Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.Mining Incidents in 2000

THE ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR HAD JUST FINISHED DRILLING WITH THE STARTER STEEL. AS HE LOWERED THE DRILL MAST TO ADD AN EXTENSION STEEL, THE WRENCH STRUCK THE STEEL ROOF MAT, RESULTING IN A SPARK W HICH IGNITED METHANE. THE FLAME WAS EXTINGUISHED USING ROCK DUST AND A 20 POUND FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED.

THE IMMEDIATE ROOF ABOVE SHIELDS 160 THRU 165 ON PANELA 13-A FELL IN, PREVENTING EGRESS FROM THE LONGWALL FACE TO THE TAILGATE ENTRY. THE SHIELDS WERE LOCATED BETWEEN XC-30 AND XC-31 IN THE TA ILGATE. THE TAILGATE ENTRY WAS NOT BLOCKED.

DURING THE WEEKLY EXAMINATION, A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN F SEAM, CROSSCUT 29, ENTRY 2 TO 3. THE AREA OF THE ROOF FALL IS NOT TYPICALLY TRAVELED AND IT APPEARS THE FALL OCCURRED QUITE SOEM TIME BEFORE IS WAS DISCOVERED. THE FALL WAAPPROX. 7.5 FT HIGH, 15 FT IN LENGTH, AND 8 FT IN WIDTH.

DURING THE WEEKLY EXAMINATION, A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY 4, XCUT 30, OF BOX CANYON MAINS. THE FALL WAS APPROX. 25' LONG, 19' WIDE, AND 8' HIGH.

A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN ENTRY 3, INBYXC-32 OF 13-A HEADGATE RESULTING IN A HEADGATE BLOCKAGE. THE FALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 25' LONG X 18' WIDE.

A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN ENTRY 2, CROSSCUT 22, OF 14 HEADGATE. THE FALL WAS APPROX 25 FT IN LENGTH, 19 FT WIDE AND 7.5 FT HIGH.

WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY WATER QUIT FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE LINE A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY #8, AT CROSSCUT #21 OF THE B-SOUTH MAINS. THE FALL APPROX 23 FT FT WIDE 25 FT IN L ENGTH AND 9 FT IN HEIGHT.

DURING THE WEEKLY EAMINATION A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY #7 AT CROSSCUT #19 OF THE BOX CANYON MAINS. THE FALL WAS APPROX 22 FT WIDE 22 FT IN LENGTH 8 FT IN HEIGHT.

A TAILGATE BLOCKAGE OCCURRED AT XC-21, ENTRY 1, 13 HEADGATE. THE SAGGING ROOF AND FLOOR HEAVE EXTENDED FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROX. 40', REDUCING VENTILATION AND IMPEDING PASSAGE.

AFTER RE-ENTERING AN AREA OF THE MINE THAT HAD BEEN TEMPORILY SEALED, A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY 1, CROSSCUT 5 TO 6, PANEL 13-A RECOVERY ROOMS. THE FALL WAS 40'L, 8'H, 16'W.

DURING THE WEEKLY EXAMINATION, A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY #5, CROSSCUT 30 OF BOX CANYON MAINS. THE FALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 23' WIDE, 23' IN LENGTH AND 9' HIGH.

DURING THE WEEKLY EXAMINATION, A REPORTABLE ROOFFALL WAS FOUND IN ENTRY 1, CROSSCUT 16, OF THE SOUTH MAIN INTAKES. THE FALL WAS APPROX 20 FT WIDE, 20 FT LENGTH, 7 FT HIGH.

WHILE MAKING WEEKLY EXAMINATION, A REPORTABLE ROOF FALL WAS FOUND BETWEEN ENTRIES 2 AND 3, CROSSCUT 10 OF 14 HEADGATE. THE ROOF FALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET IN LENGTH, 15 FEET IN WIDTH AND 8 FEET IN HEIGHT.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS DRIVING #2 POLARIS 6X6 FROM PUMP #3 TO PUMP #2. AS HE WAS STARTING DOWN THE HILL HE LET OFF GAS THE EBS LOCKED UP CAUSING THE ATV TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THE FRONT END HIT A SNOWBANK & STARTED TO ROLL. HE JUMPED OFF CATCHING HIMSELF WITH HIS RIGHT ARM DISLOCATING HIS SHOULDER.

