Highland Mining Company LLCMining Incidents in 2003

ROCK FALL AT 60 AND 95 IN #2 ENTRY ON OLD #3 UNIT.

HAD ROCKFALL ON OLD #3 UNIT. #7 ENTRY - 60+22 20' X 20' X 6'. #6 ENTRY - 56+47 20 X 45 X 6'.

HAD ROCKFALL AT 45 AND 98 #6 ENTRY 60' BY 20' BY 5'.

ROCK FALL IN 2 ENTRY, 41 AND 30 #4 UNIT 40' BY 20' BY 6'.

ROCKFALL AT XC #3 -- BACK SIDE OF #4 UNIT BELT. 25' X 7' X 20'.

ROCKFALL ON #3 UNIT - #6 ENTRY AT 48 + 80. 35' X 20' X 8'. (APPROX 2000' OUTBY FACE)

HAD ROCKFALL ON #3 IN THE LAST OPEN X-CUT BETWEEN #6 AND #7 ENTRY. 40' BY 8' BY 20'.

HAD ROCKFALL ON #4 BELT XC #11 50' BY 8' BY 20'.

HAD ROCKFALL AT 59 + 35 ON #3 UNIT IN SUPPLY ROAD AND XC ON EACH SIDE. 70' X 20' X 8'.

HAD ROCKFALL AT XC-68 ON #3 SUPPLY ROAD IN X-CUT BETWEEN BELT & SUPPLY ROAD. 5' X 18' X 40'.

HAD ROCKFALL AT #40 ON MAIN SOUTH. IN THE X-CUT BETWEEN BELT & TRACK.

SLOPE BRAKE CAR - PIN WORKED LOOSE FROM ELECT. BRAKE, WHEN DISCOVERED REMOVED FROM SERVICE, PIN REINSTALLED AND ""KEEPER"" WELDED ON END OF PIN TO SECURE IN PLACE TO PREVENT REOCCURRANCE.

HAD ROCKFALL ON #4 UNIT BELT LINE AT XC #5- 40'X 7'X 20'.

HAD ROCK FALL IN #2 ENTRY - #4 UNIT AT 22 + 50. 5' X 25' X 20'.

HAD ROCK FALL IN #6 ENTRY ON #3 UNIT - 48 + 95. 25' X 5' X 19'.

HAD ROCK FALL IN #2 ENTRY AT 13 + 50 ON #4 UNIT. 70' X 20' X 6'.

HAD ROCK FALL IN #2 ENTRY - #4 UNIT AT 18 + 10. 6' X 20' 100'.

THE GEAR FOR THE LILLY SPEED REDUCER STRIPPED - HOIST.

HAD ROCKFALL ON #4 UNIT SUPPLY ROAD XC-#5-#7 6'X20'X150'.

THE OPERATION OF THIS HOIST IS MONITORED ELECTRONICALLY. A PLC FAULT OCCURRED FOR THE DRUM BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH, CAUSING THE HOIST SYSTEM TO SHUT THE HOIST DOWN.

HAD ROCKFALL 6'X 20'X 30' IN #4 RETURN - #1 ENTRY AT 6+30.

HAD ROCKFALL IN AN IDLE AREA OF THE WEST PANEL OFF OF SUB NORTH. 22'X18'X8' AT 13 + 65

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION IN THE NO.2 ENTRY AT SPAD 18 & 95, IN THE 1ST ROOM SET OF THE 6TH PANEL WEST. THRERE WERE NO INJURIES, EQUIPMENT DAMAGES, OR DISRUPTIONS TO VENTILATION.

FAIL SAFE CIRCUIT OF BRAKE CAR MALFUNCTIONED, ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE. REPAIRED CAR PUT BACK IN SERVICE AT 6:00 A.M.

BATTERIES BECAME DEFECTIVE ON BRAKE CAR FOR THE HOISTING EQUIP., THE BATTERIES WOULD NOT PROPERLY CHARGE ( NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED), PUT BACK INTO SERVICE AT 2:30AM.

BATTERIES BECAME DEFECTIVE ON THE BRAKE CAR FOR THE HOISTING EQUIPMENT, THE BATTERIES WOULD NOT PROPERLY CHARGE (NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED, PUT BACK IN SERVICE 9:00 A.M.)

BATTERY WAS LOW ON SLOPE CAR, BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING SUPPLOY CAR TO COME LOOSE, THUS RESULTING IN TONGUE OF SUPPLY CAR BECOMING WEDGED AGAINST THE SIDE OF SLOPE.

