Bridger Coal CompanyMining Incidents in 2006

The pre-shift examiner found a roof fall at approx. 7:50/am in the 2nd Right section intake just inby #13 x-cut. The fall measured 16' wide, 20' long and approx 7' high.

During his pre-shift examination, the examiner found a roof fall in the 2nd Right section at #17 crosscut between #2 and #3 entries. The fall meassured 50' long, 14' wide and 9' high.

1st Right Section, crosscut 30 in the #2 entry, on Thursday 9-7-06 an examiner encountered a broken timber on the inby right corner and reported it to mine management. Mine Management placed additional roof support in intersection. Total of 15 cribs were in the intersection prior to the incident. The roof conditions continued to worsen resulting in a roof fall.

A roof fall occureed in the 2nd right return in # 1 entry at # 17 crosscut. The roof fall was discovered at around 4:00 PM on June 14t 2006. District was notified at 4:12 pm. The roof fall measured approx. 18 feet wide 8' to 10' feet high and approx 55 feet long. The 2nd right section was evacuated and plan developed to clean and bolt the fall area.

A roof fall occurred in the 1st Right return in #1 entry just outby #15 crosscut. It was discovered around 2:00 pm on Sunday May 14, 2006. Exact time of fall is unknown. Mr. Art Gore, MSHA inspector, was notified at approx. 2:15 pm. The roof fall measured approx 14' wide, 35' long & approx 8' to 10' high. 1st Right was evacuated & a plan developed to clean & bolt the fall.

A roof fall occurred in the 1st right intake in #3 entry at #5 crosscut sometime between 1:45 pm & 2:00 pm. The fall was reported to the field office around 2:10 pm. The fall measured approx. 19' wide on the outby end, 17'wide on the inby end & was approx. 22'long & approx. 7-9'high. 1st right was evacuated & a plan developed to clean & bolt fall area.

The employee aledgedly dropped a chain onto his shoulder. The mechanism of injury doen't match what the employee is claiming and this report is being submitted under protest to abate a citation.

Foot caught between cab of car and floor

Crushed between head of miner and rib.

The employee aledgedly hit his head in the mantrip. The employee didn't report this injury to his employer. This report is being filed under protest to abate a citation.

Employee was attempting to cut a zip tie loose with a utility knife. In doing so, the knife slipped cutting his left lower leg (calf). The laceration required six stitches.

The employee isn't quite sure when it happened, but he believes that while he was hanging high voltage cable he strained his shoulder. He didn't feel any pain at the time, but the next day it was painful. He ""mentioned"" it to his supervisor, however a formal report was not made until 12/01/2006.

The employee was stepping out of the Skid Steer loader. He went to turn around to get off the machine. He either slipped or tripped and fell to the ground. He put his arms out to catch himself and hurt both his arms.

EE was taking down a vent tube in the return of 1st Right and the bar he was using slipped off the hook holding the tube up.The tubes fell striking employee on his left shoulder.There was some question on if the mechanism of injury matched the injury. Several Dr's were consulted before determing that there wasn't any evidence to dispute this claim.

Employee was driving a Tele-Tram out of section in number #2 entry. He pulled into XC 0 to let the Versa-Track by. The Tele-Tram came into contact with the outby rib of coal in XC 0. The Tele-Tram broke loose a piece of rib measuring approximately 4 feet long by 4 feet wide by 4-8 inches thick that struck employee.

The employee was moving roof bolt mats from the deck of the bolter to the catwalk. As he bent over, some remaining mats slipped off the deck and struck him.

The employee had washed and serviced the miner and was climbing on it to work on the fire suppression system. The rib by him started to work and he tried to get off the miner and fell injuring his shoulder.

The employee was un-hooking a winch cable from a pan skid. He was bent over when another employee leaned against a timber behind him. The timber came loose and fell striking the employe on the hand. He was seen at the local ER and released to full duty. On Oct. 4th he went back to the Dr. and was put on rstricted duty.

The employee was attempting to fuel a piece of equipment when the rear door of the service truck lowered striking him on the back of the neck. Initial examination and xrays were negative, however after returning from scheduled days off the employee complained of pain. The employee was examined by a physician and placed on restricted duty.

The employee was attempting to attach a nylon strap on a dump socket wedge for a dragline bucket rigging when the wedge slipped causing it to graze their left hand. Upon medical evaluation, it was determined that there was a non-displaced linear fracture of the second metacarpal on the left hand. The employee was placed on restricted duty.

Employee was reaching for some vent tube straps on the left side of the Fletcher roof bolter. He placed his right hand on the left boom retraction point; the bolter operator was retracting the boom and the employee's hand was caught between the retraction point and the frame of the bolter. All x-rays were negative but the employee was placed on restricted duty on 6/8/06.

The employee was dismounting the shoe of the #103 dragline when he stepped on uneven ground and twisted his left ankle. Upon medical evaluation, it was determined that he had strained his left ankle. This accident has resulted in a restricted duty occurrence.

Employee was crossing a locked out belt conveyor and caught cap lamp and pouch on a 4"" pipe and cause the handle end of a utility knife to hit him in the lower left rib. The incident caused a fractured rib.

Employee was taking cable hangers down from the roof with his hands and he lost his grip on the hanger. The cable hanger struck him in the mouth causing a small laceration. Sutures were required to close laceration.

Employee was carrying a 60"" bottom roller on his shoulder; he was setting the roller down on the ground to remove the bracket. He set the roller on his right foot and the bracket on the roller penetrated his mine boot and cut the 4th toe on his right foot. Sutures were required to close the laceration.

EE was moving a piece of mesh from the mesh tray on the roof bolter to place on the ATRS in the normal bolting process. The mesh was placed on the top of both canopies, pushed forward and dropped down on the top of the ATRS. A sharp edge on the mesh sliced through the glove on his left hand cutting his index finger. Three sutures were required to close the small laceration.

EE was installing belt hangers with a Fletcher roof bolter. He had started drilling a hole & was ready to add a 3' extension steel. While pushing the drill steel back into the roof his left hand was on the steel. When the steel bottomed out it bent & caught his left index finger between the drill steel & the frame of the drill mast. Sutures were required to close the laceration.

The employee was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in his right wrist. He underwent surgery to repair this condition on December 15, 2006. This has resulted in a Lost Time Occupational Illness.