All MSHA-reportable accidents at Bell County Coal Corporation operations in 2007. Fatalities appear first.
A ROCK FALL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE #2 ENTRY APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET OUTBY SPAD #533 DURING THE PRESHIFT EXAMINATION AT 8:30 PM. THE FALL WAS APPROX. 20' LONG X 18' WIDE AND 10 FEET IN THICKNESS. THE ESCAPEWAY WAS REROUTED, THE ROCK FALL CLEANED UP AND THE ROOF RESUPPORTED WITH ARCHES. IT DID NOT AFFECT PERSONS, VENTILATION NOR EQUIPMENT.
A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE #3 ENTRY AT SPAD 917. THE AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 20' X 80' LONG X 10' HIGH. THE FALL WAS LOCATED IN THE NEUTRAL OUTBY THE WORKING SECTION. THE FALL DID NOT AFFECT PERSONS, EQUIPMENT NOR VENTILATION. IT HAS BEEN DANGERED AND CRIBBED OFF.
A ROCK FALL OCCURRED IN THE #2 ENTRY AT SPAD #1191 ON THE ACTIVE SECTION OF 001. DETERIORATING CONDITIONS HAD PROMPTED THE AREA TO BE DANGERED OFF PRIOR TO THE FALL. THE FALL AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 20'X20'X5'HIGH. THE AREA HAS BEEN CLEANED UP AND RESUPPORTED. NO PERSONS, EQUIPMENT NOR VENTILATION WERE AFFECTED.
A roof fall was discovered in the # 5 entry 1 crosscut outby spad 399 outby the working sections. The fall was apx. 100'longx8'highx18'wide. The fall did not affect miners, ventilation nor equipment. The area has been dangered off and may be cleaned up at a later date.
A rock fall was discovered in the #5 entry 1 crosscut out spad 923 at 2:15 p.m. The fall did not affect miners, equipment nor ventilation. The fall is approximately 9 feet high x 20 feet wide and 90 feet long. This area is well out by the active section. The area has been dangered and timbered off.
During the pre-shift examination prior to 2nd shift at 2:30 p.m. a rock fall was discovered in the #5 entry at spad 1040. The rock fall was approximately 20' X 19'x 5' high. This fall was reported immediately to MSHA supervisor and since the location was in the primary escapeway it was rerouted and all miners informed.
Upon examination of the neutral a rock fall was discovered in the #5 entry between spad 468 and 462. The fall was approximately 60' long x 19' wide x 12' high. The fall did not affect employees, ventilation nor equipment. The fall may be cleaned up at some point.
A roof fall above anchorage occurred in the belt entry one crosscut from the outside. The fall was approximately 25'x18'x7'high. The fall was reported and investigated by msha. The area is being cleaned up and arches installed in the area.
A roof fall was discovered by Mine Foreman and MSHA as they investigated 2 previous rock falls in an abandoned panel. The fall extended from spad 982 thru 980, 981 and from the right break in #3 across to #5 right in the belt line in #4. The area had been abandoned and did not have any affect on miners, ventilation nor equipment. The area has been dangered and cribbed off.
A rock fall occurred at 1:30p.m. as the section was being moved from the panel. The fall was above anchorage. The fall was inby spad 980. No persons, ventilation nor equipment were affected. the fall area was dangered and cribbed.
A rock fall was discovered in the #3 entry one crosscut inby spad #982. The fall was approximately 20'x20' x7' high. The area was cribbed and dangered off. Mining ceased and the equipment was moved from this panel. The fall did not affect ventilation nor equipment.
Upon examination of the left return a roof rall was discovered. The fall is located at spad 401 on the 2nd south west mains in the left return. The fall is approximately 20 feet wide x 9 feet high x 90 feet long. The fall did not affect miners, ventilation nor equipment. The area has been cribbed and dangered off.
Employee was helping install track when something pulled in his shoulder. He went to the ER where the x-rays were negative. He continued to work until 11/15/07 when this accident became a loss time.