WHILE WORKING BETWEEN BOOM TRUCK AND ROOF BOLTER BOOM TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD AND PINNED HIS LEFT LEG BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS TIGHTENING THE NUT ON A DWYDAG BOLT WITH A JACKLEG. AS THE NUT TIGHTENED, THE JACKLEG SPUN JERKING HIS RIGHT ARM CAUSING PAIN IN HIS SHOULDER. NO REPORTABLE MEDICAL TREA TMENT WAS PROVIDED UNTIL AN MRI ON 12/1/00 INDICATED A DAMAGED ROTATOR CUFF.

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO MOVE EQUIMPENT. THE BOLTER OPERATOR GAVE WARNING BEFOR TURNING ON THE CABLE WINDER. THE EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING EAR MUFFS &DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE WARNING. THE CABLE STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT LEG RESULTING IN A TORN ACL IN HIS KNEE.

EE STATES HE WAS CLEANING TRASH IN THE ROADWAY. WHILE THROWING A CRIB BLOCK, HE HYPEREXTENDED HIS ARM, RESULTING IN A FRACTURE RIGHT ARM.

EMPLOYEE WAS IN PROCESS OF REMOVING LAGGING FROM#3 TAIL PULLEY. THE CHAIN USED TO HOLD THE BELT WAS UNDER RATED. CHAIN BROKE AND COME-A-LONG STRUCK WORKER IN BACK OF RIGHT SHOULDER. WORKER SUS TAINED CONTUSION OF RIGHT SHOULDER.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE SAT DOWN TO REMOVE A ROCK FROM HIS BOOT. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE PULLED THE FORKTRUCK INTO THE CROSSCUT, PINNING THE EMPLOYEE'S FOOT BETWEEN THE BUMPER AND THE FLOOR.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS PULLING BELTING WITH A BOBCAT. THE SCREWDRIVER USED TO HOLD THE STRAP IN PLACE WAS PROPELLED INTO THE CAB OF THE BOBCAT WHEN THE BELT RIPPED, STRIKING THE EMPLOYEE ON TH E NOSE.

EE STATES HE WAS OPERATING AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) THE EE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE ATV DOWN WHEN DESCENDING A GRADE. WITH INCREASING SPEED HE DECIDED TO JUMP OFF THE ATV

EE STATES WHILE WALKING IN BELTLINE, THE EDGE OF THE WATERWAY GAVE OUT CAUSING HIM TO FALL RESULTING IN A SOFT TISSUE INJURY TO HIS RIGHT ANKLE. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT SOUGHT UNTIL 7/15/00.

EE STATES HE WAS PULLING ON A PIECE OF METAL BANDNG OUT FORM UNDER HYTECH BOLTS. AS HE PULLED, ANOTHER BAND PULLED OVER STRIKING HIS ELBOW RESULTING IN A LACERATION THAT REQD SUTURES

EE STATES HE WAS HELPING TO MOVE CM-5 TO THE NEXT CUT. AS HE WAS PULLING ON THE SLACK STRAP, THE CM OPERATOR SWUNG THE CONVEYOR TOWARD THE EE. THE CONVEYOR STRUCK THE EE'S LEFT LEG RESULTING I N A LACERATION REQUIRING SUTURES.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS HELPING ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HANG 6"" PIPE. THE PIPE SLID OFF THE TOP OF THE RAMCAR, HIT THE BED, BOUNCED UP STRIKING THE EMPLOYEE ON THE CHIN RESULTING IN A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED SUTURES.

EE STATES HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FREE A WRENCH STUCK IN THE ROOF DRILL CHUCK. WHILE STRIKING THE WRENCH WITH ANOTHER WRENCH, HIS FINGER STRUCK AGAINST THE WRENCH RESULTING IN A LACERATION AND FR ACTURE.

EE STATES HE WAS REMOVING STEEL BANDING FROM A BUNDLE OF ROOF BOLTS. THE CUTTER SLIPPED CAUSING THE BAND TO CUT HIS LEFT FINGER.

EE STATES HE WAS CLIMBING DOWN FROM A LADDER, LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL, LACERATING HIS RIGHT ARM WHICH REQUIRED SUTURES.

THREE EES REMOVED AND UP-RIGHTED A SHIELD PLATE FROM A TRAILER. AS THE EE TURNED TO LEAVE, HE PLACED HIS HAND ON THE TRAILER. THE SIDE PLATE FELL, CATCHING THE EE'S THUMB BETWEEN THE SIDE PLAT E AND THE TRAILER.

TWO EE WERE REMOVING BELT STRUCTURE. AS THE BOTTOM ROLLER WAS PULLED, THE H-BEAM MOVED CAUSING THE RAIL TO FALL. EE'S HAND WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE RAIL AND THE BOTTOM ROLLER BRACKET.

EE STATES HE WAS PACKING CRIBS WHEN HE HAD SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK.