Independence Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2005

An elevator malfunction occurred at the Justice Mine due to a bad door switch and brake.

The elevator at the Justice Mine was down from 2:10 pm to 3:10 pm due to a malfunction with the control circuit.

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED AT THE JUSTICE MINE ON THE LONGWALL TAIL AT ENTRY #1 AT SPAD #35 & 40. THE FALL MEASURED APPROX. 20'X 20'X 4'. ALL ENTRANCES HAVE BEEN BREAKERED OFF & THE FALL WILL NOT BE REHABILITATED.

Fell 2000' from face 2 brks in by spad #5528. Ventilation or passage of miners was not affected. The fall measured 20' in length, 20' in width and 8-12' in length. 6 cribs were installed prior to fall. Bolted with 6' torque tension bolts. All approaches have been dangered off.

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED ON #7 BELT RETURN #6 SPAD #2 BK INBY SPAD 5528. IT WAS 2000' FROM ACTIVE FACE. THE SIZE OF THE FALL MEASURED 20' X 20' X 8-12'. THE FALL WILL NOT BE REHABILITATED.

A roof fall occurred on 7-11-05 at the Shumate Powellton mine. It measured 130' by 20' by 25'. All entrances have been breakered off and the fall will not be rehabilitated.

AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL OCURRED ON 6/13 AT THE SHUMATE POWELLTON MINE. THE FALL MEASURED 30'X 30' X 6.5'. ALL ENTRANCES HAVE BEEN BREAKERED OFF & THE FALL WILL BE REHABILITATED.

A roof fall occurred at the Justice Mine at #4 belt x-cut #21 in the track belt entry. The fall measured 20' by 20' by 8' and will be rehabilitated.

A roof fall was discovered 3-22-05. The fall measured 20' by 20' by 6'. The fall will not be rehabilitated. The fall was discovered out by #6 entry 3 brks inby spad #5395.

A roof fall was discovered on 3-22-05. The fall measured 80' by 20' by 6-8'. The fall will not be rehabilitated.

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED ON 3/3/05 AT THE JUSTICE MINE. THE FALL MEASURED 100' X 20' X 6-8'. IT WAS APPROX 7,000' FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THERE WAS NO EQUIPMENT INVOLVED

A roof fall was discovered at the justice mine on 3/1/05 at 4:45 am. the fall was discovered at #4 belt, #4 entry, 20 feet outby spad #468. the fall measured 25'x20' an unknown height. the fall will not be rehabilitated.

UNPLANNED ROOF FALL OCCURRED DURING THE MAINTENANCE SHIFT. THE LOCATION OF THE FALL WAS IN #10 ENTRY 2 BKS INBY SPAD #413 AND 30' FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL MEASURED 30'X15'X5-6' AND FELL ON THE JOY 12-27 RIGHTCONTINUOUS MINER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VENTILATION WAS NOT AFFECTED. ROCK WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR AND MINING CEASED IN THAT AREA OF THE MINE

An unplanned roof fall occurred at the shumate powllton mine 320' from the active face. the date and time of this fall is unknown. the fall measured 15'x18'x0-6'. all entrances have been breakered off. the fall will not be rehabilitated.

Justice mine discovered an unplanned roof fall on 2-7-05 on the tailgate section, #3 entry at spad #2910. The fall measured 80' length 20' in width and the height is unknown. the fall was 1,100 feet from the active face and will not be rehabilitated.

ON 1/6/05 WHITE OAK MINE EXPERIENCED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL. THE FALL MEASURED 23'X 16'X 5' AND WAS 3,200' FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL WILL BE REHABILITATED.

ON 1/6/05 WHILE OAK MINE EXPERIENCED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL. THE FALL MEASURED 30'X18'X6' AND WAS 3,400 FT FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL WILL BE REHABILITATED.

Employee was performing start-up service on high pressure hydraulic pump for longwall. He adjusted packing to correct small leak and asked section mechanic to restart pump. On start up, high pressure hose & ball valve came apart striking employee under chin. Knocked out 3 teeth, broke mandible & damaged tissue in inner left ear.