EE loading header boards by hand onto a flat car to be transported underground when he set the boards down onto his left index finger. He was transported to the hospital and recieved 4 stitches to the tip of his finger. EE ret'd to duty next shift and continued normal duties.
Employee stated that he had filled the dozer with fuel and was standing on the track of the dozer when his foot slipped and he fell off of the dozer landing on his back on the ground. He went to the emergency room and x-rays did not show any broken bones and the diagnosis was bruising only.
EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE WAS WORKING BUILDING A SEAL WHEN HE TURNED WITH A SOLID CONCRETE BLOCK IN HIS HANDS AND STRUCK ANOTHER BLOCK WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. HE WAS X-RAYED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIPS OF HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER AND HIS RING FINGER WERE BROKEN.
Employee was pulling loose material from the rib when material rolled off and struck him on the left foot. He continued to work the rest of the shift and went to the doctor that night. There were no fractures and he was told to take the next 2 days off. He was released to come back to work on regular duty on 01/19/07.
Employee stated that he was loading rock dust onto the scoop when he turned with a bag of dust in his arms and hurt his left knee. He continued to work his regular job and consulted a Dr. who performed surgery on 3-28-07 to repair cartlidge in his knee.
Employee was pulling cable off the reel of the shuttle car when he felt something pull in his lower back. He continued to work until 06/04/07 when he missed his first shift of work and this became a lost time accident.
EE stated that he was moving a continuous miner cable over to the rib and had turned, the rib rolled off and struck him on the right leg in the calf and knee area. EE's knee was pinned against a parked shuttle car by the material from the rib. EE was transported to the hospital where it was determined that he had a fracture to the tibia near the knee.
EE stated that he was working on a belt set up, when he stepped on a piece of belt that was laying on the bottom as it was pulled by the scoop. EE saw a Dr. on that day and continued to work until 11/16/07, when this became a lost time injury.
Employee was backing the miner out of a cut when a small piece of rock fell from the roof, struck him on the back and caused him to fall on the remote box for the continuous miner. He was treated for bruising to the abdominal area and returned to light duty work on the next shift.
EE WAS WATCHING THE MINER CABLE WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK APPX. 12 INCHES X 12 INCHES UP TO 1 INCH THICK FELL FROM THE ROOF AND STRUCK HIS RIGHT RING FINGER. HE RECEIVED 9 STITCHES AT THE HOSPITAL AND RETURNED TO WORK ON THE FOLLOWING SHIFT.
Employee was operating a rail runner that was connected by chain to another rail runner when the chain broke and came back and struck him in the forehead. He was transported to the ER where he received 15 stitches. Employee returned to work on the next scheduled shift.
EE WAS OPERATING THE RAIL RUNNER, WHEN A SHOVEL THAT HE HAD PLACED ON THE TOP OF THE RAIL RUNNER CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SPILL BOARD AT A CONVEYOR BELT, CAUSING THE SHOVEL TO STRIKE HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. EE RECIEVED 5 STITCHES AND RETURNED TO WORK ON THE NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT.
Employee was roof bolting when a piece of rock approximately 12""x12""x2"" fell from the roof and struck his right little finger mashing it against the head of the roof bolter. He was transported to the hospital and received 20 stitches.
EE WAS CUTTING BELT WITH A UTILITY KNIFE, WHEN HE CUT HIS LEFT THIGH. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE RECIEVED 5 STITCHES TO HIS LEG. HE CONTINUED TO WORK AND IS NOT A LOST TIME ACCIDENT.
Employee was standing on a step ladder, attempting to hang a cable from the roof when he fell off the ladder striking the ladder as he fell. He was transported to MARH where it was determined that he had fractured 3 ribs. He returned to work on the next regular scheduled shift on light duty without loss of time.
Found driver slumped over wheel, attempt to wake him up, apparently heart attack. Emt/ems onsite attempted care and transported to local hospital where he was pronounced dead. MSHA was notified immediately when ems, an investigation was completed by MSHA on truck and site, no violations were found.