Big Ridge, Inc.Mining Incidents in 2007

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the 1A neutral entry #8. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 50' x 20' x 7' thick. The fall will not be cleaned up.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the 1A return at station 49+07 between entries 1 and 2. The fall did not affect ventilation, affect passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 65'x18'x6-8' high. The fall will be cleaned up.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the 3C intake at station 41+70 entry #4. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured app. 20'x20'x6' high. It will not be cleaned up. The fall did fall on the high voltage cable in this area.

An unintentional roof fall occured on the 3C return at station 29+70 in the #1 entry. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 20'x20'x10'high. It will not be cleaned up.

An unintentional roof fall occured in the old 2C panel return at station 72+95 entry #6. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause pesonal injury. The fall measured 20'x20'x6'high. It will not be cleaned up.

An unintentional roof fall occured in the 1A panel returns at station 29+40 entry #10. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause pesonal injury. The fall measured 25'x20'x4.5' high. It will not be cleaned up.

An unintentional rock fall occured in the 1A panel at crosscut #46 between entries 7 and 8. The fall did not affect ventilation, passege of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 25' x 18' x 41/2' high. It will not be cleaned up. It had been supported with 48"" fully grouted roof bolts.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the 003 active working section between entries 6 and 7 at station 42+25. The fall did not affect passage of men, ventilation or cause personal injury. The fall measured 22 feet x 19 feet x 4-6 feet high.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the old 2D return at station 69+40 entry #6. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 30' long x 18'wide x 4' to 7' thick. The fall was in the piller line and not in an intersection. It had been roof bolted with 48"" fully grouted roof bolts.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the Main North Intake at crosscut #112 entry #3. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 25 feet x 25 feet x 6 feet high.

Section Supervisor stated that the Cont. Miner operator was preparing to locate the miner to mine #1 entry. The machine was shut off and they heard the roof working in the intersection. They quickly backed the miner uo out-by the intersection. In a few minutes the intersection partially fell in above the anchorage point.

Some electrical wiring had gotten together and got hot enough to burst into flame, burning some insulation off of wiring and rubber off of hyd. hoses. The fire was put out in less than 10 min. A call was made to MSHA within 10 minutes of discovery. There were no injuries.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the 3rd East worked out panel at 54+60 in the #5 entry. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 12 feet x 18 feet x 6 feet thick.

An unintentional roof fall occurred at entry #9 at station 7+20 on the 5B panel (1st South off of the 8th West). The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 30 feet x 25 feet x 6 feet thick. The roof had been supported with 6 foot fully grouted roof bolts.

An unintentional roof fall occurred at entry #1 at 5+40 station on the 9th West Panel at the #1 seal at the 2A north seals. The fall did not damage the seal itself, affect ventilation, passege of men or cause pesonal injury. The fall measured 30 feet x 25 feet x 9 feet thick. The fall will be cleaned up enough to make the examination of the seal.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the 005 working section at 1+95 entry #2. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall measured 12 feet x 12 feet x 42"" thick.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the East submain off of the Main North at station 32+20 between entries 6 and 7. The fall did not affect ventilation, passage of men or cause personal injury. The fall was in a crosscut and measured 18 feet x 40 feet x 4 feet thick.

An unintentional roof fall occurred at the #6 entry at station 8+40 on the 2nd north main off of the 3rd west submain (return). The fall did not affect ventilation or passege of men. The fall was timbered off and dangered off and will not be cleaned up. It measured 75 feet x 75 feet x 7 feet high. It had previously been supported with 4 foot fully grouted roof bolts.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the East submain at 28+70 station in the #5 entry. The fall did not affect ventilation of passage of men. The fall measured 22 feet x 30 feet x 9 feet high. The intersection had been supported with 6 foot fully grouted roof bolts. All aproaches were timbered and dangered out.

# 1 Unit # 3 entry at 30+80 survey tag there was a roof fall in this intersection. The fall was the whole intersection and fell 8' to 10'. The ccnveyor belt tail was inby this area in the # 6 entry at 31+50 Tag. This area has been timbered and flagged off.

An unintentional roof fall occured at 156+11 station, entry #7 on the main north return. The fall did not affect ventilation or passage of men. The fall measured 18 foot x 18 foot x 6 foot high. The intesection was supported with 6 foot fully grouted roof boltes. All approaches are timbered.

An unintentional roof fall occured at the 20+50 station, entry #6 on the 2B return. The fall did not affect ventilation or passege of men. The fall occured at an intersection and it measured 22foot x 20foot x 6foot. The intersection had been supported with 6 foot fully grouted roof boltes. All approaches have been timbered.

An unintentional roof fall occurred outby the 002 working section in the 2D intake at station 75+90 entry #3. The fall measured 30 feet long x 25 feet wide x 15 feet high. The fall did not affect passage of men or ventilation.

