Highland Mining Company LLCMining Incidents in 2008

The miner is not sure this is reportable. The hoist car was inoperable due to the batteries being discharge for the brakes on the hoist car. This problem was discovered at approx 10:05 pm. The hoist was pulled out manually and batteries changed out and back in service at approx 11:00 pm.

A rockfall occurred in the 8th Panel North off West Main between 6+40 & 7+20. The fall was 19 x 8 x 60.

The overspeed switch sensor was malfunctioning. The hoist returned to service at 8:30 am.

The mine lost power due to fuse on K.U. Power Center. The hoist was inoperable. Power came up at 1:55am

An outage of the slope hoist occurred due to an electrical problem with power for the control circuit. The outage was from approx 140pm to 223pm.

Rock fall in #6 entry of old #4 unit, 7th subpanel north off of 4th panel north at x-cut 26 spad #10+24, approx. 7' high x 18' wide x 18' long.

A rock fall occurred at approx 11:43 am in the belt entry at x-cut 30 on the main north. The fall was in the bottom area and was 40 x 20 x 8. The fall will be cleaned up. The plus is 21 + 36. The area was supported with 8 ft double lock bolts.

A rock fall was found in the #1 entry at xcut 19 in the return. The fall was 60' long, 18' wide and 6-8' high. This area was mined in 7/2008. Old worked out area.

Roof fall 20' wide, 60' long 6'- 8' thick. Location #5 entry, spad 21 + 04 in the 7th subpanel north.(Abandoned Panel)

1st Main East Panel, off 1st South Subpanel off Main West entry #8, x-cut #40. Roof fall approx. 50' long, 18' wide, 6' - 8' thick.

A rock fall occurred in the #1 entry 7+92 7th subpanel north. The fall was in an intersection and measured 10 x 19.1 x 20. This area was bolted with 6' resin bolts.

A roof fall occurred in the No. 5 Entry of the 3rd Panel South off the 1st Main East. The fall is located at xc 13 (spad 2+31) andis approx. 10' high x 18' wide x 100' long. There were no injuries, witnesses or disruption to ventilation.

A roof fall occurred in the No. 1 Entry of the 7th sub panel north off of the 8th panel north at spad 6+10 and is approx 7' high X 19' wide X 150' long. There were no injuies, witnesses or disruption to ventilation.

A roof fall occured on the main north belt line at x-cut 28 thru 29 and is approx. 8ft high x 20ft wide x 70ft long.

Occurred in #2 entry of the 7th panel North at spad 6+26 x-cut 21 in the return. Approx. 8' high x 19' wide x 57' long.

A rock fall was found in old #1 units return between spad 4 + 20 and 7 + 82. The fall was 4-6 feet high and 19-20 feet wide. This area is 3 xcut from return travelway. 1st East Panel off 1st Panel South - (MSHA on site)

A roof fall was discovered in an abandoned panel. 1st East off 1st south off main street. The fall was located in #2 entry at spad 24x90 and was 20' long x 80' wide into crosscuts x 6' to 8' high.

Hoist malfunctioned due to blown track switch fuse. Repaired by electrician, hoist back in service at 4:16pm.

Roof fall, No 4 Unit face belt entry. Approx 70' long X 20' wide X 7'-9' high. X-cut 29+0 X cut 30.

A fire was discovered at the golf cart charging station as 3rd shift entered the mine. The fire was discovered at approximately 12:10 AM. The fire was under control at approximately 1:20 AM and was extinguished by 2:30 AM. A ""Club Car"" golf cart was involved and there were no injuries or eye witnesses.

The drip pan under the slope belt fell on top of the slope track resulting in blocking the slope cat and pulled the wire out of the conduit. The hoist was down from 12:32 pm to 6:20 pm. MSHA was on surface at time of accident.

1st north panel off main west, belt entry x-cut 6 Spad 1 + 44. 22' x 20' x 8'H

While roof bolting, he was attaching a lower drill steel to the upper drill steel. The hole was misaligned and he had placed the lower steel in the drill chuck. He then used manual force and got the steels partially engaged. He then used the bolters boom lift to finish. He rotated steels and because they were bowed, his left hand was struck. Laceration between index and thumb.

He was installing a side rail for conveyor belt structure. The rail would not engage in the cradle on the stand due to misalignment. The side rail would not quite reach far enough into the stand's cradle. He grasped the side rail and pulled the side rail back. Fell out of cradle, dropped to ground. The tip of his right index finger caught between rail and cradle, caused laceration.

Stated: He had his knee (w/knee pads) on top of a Ram Car towards the tram motors in order to check permissibility on the tram motors. His knees slipped forward slightly and he put his left arm down to prevent falling forward. He experienced pain in his left arm and shoulder. His regular doctor has him off work to determine source of pain.

