All MSHA-reportable accidents at Canyon Fuel Company LLC operations in 2010. Fatalities appear first.
A water discharge pipe broke in the Pace X-over main return aircourse, adjacent to a return entry sump. The broken line was not discovered for several hours, as such the water in the sump overflowed to a point where it blocked off a return aircourse. The mine was under a previous K Order, mining was not taking place. Ventilation changes were minimal.
Two longwall Coordinators were in the process of investigating elevated CO in the tailgate entry of the longwall. The CO occurred subsequent to a large cave in by the longwall shields near the tailgate corner. Elevated CO was detected behind shield No. 155 in the tailgate entry. Based on their findings a decision was made to evacuate the mine.
The AMS operator was alerted to 19 PPM at BEP #3 in the Gil-8 bleeder. Shift Coordinator was notified and investigated. The odor of burning coal was detected and the order was given to evacuate the mine. Efforts to investigate were unsuccessful, MSHA made a decision to evacute the mine. The cause of the elevated CO was never determined due to the fact the area was sealed.
We started to rehab a crosscut in our bleeder system in order to re-route walkway. After beginning re-hab we found that the center of crosscut had fell above roof bolt anchor.
Injured employee was loading a 30"" X 10' vent tube into the back of a Jeffrey Ramcar. After lifting one end of tube onto tailgate, injured employee lifted other end and pushed tube. During the time he was pushing tube, he wrenched his back.
Section mechanic positioned himself on the right side of the roof bolter to begin repairs on a bantam rockduster. The right side bolter operator finished installing two rib mesh bolts and swung drill mast in and back in order to move roof bolter. Left side bolter operator found mechanic caught between bolter frame and right side drill mast that was swung back in place.
EE & his partner were removing 2"" diameter pipe that was hung on the mine roof. He stepped onto the conveyor structure railing (bolting was removed) to remove pipe from its hangers. The structure tipped slightly & he lost control of the pipe. He said he had a sharp pain in his upper back when the pipe fell. He reported the incident and worked the next day. He was advised to see Dr.
Employee was in the process of loading old belt rollers & structure in the bucket of his LHD. As he was topping off the load with a 54"" cluster, a belt roller rotated causing the cluster to twist, catching his finger between the edge of the bucket & the cluster.
Cutting coal on the longwall face when a small piece of rock flipped up and struck his lip.