Fall occurred in between #3 & #4 entries - 3rd East intake, at 23+80 (34 xcut). The fall was 6' high, 20' long, 18' wide. 6' fully grouted bolts had been used. Fall did not stop travel or ventilation. Fall will not be cleaned up.

Employee has had a bad left knee and possibly favoring it, as he was walking across the unit doing his examination, he stepped in a tire rut and twisted his other knee. Employee continued to work until April 20th, 2008 and since had surgery on his knee.

Employee was a roofbolter and had finished bolting a place. They backed the machine up shut it off and the injured bent over and started cleaning his dust box out. A rock fell from betwqeen the bolts and hit him on the back of the head and Shoulder.

Employee was operaring a cont. miner, when a rock fell from the roof and struck him on the neck/shoulder and leg. The rock fell from the rib to the first pattern bolt and struck the victim. He continued to work until 12/13/2007 and was taken off by his doctor with a neck pain.

Employee stated that he was uncoupling a 3"" victraulic alum. waterline that was hung on a conveyor tail piece and against a coal rib. Not realizing the there was tension on the pipe when he uncoupled it and he was standing on the loaded side and the line sprange back and struck him on the leg. He was removed from the mine and transported to medical services.

Employee stated that he was roofbolting at the face and a piece of roof fell from between the rib and bolter canopy and struck him on the leg and ankle. Person was transported to medical services and was taken off work.

Employee stated that he and another employee were moving the cont. miner cable out of the center of the entry so the miner could get by. After he was done he felt a sharp pain in his lower left rib cage. He went to the doctor the next day and had a strain to the lower left rib lining. He was taken off work for a few days.

Employee stated he was taking a roll of line curtain to the face, when he stepped in hole and twisted his Right knee. Employee was transported to medical services ER and saw his regular doctor on 11/06/2007. He scheduled off the next three days and started missing on 11/10/2007. Results of MRI was recieved 11/16/2007 from Dr.

Employee stated that he had installed a bolt close to the rib and had let the pressure off his canopy to swing his boom over toward the center. The canopy didn't come down, it was hung on the rib so he released his floor jack to swing the boom over, not realizing what could happen. The canopy when he started swinging, free fell and struck him in the head, neck and back.

Employee stated that he was operating a cont. miner and had backed it up out of the cut. He walked up beside the machine to look at the roof conditions, thinking he might have to trim some top. He turned around at the second row of bolts and was looking at his cable. A rock fell struck the head, slid down off the side and struck his foot.

Employee was in the surface shop installing a transmission in a underground mantrip. The transmission became hung and wouldn't go in any farther so he was pulling at it trying to get it to free up. All of a sudden it came loose and caused the employee to fall backwards, twisting his knee and striking his elbow on a metal cover. He started missing 9/19/2007.

Employee stated that he was walking up to the face area to stagger out the roofbolters. He stepped in a hole on the mine floor and twisted his right knee. He did not go to the doctor until the next day.

Employee stated he was changing batteries in his car when they slipped off. This jarred the car causing the employee to hit his head in the canopy. The employee was under a doctor's care for a non work related neck and back injury. The operator does not believe that this event caused an injury. This report is being filed to abate citation # 6667460

Employee stated he was operating a Mini-Trac and was sitting on a piece of curtain in the seat. He went to get out of the cab, when his foot slipped on the piece of curtain and he fell. As he fell he tried to catch himself with his right arm and hurt his shoulder. He continued to work until April 1st, 2008 when he was taken off for surgery.

Employee was helping change a Boom Hyd. Jack on a Roofbolter. After having it changed he bent over and lifted it onto a transportation ride. After this he felt a pain in his lower stomach area. Medical services reported he was diagnosed with a hernia.

Employee stated he was lifting and moving some waterline so he could get supplies into a x-cut and as he picked up on one end of the pipe he felt some pain in his shoulder. He continued to work until 04/21/2008. He has since had shoulder surgery.

Employee stated that he was sore from roof bolting the last day or two and was helping hang the Cont. Miner trailing cable. After he and three others hung a couple X-cuts of cable, he told his supervisor that his back and hip was hurting. Employee continued to work and started missing on 10/07/2007.

Employee stated that he and another person were trying to remove a steel cover on a Cont. miner with a pry bar. The cover came loose and the bar slipped, and when it did, the cover went up then down and struck the employees thumb. This caused a fracture to his thumb nuckle. Surgery had to be preformed on the thumb.

Employee stated that he was on top of the cont. miner and had been servicing the head hing pins. As he stepped off he put his left foot down on the ground, slipped and struck his right knee on the top cover of the miner.

Employee complains of back spasms/pain and has a past history of spasms/pain in the same area of his back. After driving a tractor down the 4b travelway the employee felt spasms/pain in his lower back. Employee stated that the rough road aggravated this condition. Employee did not start missing work until 8/4/2007.

