All MSHA-reportable accidents at Highland Mining Company LLC operations in 2012. Fatalities appear first.
Roof fall occurred in XC13 on the 1st main W off main N between entry 7 and entry 8. The fall is 17,000' outby the loading point. It is between two overcasts providing a limited intake aircourse to two seals. It is approximately 19.5'Wx75""Lx8'H. No injuries/equipment involved. 1 corner of 1 overcast was damaged which allowed limited intake air to cross with Unit 5 intake air.
Roof fall in the intersection of entry#7 and XC11 on the Main E. travel road The fall is 11,860' outby the loading point.Meas.25'L.X 35' W.X 10'H.There were no injuries and no interruption to ventilation. Travel road was blocked and the secondary escapeway lifeline was re-routed. The fall will be cleaned up and re-hab'd. Personnel have been notified and the changes made on the map.
Mine hoisting system inoperative due to electrical problem. Electricians had problem corrected at 1:05 PM
A roof fall occurred at xc16 on the 1st Main East off the Main North between entry 5 and entry 6. The fall is 11,100' outby the loading point. The fall measures 50'L x 18'W x 10'H. There were no injuries and ventilation or travel was not interrupted. The belt structure had to be removed temporarily to remove some of the fall material and install secondary support. Map attached.
A roof fall occurred in the intersection of entry #6 and xc 29 in the 1st Mains North off 2nd West off Main North. The fall is 50 x-cuts outby the face. There were no injuries, no equipment involved and no disruption to ventilation. The fall was in the travel road but travel was easily routed to entry #7. The fall will be cleaned up.
A roof fall occurred in the Intersections of entry #3, entry #4, and cross cut 19+96 in the 1st Main East off the Main North. The fall is 9,400' from the face. There were no injuries, no equipment involved and no disruption to ventilation or travel. It is undetermined if the cross cut between the entries is involved.
A roof fall occurred in XC #21 between entry #1 and entry #2 of the 1st main north off the 2nd main west, unit #6 MMU-067-O, spad #12+64. the fall was from the edge of the XC in entry #1 and measured 35' toward entry #2. The fall was the width of the XC, 19' x 8'H. there was no equipment involved, no injuries, and no disruptions to travel or ventilation.
A roof fall occurred in the #9 entry of the 1st main north angle off the 2nd west, unit #6 MMU-067-0, spad #31+24, in the intersection. The fall was in a bad area, already cribbed out. The fall was approx 8'H x 18'W x 18'L. There was no equipment involved, no injuries and no disruptions to ventilation. The fall was discovered at 12:05 AM.
Mine hoisting inoperative due to electrical problem. The problem was diagnosed and repaired and the hoisting system was operating again by 11:45a.m.
A roof fall occurred in the #4 entry of the 1st main north off the 2nd west, unit #6, MMU-067-0, spad #15+84, in the intersection. The fall was approx 8""H x 18'W x 18'L. There was no equipment involved, no injuries and no disruptions to ventilation. The fall was discovered at 11:35 pm.
Mine hoisting system inoperative due to electrical problem. Battery on slope brake car not charging properly. Electricians had problem corrected at 11:20 PM.
Stated: Employee was drilling a hole to install a roof bolt when a slab, 12""w x 34""l x 1""t, fell from the roof. It came down in a hinged motion and when it broke away from the roof it struck his right calf like a spear. The laceration required 4 sutures to close. His first day missed due to this injury was 12/26/2012.
Stated: Employee was walking toward rear of bolter when he tripped over a rock. He caught himself with his hand against the bolter. He was taken to the ER where x-rays revealed two broken metacarpal bones in his right hand.
Stated: Employee was driving golf cart toward bottom when his steering malfunctioned. His golf cart ran into the rib and he hit his head on the steering wheel and his left leg on the dashboard. He went to the ortho on 10/22/2012 and was diagnosed with hairline fractures to his fibula. He is to remain off work until healed.
Stated: Employee was driving scoop to charging station. He hit the panic bar and had to exit the scoop to reset breaker. He reset breaker and fell from the scoop injuring his foot and back. He did not go to the doctor until 10/8/2012. He was placed off work pending further tests.
Stated: Employee was loading pin plates in scoop and got foot tangled in plastic. He tripped and fell on the pin plates, cutting his arm. He received stitches and remains off work.
Submitted under protest to abate citation #8511176. EE struck head on a scoop canopy on 8/21/12. Missed no work until 9/14/12 diagnosed with a normal CT scan and released to RTW with no lite days. Did not mention being injured until 10/11/12, Is currently investigating the claim and reserve the right to amend and/or correct this report.
Stated: Employee was driving golf cart on travel road and ran over a butt off a timber. The butt lodged under the golf cart and in the road, causing the golf cart to swerve sideways and wreck. It threw him into a gob pile in a XC. He went to the ER and was diagnosed with left shoulder pain, low back pain and fracture of first left rib.
Stated: Employee was drilling hole for roof bolt. He drilled in his first steel and dropped the arm to connect the second steel to the first. He raised the arm to continue drilling. He did not notice the bottom of the second steel was not in the chuck but on the shoulder. He continued with the upward pressure. The steel slipped off and hit his right hand, fracturing his thumb.
Stated: Employee bent over to hook up a chain to a belt drive. He felt pain in his lower back as he stood up. He continued working. He went to the doctor on 07/20/2012. He was treated with medication. He has history of back pain/injury. Will RTW when pain subsides.
Stated: Employee was installing a 6' bolt. He had part of the bolt in the roof and was bending the bottom half back to finish the installation. As he was pushing on the bent bolt, it spun in the hole causing him to hit his hand on the boom of the ATRS. He dislocated his index finger of his right hand from the joint on his hand.
Stated: Employee was hanging roof bolter cable when he felt a sharp pain in his lower back. He did not finish his shift and remains off work.
Stated: Employee was moving miner cable slack out of the path of the ram cars through the cross cut. He was pulling the loops over by hand. He finished his shift and worked the rest of the week. He still had pain the next week. He sought medical treatment and remains off work. His first day missed was 3/26/2012.
Stated: Employee was moving miner cable and water line, trying to untangle it. When he threw it over, he felt a pain in his lower back. He finished his shift but sought medical treatment the next day. His first day missed was 03/19/2012.
Stated: Employee was bolting #12 entry when a rock fell out from between pins and struck his right shoulder. He finished the shift. MRI ordered on 3/14/12, scheduled for 3/28. Sent for Ortho evaluation on 4/16. Diagnosed with mild degenerative joint disease and mild osteoarthritis. This is a report of illness.
Stated: Employee was attempting to climb onto FCT when his foot slipped. He came back down and landed on his left leg, twisting his ankle. He continued to work until 3/20/2012 when he sought medical treatment. He was diagnosed with a fracture of the left lateral malleolus and chronic degenerative changes. He was placed in a walking boot. First day missed: 03/21/2012.
Stated: Employee was walking along beside the bolter when a piece of rock fell from between roof bolts and struck his upper back between his shoulders. The rock measured 19""X23""X1 1/2"" thick. It caused a contusion and puncture that required 5 sutures to close. He returned to work the next day.