents at Alpha Coal West, Inc. operations in 2002. Fatalities appear first.
L-1800 LETOURNEAU LOADER WAS SPREADING SCORIA ON ROADS DUE TO HEAVY RAINS. OPERATOR SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A BRAKE HANGING UP & CALLED A MECHANIC. NOTICED SPARKS & SMOKE COMING FROM BELOW WINDSHIELD, SHUT ENGINE DOWN & TRIED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE IN THE ARTICULATION AREA. 2 CO-WORKERS SHOWED UP & ALSO TRIED TO HELP. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED. CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN.
EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING A 8' STEP LADDER, LOST HIS BALANCE & FELL APPROX. 28" TO THE FLOOR OF A LARGE SHOVEL BUCKET. HE BROKE HIS LEFT WRIST IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES.
HE STOOD UP ON TIRE AND FELT SHARP PAIN IN RIGHT SIDE OF BACK.
EE WAS STANDING ON 10 FT STEP LADDER USING A 16" CRESCENT WRENCH, WRENCH SLIPPED CAUSING EE TO LOOSE BALANCE AND HE JUMPED OFF LADDER LANDING ON SHOP FLOOR, HURTING HIS LEFT FOOT CONTUSION TO FOOT.
ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN BELT/SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, BELT CAUGHT GLOVE PULLED FINGERS BETWEEN BELT AND SHEAVE.
EE WAS REINSERTING THE CENTER PIN ON THE EQUILIZER BAR OF A CAT D10N. TO DRIVE THE PIN INTO PLACE, HE PARTIALLY INSTALLED THE RETAINING PLATE OVER THE PIN AND WAS STRIKING THE PLATE WITH A SLE DGE HAMMER. AS HE SWUNG THE HAMMER TO STRIKE THE PLATE, THE HAMMER GLANCED OFF A RETAINING PLATE BOLT, STRUCK THE PLATE AT AN ANGLE AND BOUNCED BACK, STRIKING HIM IN THE FACE/MOUTH.
ASCENDING STAIRS, LOST BALANCE, CAUGHT HIMSELF, STRAINING RIGHT SHOULDER.
EE GOT OUT OF THE PATROL VEHICLE TO CHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM BY POWDER MAGAZINES NORTH OF THE PIT AREA. THE WEATHER WAS EXTREMELY WINDY & DRY. WHEN EE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, HE FELT HE HAD GOTT EN SOMETHING IN HIS RIGHT EYE. HE TRIED SEVERAL EYEWASHES BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SMALL DIRT PARTICLE OUT OF HIS EYE.
EE WAS WALKING TO THE MANTRIP AT SHIFT CHANGE & SLIPPED ON ICE. HE TRIED TO CATCH HIMSELF WITH HIS LT. HAND WHICH RESULTED IN A HAIRLINE FRACTURE OF THE LT. WRIST. HE WAS RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK.
GRINDING ON HORSE CALLER, GRINDER KICKED BACK & FRACTURED LEFT THUMB.
EE WAS CARRYING TWO HEAVY BAGS OF GARBAGE DOWN SOME STAIRS. SHE FELT A SEVERE PAIN IN HER BACK.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING ACCESS LADDER OF WATER TRUCK HE STATED HE STEPPED ONTO BOTTOM STEP OF LADDER & HIS KNEE GAVE OUT.