THE ALI MAK ELEVATOR ELECTRICAL OVERLOADS DE-ENERGIZED THE ELEVATOR WHEN IT WAS CALLED TO GO UNDERGROUND FOR TRANSPORTING EES TO THE SURFACE. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. IT WAS FOUND TH AT THE COLD TEMPERATURE HAD MADE THE GREASE THICKEN IN THE GUIDE ROLLERS WHICH CREATED ROLLING RESISTANCE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL OVERLOADS TO TRIGGER.

TWO EES RODE THE ELEVATOR INTO THE MINE. THEY REPORTED TO THE MINE FOREMAN THAT THE ELEVATOR MADE AN UNUSUAL SOUND WITH SOME VIBRATION (STARTING AT ABOUT 75' DOWN FROM THE SURFACE). THE MINE F OREMAN HAD THE ELEVATOR TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL IT COULD BE CHECKED BY THE SERVICE RPRESENTATIVES. THEY INSPECTED THE ELEVATOR AND COULD FIND NO DAMAGE OR CAUSE FOR THE SOUND/VIBRATION (IC

ROOF FALL X-CUT 177 IN PILLAR LINE BETWEEN OLD BELT ENTRY AND SUPPLY ENTRY. APPROX 20' LONG 18' WIDE 4-6' HIGH.

CREW WAS MINING INTO RETURN AIR SHAFT, THE WALL OF COAL RUPTURED, FOLLOWED BY WATER FLOWING FROM THE SHAFT INTO THE ACTIVE WORKS OF THE MINE.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED: AFTER SERVICING THE TAIL ROLLER BEARINGS FOR THE ""CROSS BELT"", WHEN TRAVELING BACK TO HIS TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE HE CRAWLED OVER A PILE OF COAL DRAGGING A 5 LB GREASE CAN. A S HE CROSSED THE COAL A BURNING SENSATION WAS FELT TO HIS LEFT GROIN. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A RUPTURE TO THE GROIN.

OPERATING A BOLTER IN A FLUSH FACE AREA, THE MACHINE WAS LOCATED OUT IN THE INTERSECTION WHICH WAS AN OVERCAST HOLE. HE WAS INSTALLING THE FIRST BOLT UNDER THE BROW, STANDING OUT IN THE OVERCA ST HOLE AREA. A SMALL ROCK FELL FROM THE ""HIGH ROOF"" AREA STRIKING HIS LEFT THUMB. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO THE THUMB.

THE BOLTER MACHINE WAS LOCATED IN AN OVERCAST HOLE AREA (HIGH ROOF). AFTER PERFORMING THE TASK OF CLEANING HIS DUST BOX, HE STOOD UP ALONGSIDE THE MACHINE WHEN A SMALL PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM THE HIGH TOP STRIKING HIS HEAD AND NECK RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE SPRAIN TO HIS NECK.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED: INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS IN A FACE AREA, AFTER DRILLING HOLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THE ROOF BOLT IN THE DRILLED HOLE, THE BOLT CAUGHT IN THE HOLE AND BENT. WHEN ROTATING T HE BOLT TO ANCHOR, THE BELT BOLT STRUCK HIS LEFT THUMB. (STARTED MISSING SCHEDULED WORK DAYS ON 11-29-2003).

EE STATED THAT HE HAD MOVED THE ROOF BOLTER HE WAS OPERATING AND WAS WALKING BACK TO INSTALL A BOLT, WHEN HE STRUCK HIS HEAD AGAINST THE CANOPY. HE SAID THAT THIS TWISTED HIS NECK AND CAUSED P AIN IN HIS NECK AND LEFT ARM.

EE REPORTED: WORKING AS A ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR. A DRILL STEEL BECAME LODGED IN A DRILL HOLE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE STEEL, JERKED ON THE STEEL AND EXPERIENCED PAIN TO HIS MID BACK AND RIB CAGE AREA (LEFT SIDE).

EE REPORTED: WORKING ON THE BACK SIDE OF CONVEYOR BELT MOVING A CABLE (FCT CABLE) WHEN HE SLIPPED ON A PIECE OF DAMP DRAW ROCK. WHEN TRYING TO CATCH HIMSELF TO PREVENT FALLING, HE TWISTED HIS LOW BACK. HE EXPERIENCED PAIN AND DISCOMFORT ON THIS DATE BUT WORKED REMAINDER OF SHIFT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING EXPERIENCED PAIN AND BURNING DOWN HIS LEFT LEG.

