Hamilton County Coal, LLCMining Incidents in 2022

An unplanned roof fall between #7 and #8 entry of the #7 entry of the Main North Travel Road was found by the pre-shift mine examiners. The fall measured 8 ft. in height, 18 ft. in width and 60 ft. in length.

Elevated CO levels were detected at the walkable bleeders near the district #2 bleeder fan shaft. Upon investigation it was determined the source of the elevated CO was located at the District 2 Longwall Panel 8 tear down face.

The Hoistman was sending down a longwall shield loaded on a shield car that was attached to the Frontier-Kemper Brakeman Car. As the shield car and the brakeman car traveled through the top switch above the slope collar, the brakeman cars front wheels off tracked and hit a track guide rail, causing damage to the brakeman cars front wheels.

Unplanned roof fall at crosscut #17, entry #4, on the West Submains, at spad Station #31655. Fall dimensions 19' wide, 20' long, 6' high. Fall did not cause injury, impair ventilation, or entrap miners. Fall area developed on March 1st, 2018. Reported to MSHA at 6:35PM on 08/21/2022.

The mine monitoring system on the surface identified elevated CO at sensor #108, located at the LW TG. Upon investigation, flames were discovered where expansion foam had been applied in a roof cavity near #50 shield at the LW face. A miner immediately applied a fire extinguisher and quickly suppressed the flames. The area was then cooled with water and firefighting foam.

EE was running tractor, went to turn in to crosscut 50 to get out of the way of the water wagon. EE realized there was a trailer already in the crosscut, started to back-up out of the crosscut with EE's fingers resting over the guard plate at the articulation point, which resulted in crushing and amputation of two fingers.

Carrying a roll of hose towards the tailgate, EE stepped wrong, straining EE's right knee.

Bent over and picked up high voltage cable, felt something pop in lower back.

Was walking to 5 right overcast, lost footing and knee popped. EE was taken off work on 09/28/2022.

Carrying a piece of tubing in mud, EE slipped and dropped the other end of tube, EE felt a muscle pull in EE's lower back.

EE had just taken the bucket off the Scoop. While backing outby the scoop canopy hit the air outlet on the 4"" compressed airline which caused the airline to be separated from the victaulic coupler. This caused the rock dust in the entry to create zero visibility condition. EE continued outby and the 4"" line entered the cab of the scoop and struck the operator in the head.

The employee was trying to cut a link off of a chain so the chain would fit a lock box. Employee was holding the chain with channel locks and cutting link with a battery powered grinder. The grinder slipped off of chain and cut their left hand causing them to receive stitches.

While offloading structure on the belt line, EE felt a burning feeling on the inside part of right shoulder. EE was taken off work on 08/31/2022 for surgery.

While lifting belt up to install belt structure during a belt move, EE felt a sharp pain in EE's back.

EE was changing a broken hydraulic fitting. When the hose broke off the fitting, EE felt a pain in the right elbow. EE continued working and was taken off work for surgery on 5/20/2022 for a tear in the bicep.

While walking to the face to get tools to put away, EE slipped next to the stage loader and felt left knee pop. EE continued to work until all test results were received, EE was then taken off work on 5/23/2022.

Loading belt structure on to a 5th wheel trailer being pulled by a getman. EE saw an additional top roller as the trailer was exiting the crosscut and while attempting to toss the roller on the trailer EE placed EE's foot in-line with the 5th wheel trailer tire and the tire ran over the end of EE's Met steel toe boots. Resulted in 4 broken toes.

EE had removed the Range Arm pin and was tossing it up on the shield. As EE tossed it, EE did not get it as high as needed and caught right pinky finger between the pin and shield causing a laceration and fracture.

EE complained of pain in EE's right leg, back and neck as a result of riding as a passenger in a mantrip along the roadway. The roadway was being graded to increase the height in preparation for the upcoming longwall move. The miner finished EE's shift. After consulting with a doctor EE was taken off work on 3/2/2022.

EE pulled on hog panel to free it up on the bolter, EE felt a pop in right shoulder.

EE was walking away from the face area. EE stopped and bent over to get in dinner bucket and was struck by the battery scoop.

Loading top of Head Drive with crib block. Carrying two cribs on EE's left shoulder, EE lost EE's footing causing EE to fall forward. The cribs slid forward from EE's shoulder hitting EE's right middle finger against the side of the drive.

Employee was pulling down a hanging piece of tin when the tin ripped and cut employee's thumb. Had surgery and received stitches.

Was loading cribs on head drive up high. Stacking cribs 4 high when a top crib fell off the stack, hitting EE's right ring finger.

When shutting equipment door, EE's finger was smashed by the walk thru door. Fracturing EE's finger.

While cutting pump hose, EE was kneeling down on one knee cutting it. The knife came out of the hose striking left thigh area causing EE to receive stitches.

EE was standing by the miner at the 7-Right raise bore shaft area, a rock ricochet off the gob/rock area at the shaft hole and propelled back 75' to EE's location striking EE in the left wrist causing EE to receive stitches.

The employee was checking the silicate level in one of the tankers when the wind blew the opened tanker lid closed on the the employee's left thumb. X-rays revealed a small fracture. Employee was wearing metacarpal gloves at the time of the incident.