Gibson County Coal, LLCMining Incidents in 2019

Smoke was observed on the west side of the raw coal pile. We have continued our efforts to extinguish all known hot spots using dozers and an excavator.

An unplanned roof fall occurred in the intersection of cross-cut #12, entry #4, of the 3B10 panel at an unknown time on May 18, 2019. The roof fall is estimated to be 20 feet high. Entries approaching the fall measure approximately 18.5 feet wide.

A mechanic was repositioning a crib block under a shuttle car when the shuttle car slid down inside the bucket of scoop approximately 1"" causing the car to pinch the employees thumb on the crib block. The employee lost approximately 1/2 inch of the tip of right thumb due to the accident.

While walking to #1 entry, employee bent over to avoid a roof bolt hanging from the roof and slipped/tripped and landed on right shoulder. Dr. put off work with a strain until MRI.

While installing the outside pin, a rock fell out from above the coal seam and struck employee on the top of left foot. Fracturing 2 bones.

While tearing down line curtain at the face, employee's knee gave out causing EE to strain something. Dr. put employee off work starting on 8/26/19 until MRI can be seen.

As the employee was nipping a set of batteries to the scoop and piece of loose material fell from the mine roof striking the employee on EE's right hand. X-rays revealed a hairline fracture which should not require any surgery. EE started missing work on 08/06/2019.

Employee was sliding a piece of T3 channel across the booms of the roof bolter. Employee's partner retracted boom to install 2nd bolt and the boom pushed the channel that the employee was holding into the rib which smashed the injured employee's right index finger in between the rib and the channel causing a fracture of right index finger.

Employee was cleaning future seal construction area with a scoop. As employee was pushing gob in the old beltline, the bucket unintentionally caught a section of old waterline that the operator was not aware of. As employee continued pushing the gob the waterline broke and came up striking the operator in the back of the head causing a hairline fracture to skull.

The employee was on the opposite operator side of the roof bolter about to begin bolting the 1st cut of entry #1. As the operator turned the roof bolter towards the unbolted corner the opposite operator's right foot was caught underneath the rear tire causing a fracture in first and second toes. The operator began missing work on 06/13/2019.

While building a return stopping, employee felt sharp pain in right shoulder. EE worked until EE was put off work on 8/30/2019 due to surgery to try and clean up the area.

Employee was hooking up the pod duster to the battery jeep and got EE's right index finger caught in the pin and receiver of the battery jeep causing a small laceration on the side of EE's finger. (13) Sutures were required to close the wound. The employee began missing work on 06/04/2019.

A belt mechanic was changing out a top roller when the belt unexpectedly started and put tension on the come-a-long being used to raise the belt. The come-a-long got wrapped around the injured miners hand causing lacerations to EE's right hand and thumb, and a fracture to EE's index finger.

As the 16 person mantrip was leaving the unit, it turned left to go outby. Employee was sitting on the left side of the ride and had their left hand on the outside of the frame. The ride struck the coal rib and smashed employee's left hand. Employee suffered two broken bones.

While 6467A Continuous Miner was tramming through the intersection of #6 entry, the injured employee was also hanging the roof bolter cable from the mine floor. As the miner came closer, a miner bit on the drum inadvertently came in contact with the injured employee's right foot, causing a puncture wound.

When traveling to the unit on a golf cart, employee went over a hill and noticed a getman broke down in the road. EE could not stop quick enough and had to swerve to miss it. Employee fell off golf cart and strained left shoulder.

A contractor had just bolted the corner of a first cut and walked around the bolter to gather supplies off the top of the canopy. The operator assumed ee was handling the cable so ee could reposition the bolter and could not see thru the curtain. When ee did this the contractor's left arm was pinched in between the rib and the canopy causing a fracture to wrist.

As the employee was hand loading cable bolts onto the roof bolter, ee strained neck. EE finished shift but when ee woke up the next morning ee was unable to turn ee neck left or right. The doctor diagnosed ee with a pinched nerve in ee neck. EE began missing work on 1/30/2019.

While reclaiming High Voltage, employee twisted left ankle and broke 3 metatarsal bones in their foot.

As the employee was removing crib blocks from under a shuttle car in which they were finished making repairs to. As the employee reached in to pull a crib block out, a crib block on which the service jack was planted on split in two and allowed the car to sit down on the employee's right hand causing a fracture to right index finger and multiple fractures to thumb.

Injured employee was pulling conveyor belting with a cable and clamp to prepare a splice. The clamp came loose and struck the employee on the left heel.

Employee just finished bolting 2nd cut in 4 left on Unit #3. As EE was lowering the canopy to back the bolter out of the entry, a rock fell and struck EE on the back of the head, pushing the operator's face into the tray on the boom. This caused a small laceration on EE's nose requiring (5) sutures to close the wound.

As the employee was sliding a section of metal on the rollers in the shop, a piece of a metal strap cut left ring and pinky finger causing a small laceration. (7) sutures were required to close the wounds.

While reclaiming belt structure, a bottom roller slid across the tray and smashed employee's right pinky finger. ***laceration***

Employee was hand dusting rib when the roof bolt operator swung the boom in to install a middle bolt. A loose roof bolt in the tray caught on the bolter light housing and popped out of the tray striking the employee in the forehead causing a laceration. (14) sutures were required to close the wound.

As the employee was opening a bundle of glue, employee's knife slipped and made a small laceration in right wrist. (3) sutures were required to close the wound. The employee returned to work and completed shift.

As the roof bolt operator was reaching for a bearing plate to put on the roof bolt, EE scraped arm on the plate causing a small laceration which required (4) sutures to close the wound.

As the contractor was turning around inside the cab of shuttle car, contractor scraped right pinky finger against a piece of sharp metal on a lid inside the cab causing a small laceration. (6) sutures were required to close the wound.

While roof bolting, a piece of shale rock that was already on the canopy slid off and struck employee on the shoulder causing the need for 2 stitches.

As the employee was preparing to turn around inside the cab of shuttle car on the dump, a loose rock that was lying on the top of the canopy slid off and struck employee in the back of the left arm causing a small laceration. (2) sutures were required to close the wound.

Employee was participating in a belt splice and started feeling ill. Employee was transported to the hospital and died later from a heart attack.