Employee stated that he was walking thru a curtain and struck his head on a curtain board on the other side, knocking him backwards. Has had prior back surgery.

Employee was working in an area of the mine with a low top setting cribbing. He was bent over and turned to get a piece of lumber. After he picked up the lumber, he turned with the lumber in his hand, and twisted his back. He continued to work his shift.

Employee stated he was examining the slope belt and as he was walking down the slope he slipped on a piece of pipe laying on the concrete floor and fell, twisting his back.

Employee stated he was preparing to set a water pump at a sump at 171 X-cut. The bank of the sump gave way, causing the employee to fall in the sump twisting his ankle.

Employee stated that he was carrying 4 buckets of miner bits to the miner and felt some pain/discomfort in his lower back. Remained working until 06/06/2007.

Employee stated he had climbed upon the raw coal stacker and did some work and was climbing down. As he reached the last step and started to step onto the ground, which was a longer step, he twisted his knee when his foot hit the ground. Employee didn't miss any work until 06/05/2007.

Employee stated that he was walking from his ramcar to go help the miner operator when he slipped/tripped over a piece of far-clay and fell to the floor. He stuck his hand out to break his fall and apparently strained his wrist. Employee started missing on 05/23/2007

Employee stated that he was riding in a mantrip sitting in the very back seat when the trip hit a bump and threw him upward and his head hit the canopy. The employee has had fusion surgery on his back and neck in the past and degenerative problems for a long time.

Employee is an examiner and stated he was in the process of removing material from the travel road. He bent down and pick up a timber to move it off the road when he felt pain in his left groin area. This is something that he does all the time to keep the roadways safe to travel.

Employee stated he was using a bolter, installing chain hangers in a new cut out drive area. The top was higher than normal and he was using a longer steel to drill the hole, when it hit a crack in the strata, jumped up, started to wobble. He reached out to grab the steel and also hit the up pressure at the same time and the steel bowed and struck the back of his hand.

Employee stated that he had driven a Ramcar to the battery barn to change batteries. As he was traveling into the barn he ran over a concrete block and it threw him upward and he hit his head on the canopy. Started missing 4/02/2007

Employee stated that he was installing 3"" waterline in the belt entry. He was dragging up a piece of waterline and when he placed his right foot down on the ground he stepped on some loose material and twisted his knee.

Employee stated he hit his head when walking thru a curtain. The employee was under a doctor's care for a non work related neck injury. The operator does not believe that this event caused an injury. This report is being filed to abate citation #6667465.

Employee was cutting tape off of a pipe with a utility knife. The knife slipped and cut him in the hand.

Employee stated that he was pulling the Roof Bolter cable off of the reel. He then stated that he felt his right shoulder pop and had a sharp pain in it.

Employee was rock dusting beltline. He was walking backward and tripped over a roller in the walkway.

Employee was tramming the roof bolter backwards thru a line curtain. He had his hand and arm reaching out behind him pushing the curtain back. The bolter machine went over a hump and the cab/canopy of the machine went up to the roof. When it did this his hand was pulled on top of the canopy and his finger was caught between a curtain board and the canopy.

Employee stated that he was riding in a man-trip going inside. The man-trip hit a bump in the roadway and he bounced up and hit his head on the canopy jamming his neck. Employee didn't miss work until 03/06/2007.

Employee stated he was standing and observing about 6 ft. behind another person who was removing a belt splice pin. As this person was striking a tool with a hammer, a small piece of steel broke off, flew and struck the employee in the neck. Medical services had to surgically remove it. 4 stitches.

Employee stated that he was roofbolting in a rock fall area where the roof was higher than usual. As he looked up to watch his drill steel, a small piece of rock fell from the roof and struck him in the mouth. A front tooth was broken off and he had a laceration to his upper lip that required 3 stitches.

Employee stated that he had taken his glove off to get a nail out of his pocket. When he got the nail, he didn't put it back on and went ahead rolling the curtain up to the roof. When he got to the roof, rolling the curtain, his thumb came in contact with the edge of a roof bolt plate that had a burr on it.

Employee stated that he was making a miner cable splice and was stripping the inter leads and holding the cable with his left hand. As he started to make a cut with the knife, it came in contact with his thumb. This caused a laceration.

Employee stated that he was cutting a piece of line curtain and pulling the utility knife toward him. He was holding the curtain with his right hand and when the knife slipped the blade struck his thumb. The injured required 6 stitches.

Worker said on 6-1-07 he felt pain when hanging cable. He reported it on 6-6-07 and missed worked on 7-9-07. An MRI on 6-18-07 showed at L5-S1 prominent degeration to the intervertebral disc, T11-12 mild degenerative change, and changes of degenerative facet arthropathy.