Canyon Fuel Company LLCMining Incidents in 2003

AN IGNITION OCCURRED IN THE NO. 4 FACE OF THE NORTH MAINS SECTION. THE CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LOADING HIS SECOND CAR OF COAL WHEN THE IGNITION OCCURRED.

A ROOF FALL APPROX. 3'HIGH X 6'WIDE & 10'LONG WAS DISCOVERED BY THE WEEKLY EXAMINER WHILE DOING HIS WEEKLY EXAMINATION. THE FALL WAS LOCATED IN THE #2 ENTRY BETWEEN X/C 4 & 5. THIS IS THE SECONDARY ESCAPEWAY FROM THE MINE. ALL INBY MINING WAS STOPPED & THE AREA REHABILITATED BEFORE MINING RESUMED. NO EFFECTS ON VENTILATION WERE RECORDED ON THE FAN CHART OR NOTICED BY PRESHIFT

ROOF FALL DISCOVERED BY THE WEEKLY EXAMINER. MEASURES 45' X 18' X 12'. ROOF FAILURE ABOVE THE ANCHOR ZONE OF THE BOLTS DUE TO LAMINATION SEPARATION, WATER IMPREGNATION OF THE ROOF STRATA. AREA DANGERED OFF AND BREAKER ROWS SET TO PREVENT FURTHER FALL AND PERSONNEL ENTRY. NO EFFECT ON VENTILATION OR ESCAPEWAY TRAVEL.

A BOUNCE OR OUTBURST OCCURRED ON THE FOURTH WEST LONGWALL FACE WHICH DAMAGED THE SHEARER.

A BOUNCE OR OUTBURST OCCURRED ON THE FOURTH WEST LONGWALL FACE WHICH DAMAGED THE SHEARER RANGING ARM.

ROOF FALL WAS ENCOUNTERED BY THE WEEKLY EXAMINER THE 1-LEFT TAILGATE #2 ENTRY X/C 40 ABOVE THE ANCHOR ZONE. FALL MEASURES 20'X 30'X 9' HIGH. SEPARATION OF ROOF STRATA DUE TO EXPOSURE OF AIR AN D WATER OVER TIME ARE CAUSE OF FALL. ALL ACCESS TO THE FALL AREA WERE DANGERED OFF TO PREVENT PERSONS FROM ENTERING THE AREA. NO CHANGE IN VENTILATION OR BLOCKAGE OF ESCAPEWAYS RESULTED FROM

ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED ON TOP OF THE STORED MUCK WHICH WAS STORED IN ENTRIES X/C 11 THROUGHT X/C 13 IN THE #1 ENTRY OF SOUTH MAINS. THIS ENTRY HAS BEEN USED FOR THE STORAGE OF MUCK AND NOT C HANGE IN VENTILATION WAS EXPERIENCED. IT IS NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS CAVE HAS EXISTED DUE TO THE MUCK WHICH WAS SOTRED HERE. ALL ACCESS TO THIS AREA HAS BEEN DANGERED OFF AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

A BOUNCE OCCURRED AT SHIELD #122 ON THE LONGWALL FACE THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SHEARER.

A BOUNCE OCCURRED ON THE FACE OF THE LONGWALL, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE SHEARER, HALTING PRODUCTION FOR MORE THAN ONE HOUR.

EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING AN EIMCO M3 SHIELD HAULER UP THE FAULT WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BEHIND THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT BLEW, CAUSING THE MACHINE TO DROP TO THE GROUND AND JARRING THE EMPLOYEE'S LOWER BACK. OPERATOR'S SEAT WAS AN AIR RIDE SEAT, WHICH APPEARED TO BE WORKING. EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. EMPLOYEE SUSTAINED INJURY TO LOWER BACK. HE HAS PRE-EXISTING BACK CONDITION.

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING IN #3 ENTRY OF 3LPE & STEPPED ON A LUMP OF COAL. HIS RIGHT ANKLE ROLLED RESULTING IN A SPRAIN.

