Independence Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2010

While inspecting the coal storage pile, a small flame was observed along the outside bank of the pile. No injuries occurred, No flames observed while uncovering this area. This has been reported to the field office.

A roof fall was discovered on the slope track during the fire boss run. Fall measured approximately 12ft long, 12ft wide, and 7ft high. No injury occurred from this fall.

A roof fall was discovered in the old works on the Big Buck Mains, #3 entry, old #3 head, brk #1. The fall measured approx. 40' long x 18' wide x 6 to 7' high. No injuries resulted from this fall.

A roof fal was discovered on the slope track, the fall measured 12 ft high x 18 ft wide and 40ft long, located 800ft inby the portal No injuries from this fall

While preforming a preshift exam of the mine a roof fall was observed at the #18 cross cut track entry along the #2 main belt. No injuries occurred from this fall.The fall measured about 25 feet long,20 feet wide and 4 feet high, This area was bolted with 4 foot resin bolts

Employee was moving an extension ladder and pulled a muscle in his lower back.

Employee was using a torch to cut a piece of pipe. While handling the pipe, it slipped out of his hand and he moved suddenly to try to catch it and it hit his hand.

Employee was lifting a 5 gallon bucket with some concrete in it and felt something pull in his lower left side.

Injured employee was placing a crib block under the continuous miner cats when the operator raised the miner head and smashed the injured's left hand between the cats and block. Diagnosis: Fractured left little finger and 4 sutures on the posterior side of the left hand.

While using a jackhammer to break up a concrete floor, the jackhammer fell and when he tried to hold onto it, it jerked his left arm and shoulder. Caused a strain to his left shoulder.

Injured employee was bent over picking up a belt rail as he raised up with the rail he began to experience lower back pain. He finished his shift but did not return to work the next day. He was seen at the ER and diagnosed with a lower back strain and excused from work for two (2) days.

Injured member was walking and conducting his fireboss duties when he slipped and fell. He attempted to break his fall by placing his hands in front of him and injured his right wrist. He has been diagnosed with a wrist fracture and has been excused from work.

Injured member was lifting a pump at the bottom of the slope, when he felt a sharp pain in his abdominal cavity and he noticed a small discharge of blood from his rectum. He has not returned to work.

Injured employee was ascending the steps from the basement of the plant when he tripped and fell injuring his left hand. X-rays revealed a fractured bone behind his left little finger. Employee was excused from work by treating physician until further notice.

Injured employee was walking between the rib and a shuttle car, when a piece of draw rock fell from between the rib and first bolt and struck him on the back of his neck, just below his hard hat. Rock measured approx. 3'x2'x1""-2"". The ER physician excused the injured for 7 days due to a strain of the neck and tissue injuries.

Employee was pulling a piece of handrail into the plant when his hand slipped and bumped against a piece of decking or sheeting, causing a laceration.

Injured was assisting the scoop operator by placing the scoop on charge when he slipped and fell. Injured struck his left knee against a rock on the mine floor causing pain and swelling. He was transported to the ER. The ER physician excused from work and remains excused from work due to increased swelling and edema in the knee.

EE leaned up against the fan wall. Wall folded and fell with the EE resulting in a bruise to the left knee.

He states that while he was setting a timber he stepped in a hole and twisted his back.

Injured employee was operating the shear when a rock fell from between the shields and smashed his fingers on the pan line. He was transported to the ER by EMS. Diagnosed with a fracture and lacerations to left index finger. He was hospitalized for observation and released on 04/14/10. He remains excused from work.

Part 50 Audit. Employee was installing belt rollers when he began to experience back pain. Employee was excused from work for 4 days.

EE was carrying a door for a scoop and felt pain in his lower back, this door estimated to weigh about 40 pounds. He called in on 3-3-2010 and stated that the doctor had removed him from work and he was referred to a neuro-surgeon for futher evalation.

Member states he was lifting belt structure and felt a pain in his back, he worked until 3--13-2010 when he went to doctor and was removed from work.

Stated that while lifting belt structure he felt a pain on his left side of lower back.

