All MSHA-reportable accidents at Alpha Coal West, Inc. operations in 2004. Fatalities appear first.
2 CRANES & WINCH TRUCK HAD TURNED HAUL TRUCK BED UPSIDE DOWN, THEN 2 CRANES LOADED THE OVERTURNED BOX ON FLATBED TRAILER. INJURED EE THEN WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF THE TRUCK BED WAS CENTERED PROPERLY ON TRAILER. A LODGED PIECE OF EARTHEN MATERIAL CAME LOOSE COMING DOWN & STRIKING EE.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING 793 CAT HAUL TRUCK AT END OF SHIFT. WHILE COMING DOWN LADDER, IN FRONT OF RADIATOR TO GET TO LOWER DECK, HE STRUCK HIS KNEE ON THE HANDRAIL CAUSING A LIGAMENT TO PULL LOOSE FROM THE KNEE CAP.
Employee was pulling on a bar as they were inserting it into the bushing in preparation to bore a BE 295 shaft.
WHILE OPERATING A COAL HAUL TRUCK, EE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH JARRED HIS LOWER BACK. AFTER REVIEWING THE CHIROPRACTIC DIAG. & EE'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY, WE BELIEVE EE HAD A PRE-EXISTING ILLNESS & THIS JARRING ACTION AGGRAVATED HIS PREV. BACK CONDITION. EE WAS DIAG. AS HAVING DISC DEG. IN 2002 WHICH HAS CONTINUOUSLY CAUSED BACK PAIN - TAKEN MEDS. & RECD. CHIRO. TREATMENTS.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING 24H BLADE. HIS FOOT SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO FALL APPROX. 4 FT. HE INJURED HIS WRIST.
EMPLOYEE WAS STRUCK IN THE CHIN WITH A CAN THAT WAS THROWN DOWN FROM THE DECK OF A HAUL TRUCK. RESULTED IN A LACERATION ON THE CHIN REQUIRING STITCHES.
EE WAS TROUBLESHOOTING ALT. SYSTEM ON A WATER TRUCK. TWO OF HER FINGERS CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE BELT AND SHEAVE, CAUSING LACERATIONS AND HAIRLINE FRACTURE.
MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE WAS GRINDING METAL DURING A SHOVEL REPAIR. AFTER EMPLOYEE FELT IRRITATION IN HIS LEFT EYE, DEBRIS WAS REMOVED.
Ee walked around the corner of a electrical box in the shop. another ee was grinding on it and a piece of slag went into first ee's right eye.
WHILE REMOVING DOORSTOP FROM A SHOVEL BUCKET, THE EE CAUGHT HIS RIGHT HAND BETWEEN THE DOORSTOP AND THE SHOVEL DOOR BUMPER. THIS RESULTED IN LACERATION OF RIGHT INDEX FINGER.
EE WAS USING A CUP TYPE WIRE WHEEL. ONE OF THE WIRES STRUCK HIM IN THE ARM AND BECAME LODGED IN HIS ARM. A PHYSICIAN SAW THE EE ON 1-21-04 AND STATED THAT THE WIRE WOULD HAVE TO BE LEFT ALONE AND WORK ITS WAY OUT. LATER, THE WIRE HAD TO BE SURGICALLY REMOVED. HE WAS RELEASED TO FULL DUTY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SURGERY.
(DEATH - NATURAL CAUSES) WHILE WAITING FOR HIS NEXT JOB ASSIGNMENT, EMPLOYEE FELL TO THE GROUND.