EE WAS WALKING ON A SLICK, MUDDY SURFACE IN THE BELTLINE WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL. HIS LEFT ANKLE TWISTED AS HIS FOOT HIT A SMALL LIP ON THE FLOOR. THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN TO HIS LEFT ANKLE.

2 OTHER EE'S ALONG WITH INJURED WERE INSTALLING AN IMPACT BED FRAME AT BELT. 2 EE'S WERE ON OFF-SIDE OF BELT, & INJURED WAS ON WALKWAY SIDE PUSHING IMPACT BED FRAME IN. WHEN THE FRAME FELL INT O PLACE, IT PINCHED HIS THUMB BETWEEN THE FRAME & THE RAIL CAUSING A LACERATION TO RT. THUMB.

WALKING UP A SET OF STAIRS (CARRYING A NIP) WHEN HE CAUGHT HIS TOE ON THE TOP STEP AND TRIPPED, LANDING ON HIS KNEE.

WHILE OPERATING A LOW PROFILE SCOOP EE RAN OVER A ROCK HE HAD BEEN CARRYING AND HIT HIS HEAD ON CANOPY.

EE WAS OPERATING A COME-A-LONG JACK USING AN UP AND DOWN MOTION WITH HIS RIGHT ARM WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DROP A CONVEYOR BELT BOTTOM ROLLER HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS LEFT BICEP. HE CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 12/25/03, AT WHICH TIME HE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. HE WAS DIAGNOSE D WITH A DETACHED BICEP MUSCLE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY ON 12/02/03.

EE WAS WALKING INTO HIGH VELOCITY AIRFLOW TOWARD THE LINK CANYON PORTAL. HE STUMBLED OVER AN IRREGULARITY ON THE FLOOR AND FELL FORWARD. AS HE FELL FORWARD HE PUT HIS RIGHT FOOT FORWARD TO CAT CH HIMSELF AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS LEFT ANKLE. PAIN RADIATED FROM HIS ANKLE TO HIS KNEE.

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN THE ENTRY WHEN HE SLIPPED ON THE MINE FLOOR WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT, AND HE LANDED ON HIS LEFT ANKLE.

THE MINER OPERATOR BACKED THE CONTINUOUS MINER OUT OF THE FACE IN PREPARATION TO ROCK DUST THE FACE WITH A BANTAM (MACHINE MOUNTED) ROCK DUSTER. THE VICTIM WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DUMPING A BAG OF ROCK DUST INTO THE HOPPER OF THE DUSTER; HE LOOKED INTO THE HOPPER AND NOTICED SEVERAL SMALL CHUNKS OF SHALE ROOF ROCK LODGED AROUND THE AUGER OF THE ROCK DUSTER. HE HOLLERED AT THE CONTINU

INJURED WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A BROKEN PIN WITH THE AID OF A PORTA POWER. HE PLACED A 1/2 "" ALLEN WRENCH INSIDE HINGE AND PUSHED AGAINST THE HEAD OF THE WRENCH TO FORCE BROKEN PIN OUT OF THE HINGE. AS PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, THE ALLEN SHATTERED.

SHEARER WAS AT SHIELD 22-25 GOING TO THE TAILGATE. FACE WAS RUNNING IN AUTOMATIC MODE. INJURED WALKED PAST THE LAST PULLED SHIELDS AND CONTINUED TO THE HEADGATE. WHEN STEPPING FROM SHIELD 11 TO 10, SHIELD 10 WAS ACTIVATED. INJURED RIGHT FOOT TWISTED OFF THE TAILGATE TOE AND BETWEEN ITAND THE DRAW BAR, PINCHING FOOT BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND KNUCKLE, CAUSING LACERATION AND FRACTURE

INJURED WAS BOLTING NO. 3 FACE DRILLING 16-FOOT HOLES. HE BEGAN TO REMOVE DRILL STEELS FROM COMPLETED HOLE WHEN ONLY THE BOTTOM STEEL CAME OUT. LEAVING THE MIDDLE AND TOP STEELS STUCK IN DRILL HOLE. HE PLACED HIS HAND ON TIP OF THE WRENCH WHICH WAS STILL UPRIGHT IN DRILL BOX. WHILE HAND WAS ON TOP OF THE WRENCH THE TWO STUCK DRILL STEELS BROKE FALLING AND STRIKING HIS FINGER-FRACTU