EE stated that he noticed a pulling sensation in the groin area at about 1:00 AM. After his shift, he noticed a ""knot"" in the groin area while showering. He later went to his doctor who told him he had a hernia. EE is unaware of any specific event or time that he would have caused the hernia.

EE reported: Attempting to unload steel cont. miner cutter motor cover from a supply basket to mine slope car. The supply basket was raised using surface fork lift. When the victim lifted the 100# object from the basket &d turned to place in the supply car, pain was experienced to his low back region. Victim is 6'5"" tall, weighs appx 350 lbs, should be able to handle this load.

Employee reported: Standing alongside the FCT waiting for the machine to be backed so he could cross the section. Without warning, draw rock fell from between the rib bolt pie pan and the rib. It struck the mine floor and flipped over striking his right leg. The diagnosis is a small chipped bone at the base of his tibia where it connects to the ankle.

Employee reported: In the process of roof bolting a face area. After completing the drilling of the hole in the roof and bending of the roof bolt, victim stepped out from under his canopy to retrieve a roof bolt from the machine's storage tray. A small piece of draw rock fell striking the top of his mine cap resulting in a sprain to his neck. Treated at hospital & released.

Operating ram car, tramming along haulage road, ran over fallen draw rock, caused her to strike hardhat against the machine's canopy. Continued working until 11/10/08, due to neck pain. Previous neck injury in 2004 and treated for over 1 year by two doctors. Nov, 2007 involved in car accident, taking meds for neck pain up to 9/27/08. Mine charging event as a work related illness.

Walking across the section. He heard a ram car traveling down the entry, he attempted to hurry into a crosscut. He stepped on a ""wind-roll"" of fireclay. This caused his foot to turn twisting his right ankle resulting in a simple fracture to a small bone in the ankle.

Operating roof bolter drilling hole in mine roof. Had completed drilling the inital drill steel depth. This drill steel stuck in the roof. He added second drill steel in machine's chuck, raised this steel in an attempt to connect the two steels. The steels did not align, lower steel popped sideways striking his right hand resulting in a laceration and fracture to the hand.

Standing alongside the roof bolter positioning the ATRS against the mine roof. A piece of draw rock (3'x3'x4"") fell from between roof supports striking his head, slid down his body and struck his lower left leg resulting in a contusion to the leg. His next scheduled work shift was Wed. 9/17/08. On that date contacted the mine and reported he was unable to work. Became a reportab

Employee alleges he stepped on a small lump of coal in the slope and experienced pain in the bottom of his right heel. Received medical information has determined he is suffering from bone spurs in this heel unrelated to this incident. This 7000-1 form is being completed to terminate a Citation being issued on this date.

Employee reported: Helping co-worker move roof bolter machine across section. As he was walking behind the machine, piece of draw rock fell striking his R. foot.

Assisting the section foreman to attemp to scale loose roof at a roof slip location. When positioned under supported roof, he pryed a piece of rock down. When it came loose, unsuspected roof was dislodged and it fell to the mine floor, striking the victim. A piece of the rock struck his left foot, resulting in a fracture to the metarsal bone of the foot.

Employee reported: Helping crew members make splice in FCT conveyor belt. He was up on top of FCT, as he was climbing down from machine, he stepped on loose material on floor, foot turned resulting in a minor sprain to his right knee.

Reported: Operating a 14CM15 continuous miner cutting a crosscut.As he was sumping in the left side of the cut, the bits began to strike sulfur balls and spark. He backed the machine, lowered the cutter drum and again sumped into the cut. A foreign object flew back striking his right forearm resulting in a puncture wound to the arm.

Operating Getman tractor backing the machine. When attempting to repostion body inside compartment(turning to improve vision)placed his right hand onto a guard for the stop block. His finger were wrapped around the edge of the guard. When the machine articulated together, his right little finger was caught by the stop block, resulting in a fracture to the 1st joint of the finger.

EE reported: He and a coworker were unloading a 30 hp submergible water pump from the rear seat of a 4-man diesel ride. As the pump was raised using a chain and come-a-long, the chain slipped at the hanger, slid sideways catching his finger resulting in a small laceration to the tip of the left little finger.

EE reported: He and coworkers were preparing sled to begin storing reclaimed belt supplies onto. As he was kneeling in front of the sled, a piece of draw rock measuring 7'x3'x0""-2"" thick fell striking the top of his head, sliding down his back and knocking him to the side. Extent of injury was pain and stiffness to his neck and upper back region.

Operating Fletcher roof bolter in face area, when attempting to drill the rib bolt hole, he hear the roof pop. He leaned under the machine's canopy attempting to protect himself. A piece of draw rock (5'x4' thick by 18' long) struck the back side of his left calf resulting in a laceration.

Operating roof bolter in face area, when lowering roof bolter boom, hose blew-squirting oil into his left eye causing an irritation. Was wearing safety glasses with no sideshields.

