All MSHA-reportable accidents at Alpha Coal West, Inc. operations in 2003. Fatalities appear first.
VICTIM'S 3/4 TON PICK-UP TRUCK WAS PULLING SHOVEL TRAILING CABLE AND HAD BECOME STUCK OR THERE WAS LOSS OF TRACTION; THERE WAS A 2ND PICK-UP HOOKED UP TO THE 1ST TRUCK WITH A 1"NYLON ROPE. TH E ROPE WAS PLACED ON A HOOK WHILE TOWING; THE HOOK ON THE TOWING TRUCK FAILED CAUSING THE HOOK TO SLINGSHOT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE TOWED TRUCK, STRIKING THE VICTIM.
WHILE EE WAS STANDING ON THE THIRD RUNG OF A 6' STEP LADDER, APPROXIMATELY 3' ABOVE THE GROUND, ONE OF THE LADDER'S LEGS BROKE CAUSING THE LADDER TO TIP OVER AND EE TO FALL TO THE GROUND.
EE WAS STANDING ONT HE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BESIDE THE ENGINE. INSTALLING AN EXHAUST BLANKET, HIS SHOES WERE WET AND HE SLIPPED AND FELL BACK ONTO THE BATTERY BOX. HE FELL ON HIS BACK, CAUSING B RUISING. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EXAMINENATION AND X RAYS. THERE WERE NO BROKEN BONES.
VERY COLD DAY; TRAIL CABLE WAS VERY STIFF. WHILE UNLOADING AND MOVING CABLE FROM TRUCK, HE REQUIRED MORE TIME AND GROUND SPACE TO MOVE CABLE AROUND. THE GROUND - SCORIA - WAS FREE OF SNOW AND ICE AND IT WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE BY THE CABLE YARD.
EE WAS CARRYING A SHEET OF METAL GUARD DOWN AN INCLINED WALKWAY. THE BOTTOM PART OF THE WALKWAY WAS COVERED WITH FROST. AS THE EE STEPPED OFF OFTHE WALKWAY HIS FOOT SLIPPED & HE FELL. HE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS CHIN STRUCK THE SHEET METAL GUARD CAUSING A LACERATION UNDER HIS CHIN.
THE EMPLOYEE WAS LANCING A ROLLER PIN IN ORDER TO REMOVE IT. THE HEAT FROM THE LANCE IGNITED GREASE AND THE FLAME WAS FORCED OUT OF THE HOLE, KNOCKING DOWN THE EMPLOYEE AND BURNING HIS FACE.
BOARDING UP SHOVEL LADDER TO WORK ON HOUSE, REACHED TOP OF LADDER, SLACK CAME OUT OF RETRACT, PINCHING LEFT RING FINGER END BETWEEN KEEPER & LADDER.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING FROM A 24 H BLADE AND HE MISSED THE BOTTOM STEP AND AS HE TRIED TO BRACE HIMSELF WITH HIS HANDS WHEN HE HIT THE GROUND HE DISLOCATED AND FRACTURED HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER. H E FELL ABOUT 3 FT BACKWARDS AND LANDED ON HIS BUTT AND BACK.
SHOVEL OPERATOR WAS GETTING BACK INTO THE SHOVEL CAB AND SHUT THE DOOR ON HIS LITTLE FINGER LEFT HAND. IT TOOK FIVE STITCHES TO CLOSE THE CUT.
EE WAS REMOVING CHAIN FROM COAL SAMPLE SYSTEM. CHAIN WAS BOUNCED ON TOP AND SLACK AT BOTTOM. WHEN HE TRIED TO REMOVE CHAIN IT SNAPPED CATCHING HIS 1ST FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND. TIP OF FINGER BR UISED AND IT TOOK ONE STITCHES.
WASHDOWN TECHNICIAN USED A GARDEN HOSE TO WASH DOWN MINE EQUIPMENT