Employee was getting a 6"" pipe elbow out of a box outside of the plant. When he bent over to get the pipe elbow out of the box, his foot slipped on ice as he was lifting the elbow out of the box. In regaining his balance, he jerked suddenly and pulled a muscle in his left lower back.

Injured member was installing roof bolts when a piece of draw rock fell and struck his right arm just above the elbow. He was transported to the ER and diagonsed with tissue bruising. The ER physician placed him on restricted work activity.

Injured was loading kennedy panels in the scoop bucket when his left hand was smashed between the scoop bucket and the panel. Diagnosis: Fractured hand. Injured has been placed on restricted duty.

Injured employee was walking back to the roof bolter controls when he twisted his left ankle. Diagnosed with a sprain and placed on light duty.

Injured employee was taking slack out of the drive belts on Coarse Clean Coal when the wrench slipped causing him to fall approx. 6 ft. His foot became lodged between a bolt and the belly pan. He has been diagnosed with a 2, 3 & 4 Metatarsal Fracture. He has been placed on light duty.

Injured employee was assisting in the installation of a belt head. While sliding the head on the grid using a scoop, the head lunged forward and the employee turned to run. He struck his right leg against an I-beam. He continued to work his shifts until 03-15-10 when he received an MRI. On 03-22-10 MRI results; fractured fibula and a torn meniscus. Employee placed on light duty.

Member was picking up a 6x6 timber and felt pain in his back, MRI on 3-8-2010 reported a strain muscle and was placed on restricted duty.

Injured member was walking, when he walked into a tightened ratchet chain, causing a laceration to the corner of his left eye. He received 2 sutures.

Injured employee was trying to remove a fitting by using a hammer and chisel when a small piece of metal came off of the chisel, it went through the employee's glove and into his right hand. The metal was removed and he received 2 sutures.

Injured employee was loading materials into the back of a pick-up truck when the employee's left middle finger was smashed in the tailgate causing a laceration. Employee received 11 sutures.

Injured employee was removing volute liner (Cyclone Pump) using a fork lift to raise 1 side of the liner to remove the chain when the liner slid off the fork and onto his hand. He received 20 sutures.

Part 50 Audit. Employee was repairing an A/C Unit on a D9 Dozer when he felt and heard his right shoulder ""pop"" causing a strain. Employee was referred and received physical therapy treatments post accident.

Injured employee was hanging a curtain when his arm contacted a roof bolt plate and caused a laceration. Injured received 4 sutures.

Injured employee was using a utility knife to cut a piece of belt when the knife slipped and cut his left index and middle finger. Injured received 7 sutures.

Injured was hanging a curtain when he lacerated a finger on his right hand on the curtain hook. Injured received 2 sutures.

Injured was in the process of sitting down on the mine floor, when he accidentally laid his left hand on a belt knife blade that was laying on the mine floor, causing a laceration to his left thumb. Injured received 7 sutures.

Injured was installing roof bolts when the drill pot became lodged and a 4 foot finisher (steel) flew out of the tray and struck injured across the nose. Injured drove to the ER and was diagnosed with a nose fracture.

Injured was walking down the belt line, he bent down to walk under wire mesh hanging from the top, when a piece of the mesh caught his right ear causing a laceration. He received 24 sutures.

Injured employee was using a utility knife to cut a plastic lid when he accidentally cut his left thumb. He received 7 sutures.

Injured employee was removing a timber from the timber pile while another employee was cutting them with an electric chainsaw. The injured accidentally came in contact with the chainsaw causing a laceration to the posterior side of his right forearm and wrist. He received 23 sutures.

Injured employee was using a belt knife to cut belt, when he accidentally cut his left forearm, causing a lacertion which required 6 sutures.

He was removing fly pads to move up to the next line. He cut the back of his left hand on a pizza pan, requiring 5 stiches.

Part 50 Audit. Employee was removing the pump barrel from the vessel pump when he smashed his left ring finger causing a laceration. Employee was transported to the ER by EMS. EMS reported that the employee lost consciousness sometime after the incident.

Part 50 Audit. Employee struck his head on a steel beam causing a laceration to his head. He received 3 staples.