Employee reported: Had set up the miner in the face of No.3 entry, Hung his wing curtain and was standing alongside the machine's tail. A piece of draw rock fell, partially caught by the wing curtain and flipped over onto his head and shoulder, sliding down his back.

His job is a pumper at this mine. Daily he handles material, raising and lowering his arms. In April he made the decision to seek medical treatment, attempting to get an MRI taken for a diagnosis. There was a small tear in the meniscus at that time. The discomfort was not to the exten he was not able to perform his normal work duties. He continued to work for another 11 mts

Drilling test holes in mine roof. EE attempted to remove the drill auger from roof. Due to length of drill auger, the drill box needed to be moved from under auger. When attempting to slide drill box over, he inadvertly pressed lever wrong direction. Left hand was caught between canopy and the drill auger resulting in a laceration.

Making repairs to scoop charger. When attempting to remove the scoop charger lid, felt a burning pain to his left abdomen. Visited doctor within the next few days, was determined to experienced a hernia to the lower adbomen.

Working as the continuous miner helper on No. $ unit, as he was walking across the section, stepped on a piece of rock, falling to the mine floor, twisting his knee. Reported a possible sprain to the knee. Continued to experience pain & in early Dec 2008 again sought medical treatment. It was diagnosed as a torn meniscus. He had surgery on 12/15/08.

Operating a roof bolter machine in the face area, when drilling hole in mine roof, a small piece of rock fell striking the top side of his left hand resulting in a contusion to the hand.

Employee reported: After moving continuous miner machine, the cable was positioned in the ram car haul road. Using his footm he attempted to shove the cable over against the coal rib. When pusing on the cable, pain was experienced to his left knee. Treating physician diagnosed his condition as bursitis to the knee.

EE reported: He & a co-worker had moved the lunch bench from along a ribline due to unstable roof in the area. He was attempting to pry down the loose roof. A piece of roof fell from behind where he was prying, striking his head & shoulder. He was knocked to the mine floor, striking his shoulder against the power cable tub & his head struck the tub resulting in 1"" cut.

Employee reported: Attempting to move roof bolt plates across top of machine, rib cage contacted the head of a roof bolt, twisted his body resulting in him twisting his right knee. Treating physician at Union County Hospital referred him to an orthopedic specialist. He was removed from work status until he could be treated by the specialist.

Reported: Working on continuous miner section, preparing to tram miner back to face area when a small piece of draw rock fell striking his head, shoulder and lower back. The piece that struck his head contacted his safety glasses bending the frame and cutting the bridge of his nose. Wound required 5 sutures to close.

Operating continuous miner on No 3 unit. When tramming the machine to the face area, the water hose had kinked. As this location passed the victim, the hose flopped over striking his left calf resulting in a contusion. Continued to experience pain and swelling. Received treatment on 3/27/08, fluid drawn from knee. Was removed from work on 3/27/08.

EE and coworker were rockdusting. EE was working as the ""hose man"", backing along the belt. A coal rib had spalded into the belt walkway. He unintentionally stepped onto the loose coal resulting in his foot quickly turning and twisting his left knee. Two days later his knee was swollen and sore; he received medical treatment and was removed from work status.

This form is submitted to abate citation #6695923 and in no way substantiates the employee's claim. The employee alleges an occupational injury that to date had not been verified by the operator during his investigation. Management reserves the right to further investigate this alleged occurrence and appeal the inssuance as written by the inspector.

Drove crew diesel mantrip to bottom for day shift's use. When stepping from the operators compartment, left foot slipped on wet damp mine floor. This allowed his foot to turn, twisting his left knee. 2 days later, knee was sore and swelled, sought medical treatment. MRI taken later, determined torn meniscus. Surgery to repair tear 3/13/08, started missing 3/14/08.

EE reported: Performing the job task of changing a tire on a mantrip. After installing the new tire, he was lowering the lifting jack. As he pressed downward on the jack handle, he heard a pop. The handle flew upward, striking his chin, resulting in a laceration. He sought medical treatment and received 3 sutures to close the wound.

Reported: He was helping his coworker attempt to unstop the suction on a boom of the flecher roof bolter. He laid his left hand on the short-arm of the bolter, the other hand was pulling off the suction hose from beneath the drill box. The coworker raised the boom, the movement caused the victims finger to be caught between the short-arm and the machine frame, restuling in a cut.

He and another worker were cutting the end off of the conveyor belt. He was pulling the knife toward himself and it slipped, contacting his knee. This resulted ina laceration to the left knee cap area. Six sutures wer needed to close the laceration.

Employee reported: He had straightened out a roof bolt after bending it for the installation when the plate slid down the roof bolt. The corner of the plate lacerated the inside of his forearm requiring 12 sutures to close the wound. No lost work days.