American Energy CorporationMining Incidents in 2004

The roof in the tailgate entry of the 7 east longwall section fell in at 19 and 50 survey tag. Cause of this incident was failure of prop setters. Fall did not obstruct ventilation and the tailgate blockage plan was followed. Initial fall was approx 17' wide by 18' high by approx 9' high.

THE ELEVATOR PIT WAS FLOODED OUT BY HEAVY RAINS FROM HURRICANE IVAN. THE OPERATOR SHUT DOWN THE ELEVATOR TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE. A BIGGER PUMP WAS INSTALLED AND THE ELEVATOR WAS BACK INTO OPERATION AROUND 5:30 PM. CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS HEAVY RAINS.

A NEW ROOF FALL OCCURRED BETWEEN 16 AND 17 XCUT OF THE SOUTH MAINS ""B"" BELTLINE. THE FALL WAS APPROX. 12-14 FEET WIDE BY 20-25 FEET LONG BY 5-8 FEET HIGH. AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 8' INSTALL II BOLTS AND RESIN WITH ADDITIONAL GROUND TO FLOOR SUPPORT. CAUSE OF THIS FALL WAS BEAM FAILURE CREATED BY BOLTS EXPOSURED TO MOISTURE.

A roof fall occurred on the South Mains A belt No. 4 xcut. The fall was approx 4' high by 18' wide by 30' long. Fall did not obstruct ventilation or escapeway. The fall stopped the belt. Area was re-supported and cleaned up. Cause of the fall was beam failure from the roof bolts creating the beam.

AN EE WAS STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR WHAN THE MAIN POWER TO THE COMPLEX WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR OTHER THAN HAVING NO POWER. POWER WAS RESTORED AND ELEVATOR BROUGHT THE PERS ON OUT OF THE MINE. ALL OTHER PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT OUT OF THE MINE BY THE WAY OF WALKING OUT THE SLOPE DUE TO THE MAIN FANS BEING DOWN.

ELEVATOR DEVELOPED ICE ON THE RAILS THEREFORE STOPPING IT. AT THE SAME TIME THE COUNTER WEIGHT FROZE UP. CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY COLD WEATHER. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ELEVATOR BUT DID INTERFERE WITH ITS USE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. PEOPLE WERE STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR.

Employee and other co-workers were in the process of installing rail for the shearer stall. Cause of this injury was safety awareness and communication. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equipment not a factor, miner knowledge could be a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this ee was walking down the steps to the parking lot of the main bldg. cause of this injury was employee safety awarness. rules/regs was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/system not a factor, safety or protective equipment not a factor.

Alledged incident was to have occurred while this ee was shoveling coal onto the No. 2 tailpiece due to a spill. Cause of this injury was safety awarness and improper lifting. Rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment not a factor, attitude may be a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

While unloading posts from the supply car to a ram car ee was trying to reposition the posts. @ posts rolled down pinning his right forearm between the post and car.

Employee was stepping down off a shield car handling a belt structure and his ankle popped. Cause of this injury was concentration. Compliance with rules/reg was not a factor, protective equipment was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/system not a factor.

Employee was moving a post and the post slipped out of his hand and struck the top of his foot behind the metatarsal protection. causing of the injury concentration and possible more help. compliance with rules/reg was not a factor, protective equipment was a factor miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor.

Ee said that while walking to the elevator and going through the 1st set of airlock doors he stepped on a rock and twisted his ankle. Cause of this injury was concentration. Rules/regs was not a facotr, protective equipment was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equipment systems not a factor.

Alledged incident was to occur while this ee was bending roof bolt and the bolt twisted around jarring his shoulder. causing of this injury was awareness. compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, miner attitude was a factor, personnel equipment not a factor mining equipment/systems not a factor. this ee has worked up til 8-11-04 at which time his dr put him off work

ALLEDGED INCIDENT WAS TO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THIS SUPERVISOR WAS LIFTING A PIECE OF METAL. HE SAID HE FELT PAIN IN LOWER RT. ABDOMEN. THIS PERSON WORKED UNTIL 07/08/04, AT THIS TIME HE WENT OFF FOR AN OPERATION OF A HERNIA.

ALLEGED INCIDENT WAS TO HAVE OCCURRED AS THIS SUPERVISOR WAS EXAMINING THE TRACK. HE SAID HE STEPPED IN A HOLE ALONG THE TRACK. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS AND CONCENTRATION. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS. WAS NOT A FACTOR, PROTECTIVE EQUIP. NOT A FACTOR, MINING EQUIPMENT/SYSTMS WAS NOT A FACTOR, MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR.

Employee was grabbing for a bucket of sealant and a cement block fell striking him on his side of the boot. Cause of the injury was awareness. Compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, mining equipment/ systems not a factor.

