All MSHA-reportable accidents at Empire State Mines LLC operations in 2007. Fatalities appear first.
Due to a power surge the MOV (metal oxide varister) of the Avtron electronic drive burned out shutting down the #4 Mine Hoist. The mine was safely evacuated via the #2 hoist (second way out). Night shift has been canceled.
The shaft employees noticed a slight deformity in the conveyance cable. Further investigations revealed this to be a minor kink, but repairs would be necessary The mine was subsequently evacuated using the secondary shaft.
There were""shock waves"" felt underground and in some areas on the surface. There were no injuries or property damage, however the mine was evacuated and MSHA was immediately notified. An inspector was sent and mine rescue investigated the mine and the determination was made to allow work to proceed.
The #4 hoist malfunctioned and came to a controlled stop, the problem was not immediately known and the mine was evacuated using the #2 hoist (2nd way out).
Miner had left index finger and middle finger pinched between the back of the Jumbo electrical plug and the opening for the cable reel. This resulted in loss of the tip of his index finger and 3 stitches to his middle finger.
Injured was bolting with jackleg, when he went to move it he felt a pull in his groin. The injury was reported, but he said he was fine and kept working. On 12/17/2007 he saw his family physician and surgery was performed.
Employee was stepping back and didn't see a 6"" pipe. He placed his foot on the pipe and tripped, landing on his lower back. As a precautionary measure he was taken out on a backboard and sent to the local hospital.
The employee was scaling the sidewall, stepped ahead under a freshly scaled section and a piece of ground, unknown size, fell striking him on the back. He was diagnosed with a pinched nerve.
Injured stepped from the back platform of a personnel transport vehicle and lost his balance when the operator inadvertently started to move forward. He fell to the ground landing on his battery pack causing injuries to his ribs.
The operator of a 6 yd. LHD was mucking an ore pass (bore Hole). It became hung up and he was in too far when it opened up. The LHD became stuck and muck spilled into the operators compartment, some struck his left hand, causing an avulsion of the index finger and bruising to his left leg. Amendment: x-ray revealed fracture in leg.
Lifting a liner at the crusher, he felt something pop in his mid section, the next day while dismounting a vehcle he felt a bulge in his midsection.
Injured was on the ground and stepped to the edge of a scissors lift, at the same time the operator was extending the outriggers, the outrigger shoe contacted the top of his foot. Reulting in pressure, which caused bruises and a small cut.
Employee was dismounting the loader when he slipped and twisted his ankle. Further medical evaluation revealed a broken bone in his right heel.
Employee was walking on a muck pile slipped and fell on his left arm and bruised his left elbow.
Crew was in the scaling and bolting cycle of mining. Employee had finished pinning up 1st ring of bolts and wire with help of his partner. Continuing to the next ring to install of bolts, started drilling hole when loose fell out of back causing the steel and machine to be pushed down. He let go of the drill, turning away when the drill hit him in the R-leg.
Employee was operating a haul truck; as he was approaching a corner he lost the steering due to a blown hose. The truck hit the sidewall and he was forced into the side of the operator's compartment striking his left arm and shoulder.
Small piece of loose fell through the 4"" mesh back support striking the injured on the left shoulder causing bruises.
Injured worker was driving a scissors lift truck down a ramp; part of the engine compartment cover slid forward and struck his left elbow causing discomfort and bruises.
The injured was riding in the back of a Kabota RTV with some misc. tools, when an unknown tool struck him on the nose and chest, causing a laceration to his nose.
Mechanic moving an LHD, placed his hand on the operators compartment edge and turned the LHD, which pinched his hand.
Employee was bolting with a jackleg drill and had leaned a 10'drill steel against the rib. He hit the steel with a panel of screen knocking it over onto his left hand, causing bruising and swelling.
The miner was bolting from the deck of a scissor truck. While assisting another miner collar a hole, the second miner dropped the drill, which struck the injured miner in the lower right leg and calf area.
The injured was preparing to load a drift round when a piece of loose of undetermined size fell from the face striking his left arm and hand. His left little finger was cut requiring 4 stitches.
The miner was driving the DT1518 Mine master tractor down the roadway between MAMPVI and the 3790 face when he twisted his back. The miner stated that he did not know of a specific location in the roadway that had caused the injury, but that he had been jarred and twisted in the seat causing his back pain.
The miner was servicing underground mine equipment with 5 gallon safety cans when he picked up a full can of diesel (approx 35#). He turned to load the can on the service tractor and felt a pop in his left wrist. He continued to work the rest of his shift, but had discomfort and swelling during the night so he was taken to the Dr. the next morning.
Fall of loose ground from sidewall/rib section of production drift, struck scaling bar forcing injured's hand into sidewall pinching it between scaling bar and wall, then the piece of loose hit his hand.
The miner was holding open a steel ventilation door with his hand and foot to allow the airblast from the shot to pass through the opening. When the shot went off, the door was pulled from the miner's hand and struck him in the left lower leg and rib area.
Miner was standing at the MAMPVI air doors holding the door open with his hand and foot, to allow for the air blast from blasting to travel through the opening without damaging the doors. The round was initiated and the resulting concussion was enough to cause the doors to swing and strike the miner.
Pipes slid off scizzors lift and struck employee
Employee was walking to the bolter carousel and stepped on a chunk in the roadway and twisted his ankle.
While moving an old door out to replace with new, he pinched his hand between door and door casing.
Twisted ankle while dismounting haulage truck.
Climbing into an ore haulage truck the injured employee missed the step.
Employee was installing split sets and hog panels for ground support. Driving the bolt to back small piece of rock fell out from between hog panel and back.
While bolting with a jackleg drill a small piece of loose fell from the back striking the machine and bouncing off striking the employee in the mouth chipping his front tooth.
While assisting a mechanic in the installation of a tire his finger gor pinched between the tire and fender resulting in removal of the finger nail and 6 stitches to the right index finger.
Electrical power was interrupted to the 3100 vent doors; the crew attempted to open them manually. After proping the doors open, they unexpectedly shut and employee's feet were struck.
EE was in work area 1972-MP bolting the back. Started pinning screen up, when the screen hinged back and hit him in the mouth. Loss of 1 tooth and loosened others in the bottom jaw. EE was with a work partner.
Mechanic was attempting to free a bushing from an LHD boom using a hammer. He missed and hit his thumb.
The employee was removing discarded roof bolts and sreen from a waste rock dump in preparation to muck the waste rock for fill in a shop floor before concrete is poured. When he pulled a bolt free, a rock of unknown size rolled down the pile striking his right hand, causing a laceration to his middle finger.
Miner was in the process of loading the face with a 3 bag ANFO pot, when the pot goes dry the ANFO loading hose gets an instant burst of high pressure air, which caused the end of the plastic loading hose to whip out of the hole and strike the miner above the right eye, lacerating the right eye brow and the bridge of the nose.
Due to ventilation air, a piece of debris was forced into his eye.
Pinched finger between slide and machine.
The employee was attempting to remove the stem of an LHD hydraulic cylinder. It unexpectedly came out cutting his hand and bruising his chest.
Employee was on a scissor deck when he slipped and hit his left elbow.
A small piece of rock became loose on face and fell. It struck employee on hard hat, causing hat to shift. The hat suspension caused a small laceration on scalp and the brim also hit employee on jaw.
Area had been previously blasted and bolted with 6' split set bolts on a 4' x 4' pattern with wire mesh. New face was drilled & loaded & shot. Area was washed & scaled in preparation for bolting. Miner pulled bolter into heading under supported ground & began to load bolts. He heard cracking & began to exit heading. He was struck by small pieces on hand & shoulder.