Excel Mining, LLC.Mining Incidents in 2013

2 ee working with a DC powered welder and oxygen/acetylene touches to repair a cutting bit lug on a continuous miner. Rubber hoses of the cutting torches accidental came in contact with the hot case of the bonder, melting the hoses and igniting the gases, causing a fire. Fire lasted 10 to 12 min was extinguished with water. No inj were reported due to this fire.

A roof fall was discovered by the mine examiner while traveling the return air course in #2 entry inby spad 450. The estimated size of the roof fall is 30'long, 20'wide , and 8'high. No injuries were reported as result of the roof fall.

A non-injury water incident occurred on the 005-0 MMU when the continuous miner cut into a core hole in the 8 heading. This incident is being reported solely to prevent future enforcement actions due to MSHA's allegation that the water inflow was an inundation.

A roof fall was discovered by Mine Examiner and State Inspector while traveling old 2A intake cross cut 15 inby spad 23832. The fall measured 20 foot wide, 20 foot long, and 8 foot high. No injuries were reported as a result of the roof fall.

While in the process of shoveling belt employee strained his lower back.

Employee was checking voltage on each phase of the section power center, for unknown reason the multimeter he was using short circuited producing an electrical flash that resulted in burns to his face and hands.

Employee was in the process of installing permanent roof support as he leaned forward to straighten bolt he lost his balance causing him to fall forward, mashing the tip of his right index finger between the roof bolt plate and the boom of the bolter. He was taken to local ER and referred to a hand specialist. Surgery was needed to repair the damage to his finger.

He was at break 37 on 2 belt at Tool Storage station. He moved a 4 wheeler tire out of the way to get in his tool box. He felt pain in lower groin area.

Employee was moving Vent curtain and stepped in a hole twisting knee.

Employee was operating a battery powered 4 wheeler. While traveling the track entry the 4 wheeler slid off the track causing employee's neck and lower back to be jarred. Employee was seen by local physician who removed him from work pending MRI results.

Employee was in the process of tramming a continuous miner, as he twisted on his feet in place to watch the tail of the miner he felt pain in his right knee. Employee was seen by a local physician and was removed from work pending MRI results.

While in the process pulling a rock dust hose employee ran head first into a cable bolt, causing him to fall, landing on his right shoulder. Employee continued to work until 7/26/2013 at which time he was seen by a specialist and removed from work pending results from an MRI.

He was getting in deck of roof bolter from the side. He put his legs in with his hands on top of the bolter deck. His hands slipped off hitting lower back area on the back rest of the bolter deck.

He finish shift, and was putting away his tools, and felt pain in lower back area.

Injured employee was assisting the scoop operator that was scattering joints of track rail using a chain with a bolt thru the end of the rail to pull with. As he was removing the bolt, the joint rolled over and pinched his left middle finger against the mine floor. He was taken to the local ER where he received sutures to repair the finger.

Was on a ladder that was leaning against a block wall. The ladder kicked out and he fell approx. 4 ft. to the ground landing on his feet. He originally thought he had twisted or sprained his ankle - later found to have fractured bone in foot.

While in the process of installing permanent roof support, the plate was not uniform with the bolt pattern. When employee placed his left hand to straighten the plate he unintentionally applied up pressure and mashed the tip of his left index finger between the plate and mine roof.

While in the process of installing permanent roof support, employee placed a roof bolt into the drill pot, bolt twisted causing him to strain his left shoulder. ER physician place employee off work.

While in the process of exiting a rail mantrip at the battery station, employee twisted his left knee. He was seen by a local physician whom placed off work pending MRI results.

Employee was sitting on bench waiting for hoist car. According to MSHA inspector AR#23903, EE rose up and twisted knee. We have no report of injury by which to gather information to complete this form. Employee is not available to gather information. This 7000-1 is being filed in order to terminate a citation written during a Part 50 Audit. This is filed under protest.

Employee had been kneeling to work on continuous miner, as he started to rise his right knee popped. He was seen by a local physician at a local hospital and released to return to work. Employee continue to have pain, on 2/25/13 he was removed from work by a specialist.