EE REPORTED: WHEN HELPING COWORKERS INSTALL BELT STRUCTURE IN A BELT LAY, EXPERIENCED PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO HIS LOW BACK. HE CONTINUED TO WORK ALL SCHEDULED SHIFTS THRU 11-1-03, EXPERIENCING PAIN IN LOW BACK.

HELPING CO-WORKERS SPLICE THE #4 UNIT FACE BELT, HE WAS LAYING UNDER THE BELT ON HIS STOMACH DRIVING A BELT SPLICE PIN THROUGH A NEW SET OF BELT CLIPS. THE BELT CHAIN HOLDING THE BELT STRUCTUR E SLIPPED FROM THE FRAME SLOT ALLOWING THE STRUCTURE TO FALL WITHOUT WARNING ONTO HIS BACK. THE FORCE OF THE STRUCTURE STRIKING HIS BACK RESULTED IN A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO 1 RIB, RIGHT CHEST.

EE REPORTED HE WAS SITTING BEHIND THE ROOF BOLTER TO EAT WITH HIS BACK AGAINST THE RIB WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN THE RIB AND THE ROOF BOLT OVERHEAD. IT STRUCK HIM PRIMARILY ON THE KNEES AND WAS DESCRIBED AS ABOUT 18"" SQUARE BY 1-2"" THICK. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE E.R. WHERE NO FRACTURE WAS FOUND.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN ROOF BOLTS STRIKING HIS LEFT SIDE AND SLIDING DOWN HIS LEFT LEG. THE ROCK WAS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 24"" SQUARE BY ABOUT 6"" THICK. IT LANDED ON HIS LEFT FOOT CAUSING A CONTUSION TO THE SIDE OF HIS FOOT. HE WAS OPERATING THE CONTINUOUS MINER AT THE TIME. HE WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO WORK UNTIL 9/3/03 & HE REPORTED THE LOST TIME ACCIDENT AT

EE STATED THAT HE SLIPPED AND FELL WHILE WALKING DOWN THE #4 ENTRY (BELT ENTRY) OF #4 UNIT. THE BOTTOM WAS WET AND MUDDY, SOME ROCK HAD FELL OUT AND THERE WAS CLOSE CLEARANCE ALONG THE DMU. TH IS CREATED A DIFFICULT AREA TO WALK. THE FALL CAUSED PAIN IN HIS LEFT KNEE. EE CONTINUED EXPERIENCE PAIN & SWELLING. DETERMINED BY MRI HE HAD TORN MENISCUS. SURGERY 2/18/04 & BEGAN LOSING TIM

OPERATING A ROOF BOLTER MACHINE, WHEN STARTING A DRILL STEEL IN THE MINE ROOF, THE STEEL BENT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER BEING JERKED. PAIN & STIFFNESS RESULTED FROM THIS ACCIDENT. HE CON'T TO EXPERIENCE DISCOMFORT, AN MRI WAS TAKEN IN 2/04 DETERMINED HAD A TORN ROTOR CUFF. BEGAN MISSING SCHEDULED WORK DAYS 3/16/04. BECAME A REPORTABLE INJURY ON THAT DATE.

THE BELT CREW USES AN 6' X 2"" STEEL BAR TO RAISE THE BELT WHEN INSTALLING BELT ROLLERS ONTO BELT STRUCTURE. HE WAS LOADING THE MATERIAL. WHEN PICKING UP THE STEEL BAR HE EXPERIENCED A BURNING SENSATION TO HIS LOWER RIGHT ABDOMAN AREA POSSIBHERNIA. HE CONTINUED TO WORK ALL SCHEDULE SHIFTS THRU 8-25-03. STARTED LOOSING SCHEDULED WORK DAYS ON 8-26-03. BECAME A REPORTABLE INJURY ONT HE

EE REPORTED: STANDING ALONGSIDE HIS DIESEL RIDE PARKED ALONG THE MINE TRAVELWAY REVIEWING MAINTENENCE ORDERREPORTS WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK MEASURING 1""X1""X2' FELL FROM BETWEEN ROOF BOLTS STR IKING HIS HEAD AND SLIDING DOWN HIS BACK. EXPERIENCED A POSSIBLE NECK STRAIN AND ABRASIONS TO HIS BACK. STARTED LOOSING SCHEDULED WORK DAYS 7-5-03.

