All MSHA-reportable accidents at Mettiki Coal WV, LLC operations in 2011. Fatalities appear first.
A roof fall was discovered during the shift on the 14-Butt section, #2 entry, #30 2 to 1 crosscut 3-way intersection. The fall was approximately 10-ft high by 16-ft wide by 26-ft long. Fall rock consisted of laminated rock and stack rock with sandstone above the roof bolt anchorage point.
Roof fall was discovered outby the #27 crosscut in the #4 entry on West Mains. The fall was approximately 10 to 12-ft long, 14-ft wide and 6-ft high. The areas was bolted to plan. This area also has water coming out of the roof which during winter month freezes which contributed to the deterioration of the roof.
An inundation was discovered in the bleeder system of the mine which caused an obstruction in the ventilation system of the longwall. The bleeder fan was shut down to prevent damage to the fan. The mine was evacuated and electrical power was shut off going into the mine. No injuries or equipment damage occurred as a result of this accident.
A roof fall was discovered in the #3 entry of West Mains @ Spad # 196. The fall measured 40'long by 10' high by 16'wide. The area was bolted to plan and also had been supported with additional roof support consisting of dywi-dag sings, V-beams and rock props spaced on 4-ft centers. No injuries or equipment damage. Immediate notification was made after the fall was discovered
Employee was operating a diesel locomotive and had gotten off the motor to throw the track switch. When he did so he felt a pain in his right shoulder and upper chest. Employee continued to work and finished his shift. After his shift the pain increased and he sought medical attention.
Employee was building a crib for roof support using 30-inch crib blocks and was using a pick hammer to pull cribs towards him. When doing so the pick hammer glanced off one of the cribs and struck the employee in the lower leg causing injury.
Employee was assisting other miners to hang power cables out of the haulage road and while doing so he slipped and fell landing on his right shoulder causing injury.
Employee was advancing longwall support when a rock fell from between the support he was standing on and the support being moved. The rock bounced off the panline handrail and struck employee on the lower right leg and foot.
Employee was assisting other miners to remove a conveyor belt tailpiece. The tailpiece had been loaded into a scoop bucket and while backing away the v-plow on the outby end of the tailpiece dropped down. When doing so the v-plow caught a 5'x7'x16' timber causing it to move striking the employee in the lower right leg causing injury to the leg
employee was walking to the mantrip when he slipped in mud and fell. He felt a pull in his groin, came to work 11/02 but pain became worse and he left after two hours.
The EE opened lid on a floor drain to clean it out. He leaned down into the floor drain and the wind blew lid down and hit EE. State Inspector investigated.
Employee was working underneath shuttle car making repairs to broken conveyor chain. As he was crawling under the car he dislocated his right knee. Employee finished his shift and sought medical treatment the next day. Was instructed not to return to work until seen by a orthopedic surgeon.
Employee was getting out of yard locomotive to throw switch and when he stepped down he twisted his right ankle. Sought medical treatment on 8/14/11, was examined & given full release same date. Employee stopped working 03/05/12 stating that he continues to have pain in ankle and stated that he did not have any other incidents that contributed to condition.
Employee was getting out of mantrip and caught his foot on the door of the mantrip causing him to fall. When falling the employees right knee struck the installed track rail causing injury. Employee finished his shift and sought medical attention later on 08/02/11 and could not be released to return to work until seen by an orthopedic surgeon for examination.
While tramming the shuttle car away from the feeder the car dropped into an offset in the haul road jolting the employee causing pain in the employees back and neck. The employee finished his shift but was unable to report for his next scheduled shift.
Employee was walking in the return entry looking for a step ladder and stepped onto a rock in the roadway twisting his left knee. Employee was seen by a doctor and released after the accident and continued to work. Employee went to another doctor on 07/18/11 for pain in left knee and was taken off work at that time pending the results of MRI. First day off work 07/19/11
Employee was walking in the #3 entry when his feet became entangled in the continuous miner cable causing him to trip and fall. He tried to catch his self and in doing so injured his left wrist. The employee stated missing work for this injury on April 7, 2011.
Employee was walking up entry to examine work area and stepped into a tire rut in the mine floor causing left knee to twist.
Employee was standing on a ladder hanging curtain when helper let go of ladder to pull up curtain and employee fell off.
Employee was replacing leg transducer on #92 longwall face support. When he finished repairs he reached up and pulled the spool valve handle to set the leg jack. The spool valve pulled hard so the employee jerked the spool valve handle and when he did so he felt a pain in the middle of his back and right shoulder.
Employee was using a slate bar to pry frozen ballast free from the ballast car. He was reaching out with a slate bar when he felt pain in his lower back. The employee finished his shift and sought medical attention after leaving work
Employee was riding the mantrip underground when the rear tire of the mantrip unexpectedly dropped into a hole in the roadway. The employee was sitting in the rear of the mantrip and was bounced up off the seat and struck his head against the roof of the mantrip causing injury to his neck.
Employee was assisting 3 other miners move Grizzly component in place. While maintaining a vertical position on the component to rehook, the component became unstable and shifted. The employee's effort to maintain it upright failed and it leaned, pinned his elbow against the rib, bending back and breaking left wrist.
Employee was in the process of cleaning off the top of the continuous miner. When he lifted a rock to remove from the miner he felt a pain in his left shoulder. The employee finished his shift and sought medical attention after work. The employee is currently off work awaiting diagnosis.
A small piece of rock struck the employee in the left eye when another miner stuck a rock with a sledge hammer to break apart. The employee was wearing safety glasses at the time of the accident. The small piece of rock went in between the side shield of the safety glass frame and struck the left eye and had to be removed by a physician.
Employee felt pain in lower back after working at the North Mains conveyor belt take up unit. Employee was lifting and pulling on components of take up unit while in a awkward position. Employee sough treatment from a chiropractor for pain in lower back. No days lost due to this accident.
Employee has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of repetitive motion.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. a work crew had rigged & was lifting a steel platform from top of a shaft when platform tipped & knocked an employee into the shaft. Employee fell approx 35 feet to the water level in the shaft and was entrapped approx 30 minutes. Employee was thrown a line & was lifted out with an excavator & truck. No injury and no lost time resulted from incident.