M-Class Mining LLCMining Incidents in 2016

A roof fall occurred in HG3 the active tailgate of the longwall at xc 37 between 2 and 3 entries. This fall does not impede travel or ventilation and will not be cleaned up.

We had a roof fall on the active section of HG#5 at xc71 in the intersection of #2 entry. A cleanup plan was submitted to and approved by MSHA to clean up this area.

We had a roof fall on the active section of TG#2 at xc120 in the intersection of #2 entry. A cleanup plan was submitted to and approved by MSHA to clean up this area.

We had a minor roof fall in TG2 at xc 78 (approximately 30 xcuts outby the section) between 3-4 entries that was above the anchorage point but did not impede travel or ventilation.

Control wires pulled loose from the aux hoist at Viking portal.

Magnetic switch went out on the material hoist. The switch was replaced and the hoist was back in operation by 8:00pm. All appropriate steps were taken during this time.

Outby roof fall located in Tailgate 2 cross cut 39 between 2-3 entries. The size is about 60 feet long and about 12-14 feet tall. We have no plans of cleaning it up, and it has been dangered off on all approaches.

Traveling in man trip, chain hoist fell out of moving man trip, attempted to catch hoist when finger became caught between & severed end of right middle finger. Cause of injury hoist not secured. Incident didn't involve any aspect of compliance with regulation/rules/PPE. Miner proficiency may have been a factor.

Contractor stepped down from one flap to the second flap and was inspecting their work, when contractor turned around slipped due to a thin sheet of ice on the flap. Contractor then fell about 2ft and landed on right knee and shoulder on the frozen ground. This resulted in a fracture to right knee cap.

Contractor was trying to get a 4ft mandoor out of the back of a 6 man MV. The door was stuck so ee stood on the bumper for better leverage. EE jerked up on the door to free it up, when it did ee felt a pop in lower back. EE then let go of the door and fell to the mine floor. This resulted in a strain/sprain to the lower back.

Employee was setting up a pump and cleaning debris away from the pump. Shortly after getting out of the water EE noticed legs felt like they were burning. This resulted in employee receiving 2nd degree burns to legs. After further investigation we believe lime from either the top or road mix material is what caused the burns.

Employee was setting up a pump and cleaning debris away from the pump. Shortly after getting out of the water EE noticed legs felt like they were burning. This resulted in employee receiving 2nd degree burns to legs. After further investigation we believe lime from either the top or road mix material is what caused the burns.

Contractor was shoveling in the slope, lost footing and fell on right side that resulted in a bruised lung. This incident is questionable and still under investigation.

Employee had bent over to re-hook up a chain from a structure trailer to a bobcat. When EE went to stand back upright EE felt something pull in EE's lower back.

Employee was in the process of installing a bearing on a new water wipe for the Longwall Head. Another employee was prying up on one side of the shaft with a pry bar so they could install a bearing. The shaft slipped off the pry bar smashing the tip of left middle finger between the 5"" steel shaft and steel I-beam.

Employee was trying to pin relay bar to shield. To help align the holes for the pin EE used another pin to let the relay bar roll along & push it over. When EE pushed the ram out, the pin popped out striking EE in the right foot.

I.E. was loading a water booster pump into an empty sled after a 3rd shift power move. As EE was assisting getting it in the sled, right forearm was caught between a rail of the pump & the sled. EE missed no work until Oct. 26th 2016. EE has went off for a surgery on hand that the Dr. says has to do with the incident in May.

Employee was holding rib mesh up with a 6' rod to keep self away from rib while mesh was bolted. EE went to step away and EE's foot was under a loose rock causing EE to fall.

The injured employee went to talk to the scoop operator and put left hand on the side of the scoop bucket. EE didn't realize the scoop was running & the operator was pulling the ram back. It caught EE's left middle finger between the side of the bucket and the side of the ram blade which pinched EE's finger in it.

Employee was hauling a load of trash out with a tractor. Employee hit a bump causing their head to strike the canopy of the tractor. This accident happened on 3/9/16. Employee just missed their first day of work due to the incident on 7/18/2016.

Employee was pulling a piece of 8"" plastic pipe in the mine. The rigging loosened up that secured the pipe to the mantrip and the pipe slid forward when the operator slowed and struck EE in the right forearm.