EE REPORTED: STANDING ALONGSIDE A FCT ""DMU"" UNIT THAT WAS BEING PULLED UP. THE WIRE ROPE BROKE, FLEW OVER STRIKING HIS LEFT ARM, LACERATION TO HIS ARM.

EE REPORTED: MOVING A BUNDLE OF ROOF BOLTS FROM BACK OF MACHINE TO THE FRONT, SLIPPED ON DAMP DRAW ROCK, TWISTED LOW BACK.

EE REPORTED: OPERATING FLETCHER ROOF BOLTER, WHEN INSERTING A ROOF BOLT INTO DRILLED HOLE, THE BOLT BENT, SPUN AROUND, STRIKING HIS LEFT HAND. THE FORCE OF THE BOLT RESULTED IN A HAIRLINE FRAC TURE TO THE 5TH METACARPAL BONE OF HIS HAND.

EE REPORTED: WORKING AS OFF-SIDE ROOF BOLTER, STANDING ALONGSIDE THE MACHINE, THE OPERATOR MOVED THE MACHINE FORWARD CATCHING HER RT. FOOT UNDER THE EDGE OF THE MACHINE'S FRONT TIRE. SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE OPERATOR WAS MOVING THE MACHINE FORWARD.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED: OPERATING ROOF BOLTER IN FACE AREA, SMALL PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL STRIKING HIS LOWER RIGHT LEG RESULTING IN AN ABRASION. DUE TO THE INJURY WAS A CONTUSION TO FATTY TISSUE OF THE CALF, AN ULCER DEVELOPED AT THE INJURED SITE. HE WAS PUT UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE AND REMOVED FROM WORK STATUS AS OF 7/15/2003.

EE REPORTED: WHEN LIFTING BAGS OF 40 LB BLOCK BOND FROM THE MINE FLOOR INTO A SCOOP BUCKET EXPERIENCED PAIN TO HIS LOW BACK (POSSIBLE STRAIN TO THE LUMBAR SECTION OF BACK).

EMPLOYEE REPORTED: PERFORMING JOB AS MINER OPR HELPER, ATTEMPTED TO THROW WATER HOSE AGAINST RIB LINE, EXPERIENCED PAIN TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER. THIS WAS SAME SHOULDER HE HAD INJURED WHEN LIFTI NG WIEGHT IN A GYM AND WAS RECEIVEING TREATMENT PRIOR TO DATE OF HIS REPORTED ACCIDENT. HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED BY OUR COMP CARRIER.

EE REPORTED: HE & CO-WORKERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO ADD BELT STRUCTURE IN NEW BELT EXTENTION. HE & A CO-WORKER USING A BAR WERE LIFTING THE RUBBER BELT TO ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL WORKER TO INSTALL BELT IDLER. WHEN LIFTING THE BELT, HE EXPERIENCED A SHARP PAIN TO HIS LOW BACK.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED: WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE FCT BELT, HE WAS CRAWLING ACROSS THE ""CROSSOVER""WHEN STEPPING DOWN TO THE MINE FLOOR HE SLIPPED AND FELL. HIS LEFT FOOT LANDED IN A WET/ MUDDY A REA RESULTING IN HIS ANKLE TURNING. HE EXPERIENCED A POSSIBLE SPRAIN TO THE ANKLE.

EE REPORTED: HE AND COWORKERS WERE WORKING MOVING UNIT POWER CABLES ON THE NO. 2 UNIT. EE WAS PERFORMING THE TASK OF LIFTING, MOVING AND HANGING THE CONTINUOUS MINER CABLE WHEN HE EXPERIENCED PAIN TO HIS LOW BACK. EXTENT OF INJURY WAS A POSSIBLE STRAIN TO LOW BACK.

OPERATING A FORK LIFT IN THE SUPPLY YARD, WHEN STEPPING OUT OF THE CAB ONTO THE GROUND, EXPERIENCED PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO HIS LOW BACK. PAIN CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE SHIFT. THE EE HAS A HISTO RY OF LOW BACK PROBLEMS.

EE REPORTED: RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A 14 MAN DIESEL MANTRIP, THE MANTRIP BECAME HUNG UP WHEN THE OPERATOR PULLED INTO A CROSSCUT ALONG 2-A SUPPLY ROAD. ANOTHER WORKER, USING ANOTHER D IESEL VEHICLE, TRIED TO PUSH THE STUCK VEHICLE TO FREE IT. THE SECOND VEHICLE'S BUMPER CAME OVER THE SIDE FRAME OF THE 14 MAN MANTRIP RESULTINGIN THE VICTIM'S FOOT BEING STRUCK BY BUMPER.

EE REPORTED: HELPING COWORKER MOVE ROOF BOLTING MACHINE FROM WORK AREA OUT TO PARK IN A CROSSCUT. THE COWORKER WAS AT CONTROLS (BACKING MACHINE), THE INJURED WORKER WAS ALONGSIDE THE MACHINE S TORING EXCESS CABLE ON TOP OF THE TOP TRAYS. HIS FOOT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE OF THE MACHINE RESULTING IN A CONTUSION TO THE TOP OF THE FOOT.

WHILE CHANGING OUT BATTERIES ON THE RAM CAR - ONE OF THE BATTERIES SLIPPED OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR CAUSING THE EMPLOYEE TO HIT HIS HEAD AGAINST THE CANOPY OF THE CAR.

HE WAS OPERATING CONTINUOUS MINER CUTTING INTO NEW RETURN AIR SHAFT. A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER (EXCESSIVE PRESSURE) BROKE THROUGH THE COAL FACE WASHING HIM ALONG THE ENTRY FOR APPROXIMATELY 220' . HE STRUCK A RAM CAR THAT WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE CONTINUOUS MINER. HE EXPERIENCED CONTUSIONS ON HIS LEGS, ARMS, TORSO AND HEAD.

HE WAS OPERATING A RAM CAR POSITIONED UNDER THE BOOM OF THE CONTINUOUS MINER. SUDDENLY WATER BURST THROUGH THE FACE. THE PRESSURE OF THE WATER PULLED HIM FROM THE OPERATOR'S COMPARTMENT. THE V OLUME OF WATER WASHED HIM ALONG THE ENTRY FOR ABOUT 220'. HE EXPERIENCED CONTUSIONS TO HIS LEGS, ARMS, ABDOMEN AND BACK RESULTING IN NUMBNESS & PARALYSIS TO HIS LEGS & FEET.

SUPERVISING A CUT TOWARD RETURN AIRSHAFT, HE WAS STANDING APPROXIMATELY 40' IN BEHIND CONTINUOUS MINER. WATER BURST THROUGH THE COAL FACE. THE VOLUME OF WATER WASHED HIM APPROXIMATELY 220' DOW N THE ENTRY.

EE STATED HE WAS WALKING BESIDE THE CONTINUOUS HAULAGE UNIT BELT LINE, TRIPPED ON SHOELACE OR SOME OTHER OBJECT, & FELL ON AN UPRIGHT METAL BRACKET FOR A ROLLER. THE EDGE OF THE METAL CAUSED A LACERATION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS GROIN THAT REQUIRED 4 SUTURES. HE DID NOT MISS ANY WORK DUE TO THIS INJURY. THIS OCCURRED ON THE LAST DAY OF HIS WORK WEEK.

EE REPORTED: STANDING IN AN AREA WHERE THE ROOF HAD BEEN CUT OUT FOR AN OVERCAST, WHEN INSPECTING A DAMAGED PLACE ON A ROOF BOLTER CABLE A SMALL PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL APPROX. 12'HIGH STRIKIN G HIS RT. HAND RESULTING IN A 1""LACERATION (REQUIRING 5 SUTURES TO CLOSE). NO LOST TIME.

EE REPORTED: AFTER COMPLETING THE TASK OF BUILDING A BRATTICE, HE SAT DOWN - REMOVED MINE CAP AND WAS WIPING SWEAT FROM BROW WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK MEASURING 2'X 2'X 1"" FELL STRIKING HIS FO REHEAD. THE EXTENT OF HIS INJURY WAS A LACERATION TO THE FOREHEAD.

MINER WAS NOTIFIED BY MSHA THAT THIS EE HAS BECOME A PART 90 MINER (SUSPECTED EARLY STAGES OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS).

EE REPORTED: HE AND A COWORKER WERE OPERATING A FLETCHER ROOF BOLTER DRILLING REQUIRED TEST HOLES ON THE NEW NO. 1 UNIT. HE WAS STANDING BESIDE THE MACHINE AS THE OPERATOR WAS TRAMING FORWARD. THE OPERATOR INADVERTLY SWIVELED THE MACHINE RESULTING IN THE MACHINE'S ATRS BUMPING HIS LEFT ELBOW. PAIN AND SWELLING CONTINUED. STARTED LOOSING SCHEDULED WORK DAYS ON 4-11-03 BECAME A REPOR