Employee and co-worker were loading steel beams onto mobile equipment when employee felt sharp pain in lower back. ER diagnosed with a pulled muscle and removed from work.

Employee was bending a bolt and pulling on pot when he experienced pain in the middle of his back. This 7000-1 is being filed in order to terminate a citation written during a Part 50 Audit. We do not agree that this was a reportable injury. We do not accommodate ""restricted work activity"" at Excel Mining. Time sheets show he returned to his regular job the next day.

EE was bending bolt so he could install it into hole. Bolt slipped causing him to experience pain in his shoulder. This 7000-1 is being filed in order to terminate a citation written during a Part 50 Audit. We do not agree that this was a reportable injury. We do not accommodate ""restricted work activity"" at Excel Mining. Time sheets show he returned to his regular job next day.

While working on airlock doors EE moved to let mantrip open doors. A piece of falling material fell striking him on back of neck causing him to fall to ground. This is being filed to terminate citation written during a Part 50 Audit. We do not agree this was reportable. We do not accommodate ""restricted work activity"". Time sheets show EE was back at regular job next day.

Employee was in the process of splitting a half header by striking it against the scoop bucket, when a piece of the half header struck him in the lower lip causing a laceration that required sutures to close.

He was helping change a bottom roller at the tunnel belt tailpiece. He took a sledge hammer to hit old roller to free it up to remove. He miss roller and raked right hand across bracket that holds bottom roller. He had a laceration on right hand that required 9 sutures.

Employee was working as an electrician on putting planetary on continuous miner. He had slate bar under planetary when it fell on slate bar smashing his left thumb between slate bar, and miner causing a laceration that required 20 sutures to close.

Employee was traveling the track on a battery rubber tired 4 wheeler, when the front tire of the 4 wheeler struck an unseen object on the track. This caused the steering wheel to spin, striking employee's right hand, resulting in a fracture.

Employee was tramming a continuous miner across the entry toward the air current when the tail boom struck the mine roof causing some dust particles to fly into his right eye. Employee was taken to a local eye doctor where he was given antibiotic drops.

Riding up track entry, small piece of falling material fell hitting him on right arm causing a small laceration that required 5 sutures to close.

Throwing a cat head for a belt drive over a belt line. He got his left index finger caught between the cat head, and the mine roof as he was throwing it across the belt. It took 11 stitches to his left index finger. He returned to work the next day.

While in the process of using a jack and chain to adjust belt structure, jack slipped causing employee's right middle finger to be mashed between the chain and belt structure.

While in the process of using a utility knife to cut rope hangers from roof bolt cable, knife slipped causing a laceration to employee's right hand that required sutures to close.

At 7A BELT HEAD ON 7 SECTION. HE SLIPPED, AND HIT RIGHT FOREARM ON BOTTOM BELT STAND CAUSING A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED 12 SUTURES.

While in the process of trimming a belt splice using a utility knife, the knife slipped causing a laceration to his left hand that required sutures.

Employee was walking across the section when he rubbed the mine roof with his hand, knocking a small piece of loose material free, hitting him in the left eye. Employee finished his shift and went for medical evaluation, he was referred to an eye specialist. No scratches, cuts, or embedded objects were found in the eye. Antibiotic was applied to prevent infection.

Employee was using a pry bar to remove loose material from the top of the continuous miner, the bar slipped causing his right ring finger to be mashed between the bar and the miner. Employee finished his shift and went for medical evaluation where x-rays were taken. X-rays showed a fracture to the metacarpal in the tip of the injured finger.

Employee and a co-worker was dropping the miner cable and water line across the no. 7 entry when the cable dropped the metal hook of a rope hanger hit his right hand between the thumb and index fingers creating a puncture wound. The wound was cleaned and 1 stitch was installed to hold the wound closed.

Two belt shovelers were cleaning, and busting rock on 2A belt. One of the belt shovelers threw a piece of rock on belt. It bounced off hitting the injured miner in cheek area causing a laceration that required 9 sutures to close. He returned to work on next regular schedule.