Independence Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2006

While pushing refuse into the impoundment, the dozer operator went about 5 feet beyond the edge of the water, causing the embankment to fail resulting in the dozer being engulfed in the fine wet materials.

A malfunction occurred on the elevator for the Justice Mine overspeed latch causing it to malfunction and would not operate.

A malfunction occurred to the elevator due to a grounded wiring to the door switch on the bottom of the elevator. No one was in the elevator at this time.

Malfunction of the elevator occurred which it was inoperable for 60 mins. Malfunction was electrical wiring to a door switch.

Strata consisted of shale. Cribs, timbers and 10'cable bolts were used in addition of 6' fully grouted torque tension bolts when intersection was driven up. Fall was 40' in length, 20' in width and 7-8' in height. Located in #1 entry (return). Return was re-routed into #2 entry.

EE was standing at the chain link fence of the R-8 belt drive. The drive chain broke hitting him on the right hand, amputating his right finger at the firsty joint.

EE was loading a roller into a man trip a felt a sharp pain in his back. On 12-12-2006 he went to Dr. and had an MRI performed. The results showed a protrusion of the L5/S1 and bulging at L4/5 and was referred to a neurosurgeon. On 1/16/2007 he was removed from work.

He was attempting to put a wheel back on the mantrip by pushing on the axle with a bar. When doing so the wheel turned causing him to twist his left knee. On 10-7-06 he had a MRI. On 10-20-06 he learn that he would need surgery to repair 2 tears in his left knee.

Cleaning out roadway to move S/C up entry. Picked up a 2' piece of 8"" I beam (2 beams welded together). When he picked it up he felt his back pop 3 times and got weak in the legs. Felt pain in his lower back. He finished the shift and then went to the doctor.

Employee was at the tail drive preparing to build cribs where a high cavity had formed. He had started to set cribs. A piece of sandstone broke off above them striking the tip of shield 173, causing it to turn striking him in the back. On 10-13-06 he was removed from work by Dr. due to pain. He also was informed that he had fractured his #10 rib.

Employee was loading drill into #8 man hole, injured and twisted right knee.

Employee, an excavator operator, disobeyed the instructions given to him by supervisor, by carrying a piece of pipe down a steep slope with an excavator. The excavator slid on the steep loose ground and caused the operator to lose control and overturn. (Post-accident drug testing showed that the operator was under the influence of marijuana - misc. mail 9/18/06 #5)

While setting timbers, EE stepped back to set wedge and fell backwards over a timber butt. EE fell on his rescuer, which he was wearing on his back, causing injury to his lower back.

Was removing pipe, cut welds on one end through the other end was free. Pipe was hung, pushed again pipe broke free and smashed thumb on right hand between two pieces. Result was cut and possibly broken thumb.

The scoop that employee was running became hung in a bad hole. The section scoop came down to help him out. EE doesn't exactly know what happened except that he hit his head on the scoop canopy.

Running shuttle car to miner. On the way back to feeder, injured hit hole in mine floor. Hitting this hole caused him to jarr his lower back.

Employee was using a sledge hammer to bend a piece of metal on the tail gate of his coal truck. He stated that something popped in his thumb causing pain.

Employee was repairing a gear box in the miner. While using wrench with cheaterbar, bolt freed and he felt something pop in his shoulder. Hix first day away from work was 3/20/06

AS HE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE #36 CROSSCUT ON THE LONGWALL BELT, HE SLIPPED IN A TIRE TRACK & FELT PAIN IN HIS RT. KNEE. HE CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 3/27/06, AT THIS TIME HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TORN LIGAMENT.

Employee crawled under dozer to check problem. Another employee inadvertently lowered blade of machine onto back of employee who was under machine.

Employee was changing a jack from a roof bolter. While installing the new jack he injured his back.

Employee was attempting to unplug drill steel by turning in while drill was in drive. Drill caught glove in rotation, twisting tight around wrist causing fracture of left wrist.

Employee was removing the side shield from the shuttle car reel. He removed all the bolts and was letting the shield down. The shield slipped out of his hand hitting him on top of his right foot.

He was cutting a zip tie loose using a utility knife. He slipped and cut left hand requiring 4 stitches. He completed his shift and did not report this to his supervisor until he returned to work the next day.

Member was cleaning off separator on 4th floor with a water hose. The separator had a small piece of metal sticking out that struck his right middle finger. Stitches were required, no days away from work.

He was losing a clamp on a pipe line to replace it when pipe slipped down mashing his little finger causing a fracture. No lost time occurred from this accident

EE was pushing on a piece of 3/8"" steel plate to straighten it up on the forks of a forklift. Stepped in a rut and twisted his ankle.

Employee was unloading belt out of the storage unit, as he was pulling on the belt, he slipped hitting his leg on the flat car the belt was being loaded onto. Employee went to the hospital on 9/2/06. Xrays were taken and revealed a slight fracture in his left leg. On 9/5/06 employee notified the Safety Dept. on his condition.

Employee was operating the longwall shearer and a piece of roof rock fell between the shields striking the shearer and then striking him on the mouth requiring 2 stitches. He returned to work on his next scheduled shift.

Ee was using a chain hoist to repair the miner cats. As he was tightning up the hoist to pull the cats back into place, it slipped off causing the hook to come back striking him above the left eye causing a laceration requiring 3 stitches. No days lost from this accident.

EE was using a utility knife to cut off a piece of loose belt off the one belt line. His knife slipped cutting left forearm which required 5 stitches.

While removing a water line coupling, EE slipped causing him to hit his self smashing left middle finger between sledge hammer he was using and a relief valve, resulting in a fractured finger.

Contractor was moving parts to count inventory. A pipe rolled over on his right hand, cutting his pinkie finger.

EE was starting to wash down rollers using a hose, when the pressure pump kicked on it caused him to slip and fall. He fell on his right thumb fracturing it.

As he was spotting shields he had his hand lying on a panline and a rock traveling down panline struck his left hand causing a laceration to the palm.