Employee was backing up in his run, when a big rock fell behind dozer. EE ran over rock, track slipped off rock. He jammed right shoulder and neck while looking back.

EE was bolting in #5 place, installing the outside bolt when he noticed that the top directly behind him began to drop and fall out. He attempted to get out of the way but a piece of rock measuring approx. 3' by 2' wide & 1.5"" thick fell striking him on his left leg behind the knee. He was taken to ER where x-rays were negative. Referred to specialist diagnosed with bruised muscle.

Injured was installing a return trailing roller. While welding, bees came out of structure and injured swatted at them. His foot slipped off and he fell. He hit face first striking his left arm & neck & lower back. He had an MRI on 9-28 & was advised to stay away from work until further notice. His first day missed was 9-29.

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING RIB BOLT. HIS GLOVE GOT HUNG ON BOLT, TWISTING HIS GLOVE OFF DISLODGING HIS 4 AND 5 FINGERS ON LEFT HAND. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED TO RESET FINGERS WITH SUTURES.

Tripped and fell on left side, dislocated rib.

Injured was exiting off the manlift on the 6th floor and reached to open the gate to step through when he slipped and fell. He was treated by FMTS and transported to Memorial Hosp. where x rays revealed a fracture to the right fibula. He visited a specialist on June 23rd where a soft cast was applied above the ankle on the right leg.

EE ALLEGES HE INJURED HIS BACK REMOVING A ROCK ( 2'X 3'X1') OFF OF THE MAIN #3 GLORY HOLE BELT. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STRAIN TO HIS BACK. HE WORKED UNTIL 7/13/05 & HIS FIRST DAY AWAY FROM WORK WAS 7/14/05

EMPLOYEE WAS PUSHING COAL WITH THE DION DOZER ON THE RAW COAL PILE. HE WAS IN REVERSE SECOND GEAR WHEN HE STRUCK THE CONCRETE TRUCK DUMP PAD. HE WAS TREATED BY EMS AND TRANSPORTED TO BOONE MEMORIAL WHERE XRAYS WERE NEGATIVE AND RELEASED BACK TO WORK. ON 5/23/05 HE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING BACK PAIN. HE RETURNED TO BOONE MEMORIAL AND SAW DR AND REFERED ON 5/25/05

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING A PIECE OF 3'X 8' METAL THAT WAS LODGED IN THE FEEDER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE. HE REACHED THROUGH THE INSPECTION DOOR TO CUT ON THE RT. SIDE OF THE METAL; IT WAS UNDER TENSION & RELEASED STRIKING HIS ARM. HE RECEIVED A FRACTURE TO THE HUMEROUS.

EE WAS OPERATING THE #2 15 TON BROOKVILLE LOCOMOTIVE WITH NO SUPPLY CARS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE WAS TRAVELING OUTBY UNDER THE #10 BELTLINE WHEN A PIECE OF CHAIN LINK FENCE GUARDING CAUGHT UNDER THE OPERATOR'S CANOPY & CAME INTO THE OPERATOR'S DECK STRIKING HIM ON THE LEFT EAR. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE SURFACE & TAKEN TO CAMC WHERE SUTURES WERE APPLIED.

EE AND CO-WORKER WERE INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS INT THE Y RIGHT CROSSCUT. EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING A 4' BOLT INTO RIGHT RIB. EE WAS USING A 12"" WRENCH TO PUSH THE BOLT INTO THE RIB AND THEN ADDED A 6"" WRINCH TO FINISH PUSHING THE BOLT IN. EE STARTED THE ROTATION, RIGHT GLOVE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE STACKED WRENCHES. RIGHT MIDDLE AND RING FINGER.

Employee was hanging cable and slipped in the mud when he twisted his right knee. His first day away from work was Aug. 28.

Employee was on the third floor stairway platform in A plant when he noticed the heavy media cyclone sump overflowing. When he started to descend the stairs his right foot slipped on the first step causing both feet to fly out. He landed on his lower back and buttocks about four steps below. At the hospital he was diagnosed with compression to L4 & L5 disks.