Alleged accident was to have occurred while this employee was laying track. He stated that after being bent over most of the day when he straightened up he felt his back get stiff. Cause of the injury was lifting techniques. Compliance with rules/regs not a factor.

EMPLOYEE WAS STEPPING OVER A RAISED TRACK RAIL. AS HE WAS STEPPING OVER THE RAIL THE RAIL FELL OFF THE TWO TRACK JACKS HOLDING IT UP IN THE AIR THUS STRIKING HIS RIGHT LOWER LEG. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS NOT SECURING RAISED TRACK RAIL.

EE WAS HELPING DUMP LARGE AMOUNTS OF QUIKRETE CEMENT INTO A WATER HOLE. HE WAS WEARING REG. LEATHER SHOES THAT SOAK UP WATER. THE CEMENT CAUSED BURNS TO BOTH OF HIS FEET. CAUSE OF INJURY WAS BEING IN CEMENT & WATER WITH LEATHER SHOES.

WHILE WALKING UP THE STEPS BY THE SLOPE TAILPIECE EE SAID THAT HE GOT HIS LEFT FOOT STUCK UNDER THE FIRST STEP. HE REPORTED THAT ANOTHER EE BUMPED INTO HIM AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING HIM TO SPR AIN HIS KNEE.

ALLEGED INCIDENT WAS TO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THIS EE WAS UNLOADING ROCK DUST FROM A SHIELD CAR. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS IMPROPER LIFTING AND BODY POSITIONING. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS NOT A FACTOR, PERSONNEL EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR, MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR, MINING EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR, BUT MINING SYSTEMS COULD BE A FACTOR.

EE WAS SCALING TOP BETWEEN THE LAST ROW OF PERMANENT SUPPORTS AND THE ATRS PRIOR TO INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS WHEN A PIECE OF SLATE (BINDER) FELL STRIKING HIS ARM. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFET Y AWARENESS AND USING PROPER TOOLS.

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THE 2ND DRILL STEELTO FINISH A 8 FOOT HOLE. HE PUT HIS HAND ON TOP OF THE 2ND DRILL STEEL WHEN THE 1ST DRILL STEEL FELL OUT OF THE ROOF STRIKING HIS FINGER. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS.

EE WAS STANDING BESIDE A DRIVE MOTOR THAT WAS BEING REMOVED FROM ITS BASE. IT WAS SUPPORTED BY A CHAIN FALL, WHEN HIS CO-WORKERS REMOVED THE LAST BOLT IT SWUNG AROUND STRIKING HIM. CAUSE OF THE INJURY WAS AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATIONS. COMPPLIANCE WITH RULES/ REGS NOT A FACTOR.

ROCK FROM ON TOP OF THE MINER FELL OFF ONTO THE MINE FLOOR LEANING AGAINST THE MINER, HIS CO-WORKER WENT AND MOVED THE CABLE AND THE ROCK FELL STRIKING THE MINER OPR ON HIS KNEE. CAUSE OF THE INJURY WAS COMMUNICATION AND SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR.MINER PROFICIENCY NOT A FACTOR, MINING EQUIP/ SYSTEMS A FACTOR, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT NOT FACTOR.

EE WAS IN FRONT OF THE SHIELD THAT WAS BEING PULLED IN FOR THE SNAKE. THE SHIELD OPERATOR SAID HE PULLED THE WRONG ONE BY ACCIDENT. EE FOOT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE RELAY BAR AND PONTOON. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES REGS WAS A FACTOR, MINER ATTITUDE COULD BE A FACTOR, SAFETY EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR, MINIING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS NOT A FACTOR.

EE GRABBED A LIFTING JACK OFF THE LOCOMOTIVE AND WHEN HE SET IT VERTICAL, THE RATCHETING PART OF THE JACK COLLAPSED, THUS PINCHING HIS TWO FINGERS. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS CONCENTRATION. RULES/REGS WERE NOT A FACTOR, MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR, SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS NOT BEING WORN (GLOVES), MINING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS WERE NOT A FACTOR.

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN THE PANLINE ON THE LONGWALL CHECKING STAPLE LOCKS FOR SHIELD HOSES. A SECTION OF ICROTRACK WAS SITTING VERTICAL IN THE PANLINE TROUGH. HE BUMPED IT AND THE SECTION CAME DOWN ON TOP OF HIS HAND THAT WAS ON THE RAILING.

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING LOAD A WELDER CABLE IN A SCOOP BUCKET AND WHEN THE SCOOP OPERATOR WAS TOLD TO STOP THE SCOOP, THE OPERATOR DROPPED THE BUCKET TO THE GROUND. EMPLOYEE HAD HIS FOOT UNDER THE BUCKET. LACK OF SAFETY AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION CONTRIBUTED TO INJURY. MINER PROFICIENCY WAS A FACTOR.

