Andalex Resources Inc.Mining Incidents in 2007

An electrician discovered that a roof fall had occurred, in the back entry of the return air course. The area that had caved was approx. 20' long, by 18' wide, by 6.5' high. The area was not used for travel or an escapeway. The area was dangered off w/ flagging tape and a row of timbers were set on all three sides of the cave.

While cutting into the headgate, the face bounced, shaking the shear, knocking something electrical loose inside the shear. This caused a disruption in mining for more than 1 hour to secure repairs to the shear.

A coal outburst/floor heave occurred near the stageloader; this action moved the stageloader and longwall power controller. The result restricted travel from the longwall face.

At the start of the cut in the #1 entry, the miner operator started at the top of the face and cut down, cutting into the face 1 ft. to 4 ft. in depth. As the cutter head hit the mine floor a flare-up occurred over the miner bits. This lasted only 3-5 second and self extinguished.

At 9:15 pm a small bounce occurred on the 12th East longwall, the result of the bounce pinched the shear's headgate pump motor cable requiring the cable to be reentered. This was the only problem found from the bounce. This prevented mining for more than one hour.

While mining into the headgate a bounce/bump with floor heave occurred, causing damage to the longwall shear, resulting in mining being impeded for more than one hour.

At approximately 2:15 am the tail gate travelway of the longwall was observed to be impassable by roof screens that were filled with rock from the immediate roof and some of the rock from the immediate roof had fallen on the mine floor. The area involved was approximately 60 feet long. This is a tail gate closure.

A bounce with floor heave occurred at the head gate of the longwall moving stage loader and controller, impeding travel from the longwall face.

Employee was preparing to hook a shield for extraction from the face. He threw a chain/sling across the shield to be hooked up. When he stood up he wrenched/strained his back and was reporting to be in pain.

Employee had delivered parts to the section and was headed outby. A shield hauler was headed into the section. The ee tried getting out of the haulers way by pulling into a x-c. The hauler hit the Isuzu Pickup Truck that he was driving. He was jarred by the collision. When the hauler stopped, ee was able to get out of his truck and walk around.

While cleaning coal from in front of the cats on the tail piece, the rib bounced sloughing some coal against right leg. Individual tried to turn and twisted right knee as the coal held foot against tail piece.

While walking through the shop, individual tripped over jack handle and fell onto right knee, treated for contusion to right knee.

While moving belt hardware, individual felt pain and burning in right foot, saw doctor and it was felt that he tore tendon in foot.

Individual jumped off of belt structure after changing belt rollers, twisting right ankle upon landing. Has torn ligiment in ankle.

While getting ready to roof bolt a newly created face, the rib popped out some coal and a piece of the coal struck the individual in the back of the head and neck causing bruises. Doctor would not release individual to work until additional evaluations was completed.

While shoveling on belt slip, he fell against belt structure; did not see doctor until 6/5/07. Treated for bruise in muscle over left kidney; could not work for 2 days.

While walking along the stageloader of the longwall a small floor heave occurred, this jammed the individual's left knee causing pain in knee joint. He is off work waiting for MRI.

A coal outburst and floor heave occurred on the belt line between x-cut 13 and 14. The area involved was 60 to 70 feet outby the longwall tailpiece. The result of the outburst and floor heave raised the beltline up and in some locations it was in or near the monorail. This disrupted mining for more than 1 hour.

Individual reached over the hands free chunk clamp to pull drill steel out of hole, individual hit wrong lever and closed the clamps on the edge of hand. Individual missed his next day of work and then reported injury on 5/7/07. Had only bruising and small abrasion on hand side of palm.

While picking up pump strained lower back; hurt back again on 5/30/07 falling down. On 6/19/07 individual notified company following doctors visit that surgery will be needed to repair herniated disc. Individual not off work, surgery scheduled for July.

While pulling the cable trucks on the monorail with the monorail winch, the cable broke and flipped down the belt entry striking individual in the face. This caused a contusion to his right eye and lacerations to left temple area, bridge of nose and right cheek.

While walking into sump area to check pump, slipped and fell on mine floor injuring left shoulder. Did not seek medical care. Individual then saw doctor for pain on 4/23/07 at which time Doctor prescribed therapy and to stay off work for a possible torn rotator cuff which may need surgery.

Individual was helping guide the movement of 988 loader when the loader bucket contacted a roof jack that was lying on the ground. The roof jack flipped up and a section of the roof struck individual in the side of his hard hat causing a ruptured disc in neck.

While flushing scrubber on permissible can setter, the valve on water hose was bumped and opened fully, the hose flipped around knocking feet out from under him causing him to fall on cap light battery causing a bruise that he was given a prescription for pain.

While using a hammer to remove a bearing on an underground truck, a small piece of metal was splintered off and it penetrated into the individual's right middle finger tip. Metal was removed by doctor.

Tail gate shear operator was cutting into the tailgate of the longwall when the face bounced and some loose coal stuck operator knocking him down and causing a laceration to top of head requiring stitches.

Individual had just moved a water pump and was getting back into mantrip when struck top of head on overcast I-beam. This caused individual to jam neck. Did not seek treatment until 5/17/07. Diagnosed with neck sprain and given prescription.

While installing roof bolts, the drill steel got stuck in the hole and as the individual went to connect the chuck wrench to the head of the steel, he pinched his right ring finger tip between the steel and wrench. This caused a fracture to the finger tip.

While training the belt at longwall tailpiece, individual loosened the bolts to the belt roller bracket. Individual bent down to watch belt, placed hand on belt structure rail. The top belt roller bracket moved on the rail, pinching right middle finger tip between top roller bracket and bottom belt hanger bracket lacerating finger tip requiring stitches.

While cutting the tape off of the leads in a cable splice, the individual slipped with the razor knife and cut his left hand palm. The laceration required 8 stitches to close.

While cutting open rock dust bags with a razor knife, individual was cutting towards himself and the knife came through the bag and it struck him in the right lower thigh, causing a laceration that required 2 stitches to close.

While walking along the beltline to the longwall face the pillar yielded some and the rib popped. A chunk of coal flew out and struck individual on the left side of head causing a laceration requiring stitches.

Employee was retrieving tools from toolbox and an explosive device was detonated when he opened the box.