EE & co-workers were in the process of cleaning rock off of the LW head drive. Member was lying on his belly with upper body positioned under the #2 LW shield. A rock approx 8"" x 6"" x 1/2"" fell off the shield tips striking his right calf. He walked to the mantrip & was brought to the surface. He was taken to Boone Memorial. He was diagnosed with a deep contusion to right calf.

EE & co-workers were in the process of relocating 8"" nyepak waterline to allow water to pump out of longwall gob system to water sealed area of mine. While lifting line to install gripper coupling EE stated he felt pain in lower back. He filed accident report & continued work. He called into work & stated his dr had taken him off work till he had results of MRI.

EE alleges that while operating D10 in the raw coal pile he backed the dozer over a windrow causing his neck to jerk when the dozer struck the ground. He states that this occurred at approx 10:00 pm, he completed the shift, notified his foreman at 12:15 am of the incident, filled an accident report and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Injured was tightening bolt on brake head of #00-5 man Brookeville mantrip when he slipped on mine floor causing rt wrist to become fouled between brake head & frame of mantrip. He was brought outside by EMTs & transported to Boone Memorial. He was diagnosed w/contusion to rt wrist & released. He went to see another dr. later that day & was advised to take physical therapy.

Injured had just completed servicing scrapers on the #8 belt head and was walking toward the track entry. As he walked behind the belt take-up he stepped on a piece of conveyer belting that was laying on the mine floor and covered with water and rockdust causing him to slip and fall backwards straining his left knee.

Mechanic/ welder was putting crib blocks under a D11 dozer, he was on his knees while performing this task. When he went to move his knee popped.

Employee was walking through the last open crosscut towards the active longwall face when he slipped in mud and water, causing him to do a split with his right knee buckling under him. He was transported to BMH where x-rays were negative. He continued to work until Friday, Jan. 21st when he went back to hospital due to increased pain. First missed day was Jan. 24.

A large rock was lying atop the cable troft. He was behind the rock and pushed it over into the face chain. One end of the rock went into the chain sending the other end up to the shield crushing his finger and causing a deep laceration on his right index finger. Sutures were required.

Ee was lifting an oxygen bottle onto the mantrip. He smashed the bottle against the mantrip squashing his finger cutting it.

Employee stuck his hand up in the tailgate to clean coal out of it. The tailgate shut back causing his hand to get caught between the bed & the tailgate. This caused a fracture to his left middle finger.

MEMBER WAS CHANGING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE SCOOP. HE WAS TIGHTENING UP THE BOLTS WHEN THE RATCHET SLIPPED OFF OF THE BOLT STRIKING HIM IN THE FACE JUST ABOVE THE LEFT EYE. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED.

A piece of rock fell striking injured's left hand above the knuckles between the little and ring finger. The rock turned vertical as it fell bringing a sharp edge in contact with the hand. Sutures were required.

EE was watching cables and getting ready to start working on incline belt. Fire extinguisher fell from launch hitting his face causing a cut to his upper lip.

INJURED WAS HOLDING A SLEDGE HAMMER FOR THE MECHANIC WHEN THE MECHANIC SWUNG HIS HAMMER & MISSED THE SLEDGE HAMMER. THE MECHANIC'S HAMMER MISSED THE SLEDGE HAMMER STRIKING INJURED'S RT HAND CAUSING A FRACTURE.

EE WAS INSTALLING DRAWHEAD ON MOTOR. HE RAISED WINCH COVER AND PUT PIN IN DRAWHEAD. THE COVER CAME DOWN, HITTING EE'S LEFT MIDDLE FINGER. CUT THROUGH HIS GLOVE, CUTTING THROUGH HIS FINGERNAIL; STITCHES REQUIRED.

Employee was walking down mine office steps when his left boot tread caught on steps causing him to twist his left ankle.

Ee got out of the scoop. When he stood up, he turned around and cut his left elbow on a rib strap.

EE was operating a roof bolter installing a middle bolt in the roof. He had a finisher and a pusher together coupled to a wrench: as he began his rotation his glove on his left hand fot caught between the bottom if the wrench and the drill pot, injuring his middle finger of his left hand.

Member was helping to take down monorail when a rock fell from the top striking his middle finger. Sutures were required.