The employee was pulling on a valve that they just hoisted up to the 2nd floor. He caught his finger between the rail and the valve at the hand rail. Cause is safety awareness, Compliance with rules/regs not a factor, protective equipment a factor, miner knowledge a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor.

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO SET UP THE LONGWALL. THEY WERE USING A CABLE TO PULL CONVEYOR CHAIN THROUGH PANLINE. THE CABLE CAUGHT THE SANDWICH PLATE OF THE HANDRAIL AND WENT FLYING. THE PLATE STRUCK HIS KNEE. CAUSE OF THE INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS NOT A FACTOR, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OK, MINER ROFICIENCY A FACTOR. REPORTABLE 1/14/05 DUE TO DIAGNOSIS

Employee turned and ran into a wire from a screen mat hanging down from the roof. Cause of this injury was awarness, compliance with rules/regs was not a factor, mining equipment/systems not a factor, protective equipment not a factor.

ALLEGED INCIDENT WAS TO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THIS EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN THE ENTRY AND FELL. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR; MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR; PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR; MINING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS NOT A FACTOR.

EE WAS OPERATING THE TRAIL LOCOMOTIVE IN A TRIP OF CARS. ROOF BOLTS THAT WERE IN THE SUPPLY CAR CAUGHT THE ROOF AND CAME BACK STRIKING HIM IN THE SHOULDER. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS HEIGHT OF SUPPLIES VERSES THE ROOF HEIGHT. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS NOT A FACTOR; PROCTECTIVE EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR; MINER KNOWLEDGE COULD BE A FACTOR; MINING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS COULD BE A FACTOR.

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE 7LS SHEARER (TAILGATE SIDE) WHEN A ROCK FLEW FROM THE DRUM STRIKING HIM IN THE MOUTH & LEFT SIDE OF FACE.

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO INSTALL ""V"" BELTS ON A HEAVY MEDIA SUMP PUMP & WHILE INSTALLING THE BELTS HE GOT HIS FINGER CAUGHT. PROTECTIVE GLOVES WERE NOT BEING WORN.

Supervisor was going out into the tailgate area to perform examinations and a piece of roof fell between the edge of the shield and the row of bolts striking him on the side of his face. cause of this injury was safety awareness. Compliane with rules/regs was not a factor, protective equipment was not a factor, miner proficiency a factor, mining equip/systems not a factor

EE WAS STRIKING A SOLID CEMENT BLOCK WALL AND THE SEALANT USED WAS STILL WET. THE MATERIAL OFF THE CEMENT BLOCK FLEW BACK AND SPLASHED INTO HIS LEFT EYE. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN WORN, MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR, MINING EQUIP/SYSTEMS NOT A FACTOR.

SUPERVISOR WAS UNPLUGGING A CATHEAD FOR A ROOF BOLTER. HE FAILED TO KNOCK THE BREAKER PRIOR TO UNPLUGGING & RECEIVED A FLASH BURN ON TOP OF HIS HAND. CAUSE OF THIS INJURY AWARENESS.

EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING A SPRAY ON THE HEAD OF THE MINER. A CABLE BOLT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE DRUM. WHEN HE LEANED OVER THE DRUM HE BUMPED THE CABLE BOLT & IT SPRUNG FREE STRIKING HIM IN THE NOS E. CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR; PERSONAL SAFETY EQUIP. NOT A FACTOR; MINER PROFICIECY A FACTOR; MINING EQUIP/SYSTEMS NOT A FACTOR.

EE WAS PUSHING THE HEADGATE OVER DUE TO THE ENTRY BEING OFF SIGHTS AND HE LOOKED AROUND THE SHIELD TO SEE IF EVERYTHING WAS O.K. WHEN A ROCK FELL FROM THE ROOF STRIKING HIM. CAUSE OF THE INJUR Y WAS SAFETY AWARENESS, COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR, MINER PROFIENCY A FACTOR, MINING EQUIPMENT/ SYSTEMS A FACTOR.

Supervisor was operating a Johnson rubber tire vehicle. While going over a track switch the steering wheel spun out of his hand and the knob struck the back of his hand.

EE WAS DESCENDING OFF A BELT TRANSFER PLATFORM WHEN HE STEPPED ON A ROCK ROLLING HIS ANKLE OVER.CAUSE OF THIS INJURY WAS SAFETY AWARENESS. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES/REGS WAS NOT A FACTOR, PROTECTI VE EQUIPMENT NOT A FACTOR, MINER PROFICIENCY A FACTOR, MINING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS NOT A FACTOR.

EE was standing on top of belt lowering it. The head of the bolt broke that the chain fall was hooked to. EE fell off belt striking the rib and then the mine floor.