Employee was disconnecting shuttle car cat heads for the power move. They started to pull the middle car cable up and didn't realize it was still connected to the distribution box. When the cable got tight it turned the distribution box. Employee's left ankle was caught between the distribution box and the C.O. cable sled. This resulted in a bruise on EE's left ankle.

Employee was assisting in installation of B side course refuse screen discharge chute. Employee was sitting on a pipe working when a come along under the leg broke causing employee to lose balance and fall to the floor. This resulted in employee receiving 3 stitches on the back of the head.

Employee was carrying cribs and slipped on a wet 2""X12"" board. Employee twisted EE's knee & fell. Employee has missed no work but had to have a procedure done to cut a foreign object out of EE's knee on 12/27/2016. Mine has been on vacation shut down since 12/23/2016 until 1/3/2017.

Employee was shoveling at the tailpiece by the bore hole. Another employee was spraying the bore hole and unclogged rocks that were stuck. This caused water, sand, and mud to fall from the bore hole to the mine floor. The material came into contact with employee causing EE to fall which resulted in contusions to right leg and sand in eyes.

I.E. was taking material to roof bolter in #1 entry. EE parked & shut the scoop EE was operating off. EE got out of the scoop & walked between the scoop & the rib & that is where a piece of hog panel that had been trimmed off snagged EE's left ear & caused a laceration. Employee returned to work on EE's next shift & missed 0 days.

EE had hung a come-a-long from a shield to lift a relay bar. When EE started taking slack out of the chain, EE looked up & the come-a-long fell & hit EE in the mouth causing a chipped tooth. EE did not miss any work.

Employee had just finished setting a diesel pump at pond 2. Employee went to chalk the tires on the trailer with a crib block when employee smashed the left index finger between the crib and trailer fender. This resulted in employee receiving 6 stitches and a fracture on the tip of the left finger.

Employee was walking to the head of the longwall from the tail. EE put hand on the head drive. When the head drive pushed it caught a finger in between the flex plate. Employee missed no work from this accident.

Employee was driving a pin out of the supply trailer with a hammer. A small piece of the hammer head chipped off & hit EE in right forearm. Employee did not miss any work due to this injury.

Employee was opening a lid on a scoop battery to inspect. While opening the lid EE slid right hand down the edge underneath coming in contact with a sharp bur on the lid with right ring finger. This caused a laceration at the first joint of ring finger on right hand which resulted in 2 stitches.

Employee was walking back to tool boxes in the travelroad after being at the face. A piece of shale fell through the mesh measuring 3""X3""X1"" thick hit EE above the right eyebrow causing a 1"" cut that had to have stitches put in it.

Employee was removing a 42"" bottom roller out of its bracket while the belt was locked out. EE was on knees beside the belt with right hand on the floor. When the roller came out of the bracket it struck EE on the right wrist and lower part of right arm.

EE was standing behind the operator while operator was setting the ATRS. The ATRS was almost to the top when a rock fell out hitting the ATRS and sliding down towards the canopy. The rock struck the canopy and bounced off striking the EE on the top of right hand causing a laceration that resulted in 6 stitches. The top was 14' high and the rock was 20""x14""x3"" about 20 pounds.

Cutting rubber skirting with razor knife: laceration to right index and middle finger requiring 7 sutures.

Employee was inserting a tow bar into the socket on the shearer to remove a DA Ram that had been replaced. While trying to attach the DA Ram to the tow bar the employee pinched left hand, below the thumb between the tow bar and the ram. This caused a small laceration that resulted in 3 stitches.

Employee was building cribs on the longwall recovery face. EE set a crib block on finger smashing it between two crib blocks. Crib blocks being used are 6""x6""x30"" with an estimated average weight of 20-25 lbs.

Employee was pulling on 60"" belt with 5/8 steel braided cable and shive wheels. While they were pulling, a double molly became lodged. They then let the pressure off from the scoop side to unlodge the cable. When it became unlodged the tail end of the molly caught employee's glove and pulled EE's thumb into the shive wheel causing a laceration to EE's left thumb.

EE reported having pain in right elbow that has been increasing & EE believed it was from the repetitive motion of shoveling, EE did not miss any work. At a later date of 5/25/17 EE took off work for carpal tunnel surgery which was believed to be non work related. EE returned to work on 7/12/17, I found out on 7/27/17 that the Dr was treating this as a work related injury.

Employee went to Dr. on 12/16/2016 & later had carpal tunnel surgery. Employee did not miss any work.

Employee turned in letter stating that ee had been diagnosed with silicosis.