Employee was starting to drill a hole for a bolt using his starter steel. A piece of rock fell striking him on the left forearm. It measured approximately 8"" x 1"" and round in shape.

Employee was running the shearer when a rock came down between jacks and hit his finger, cutting it on the panline.

EE & co-workers were standing near the front of the RRII when the accident occurred. Scoop operator was scaling down a piece of draw rock that measured approx 3'x 3'x 3/4"". When rock came down it struck a piece of drill steel that was hanging over the edge of the roof bolter supply tray. This caused drill steel to come up & hit EE on right cheekbone.

PULLING #144 SHIELD OFF LINE. AFTER SHIELD WAS REMOVED, MEMBER STARTED SETTING 10"" PROPSETTER WHERE THE SHIELD WAS LOCATED. CO-WORKER HAD PROP STOOD UP AND READY TO BE WEDGED. AS EE STARTED TO WEDGE THE PROP A ROCK 4' X 4' X 8"" STRUCK HIM ON THE LEFT HAND CAUSING A HAIRLINE FRACTURE.

EE WAS DRIVING MANTRIP WHEN TAPE FELL FROM THE OPERATOR'S STATION. HE REACHED DOWN TO PICK IT UP WHEN HIS LEG SWUNG OUT AND STRUCK THE RIB, FRACTURING HIS BIG TOE ON HIS LEFT FOOT.

Member was standing beside bolting machine helping reel cable. When the operator turned the pinner on, the cable reel took up slack causing the cable to strike him on the right cheekbone and across the bridge of the nose.

EMPLOYEE WAS BOLTING IN THE HEADGATE ENTRY. HE WAS DRILLING FOR A RIB BOLT WHEN A ROCK APPROX. 2'X 2'X 3"" FELL FROM THE TOP & STRUCK HIM ON THE LEFT ARM & THE FORCE FROM THE WEIGHT CAUSED HIS ARM TO HIT PART OF THE PLATFORM ON THE BOLTER. THIS CAUSED A LACERATION TO HIS LEFT ARM & SUTURES WERE REQUIRED. NO TIME LOST.

EE WAS PUTTING LINE ON RIGHT LIFT JACK OF DOZER BLADE. WHEN HE REPLACED LINE ON JACK, THE BUSHING CAP FELL OFF, HITTING EE'S HEAD.

Employee slipped and put his hand down to catch himself. His hand contacted a piece of metal, cutting his palm. He received stitches.

EE was carrying a role of curtain on his right shoulder. His hand was on top of the curtain and was caught on a roof bolt plate causing a laceration. Sutures well required.

EE WAS OPERATING THE MANBUS AND TRAVELING ALONG OLD 6-BELT. AS EE REPOSITIONED HIS LEGS, HIS LEFT KNEE CAUGHT THE END OF THE BELT RAIL, CUTTING HIS KNEE.

Member was using slate bar to pry rock. The bar slipped landing on his right hand causing a laceration. Sutures were required.

A co-worker was rolling a rock. The rock caught EE's right thumb between another rock. His finger became smashed between the rocks and was cut. He received stitches and also had a hairline fracture.

EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING RIGHT SIDE CUTTER MOTOR. A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND HIT HEAD OF HIGHWALL MINER AND GLANCED BACK UNDER LAUNCH CANOPY, STRIKING EE 2"" BELOW LEFT EYE. (LACERATION REQUIRED STITCHES.)

EE was removing rock from the #7 head rock box when a piece of rock he had lifted shifted and slid onto his finger. He was transported to Boone Memorial where he received stitches.

EE was putting the guard on. The guard slipped and caught his left hand between the sheave and guard causing a split in the finger nail. He received stitches.

Previous employee has been diagnosed with pneumoconiosis: company notification 7/2/14 Employee's date of last exposure 10/6/2005.

EMPLOYEE FILED AN OCCUPATION PNEUMOCONIOSIS CLAIM WITH WV WORKER'S COMPENSATION. DATE OF FILING 8/22/05. LAST DATE OF EMPLOYMENT 5/6/02. FILED UNDER ID # OF LAST SITE WORKED AT.