EE WAS REPAIRING THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK LATCH ON A DODGE PICKUP. THE 5"" SCREWDRIVER HE WAS USING TO PRY THE LATCH INTO PLACE SLIPPED AND EE'S HAND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SHARP PIECE OF METAL O N THE DOOR.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE PUTTING THE CONVEYOR CHAIN TOGETHER. THEY HAD TO LEFT THE CHAIN BRAKE UP AND OUT OF THE WAY. AS THE BRAKE SWUNG ALL THE WAY OVER, IT CAUGHT HIS MIDDLE AND RING FINGERS BETWE EN THE BRAKE AND CROSS FRAME, FRACTURING BOTH FINGERS AND LACERATING HIS RING FINGER ALSO.

CLIMBING INTO A GEHL, HE BUMPED HIS RT. ELBOW ON THE CAGE. THE ELBOW SWELLED & HE WENT TO THE DR. HE WAS RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK.

EMPLOYEE WAS JACKING THE MESH TRAILER WITH A TRACT JACK USING A SCREWDRIVER AS A HANDLE AND THE SCREWDRIVER SLIPPED OUT AND STRUCK HIM ON THE CHIN.

HE WAS HELPING A MECHANIC MAKE A CABLE SPLICE. HE WAS USING A HAMMER AND AN ANVIL WHEN THE HAMMER SLIPPED OFF THE ANVIL AND STRUCK HIS FINGER. HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE UNTIL 5-16-03, WHEN AN X-RAY WAS TAKEN. THE X-RAY REVEALED A SMALL PIECE OF METAL IN HIS FINGER. THE METAL WAS SURGICALLY REMOVED ON 5-29-03.

HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STACKING OVERCAST MATERIAL (ARCHES) ALONG THE SOUTH MAINS BELT LINE. AS HE LOWERED AN ARCH TO THE GROUND HE LOST HIS FOOTING ON THE SLICK MINE FLOOR, WHEN HE LANDED ON THE GROUND HIS FINGER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO METAL ARCHES.

EE WAS LIFTING PIN ON PUMP TRAILER WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND PRYING THE HITCH WITH HIS RIGHT HAND USING A SCREWDRIVER. THE HITCH BROKE LOOSE AND SMASHED HIS LEFT THUMB AGAINST THE BUMPER OF THE T RUCK. EE NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT IS ON THE 7TH. HE IS ON THE DOT SHIFT THIS WEEK. NO LOST TIME ACCRUED.

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF PERSONAL VEHICLE IN THE SURFACE PARKING LOT PRIOR TO REPORTING TO WORK. EE PUT HIS LEFT FOOT ON GROUND AND THAT FOOT SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER HIM AND HE STRUCK HI S LEFT ARM ON THE GROUND.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE BOLTING TOGETHER. #1 WAS OPERATING THE GOPHER DRILL & #2 WAS ASSISTING. #1 HAD COMPLETED DRILLING THE HOLE & WAS INSERTING A BOLT. AT THIS TIME #2 WAS DOWNHILL. AS #1 PUSHED THE BOLT INTO THE HOLE HE YELLED TO #2 THAT HE WAS LOOSING CONTROL. #2 TRIED TO GRAB THE DRILL TO ASSIST. THE DRILL KICKED TOWARD #2 STRIKING HIS FACE, CAUSING A LACERATION & BROKEN TEETH.

HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL A SHIELD IN AT #118 WHEN A BOUNCE OCCURRED. THE BOUNCE KNOCKED HIM INTO THE SHIELD.

EE AND ANOTHER EE WERE MAKING REPAIRS ON A BELT HEAD WIPE. THEY HAD RELEASED THE AIR FROM THE CLUTCHES. THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT RELEASE SO INJURED PUT HIS WRENCH ON IT TO RELEASE IT, THE WRENCH SLIPPED AND STRUCK EE ON THE LOWER LIP.