Performance Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2005

FALL OCCURED IN FACE OF #6 ENTRY WHICH IS BUTTED OFF IN FACE AND WILL BE CLEANED UP ON CYCLE AFTER OFFICIALS FROM MSHA AND STATE EXAMINE AREA. THE APPROACHES TO THE FAL WERE SPOT BOLTED WITH 8' CABLE BOLTS. LOCATION: NORTH MAINS #6 ENTRY SPAD #20092

Fall was found #1 entry 95 break, longwall nearest spad #18581 the roof was supported by 6' torque tension bolts. The fall had no effect on ventilation or passage. No one was injured.

ALL APPROACHES HAVE BEEN TIMBERED OR CRIBBED. ROOF WAS SUPPORTED WITH 6' TORQUE TENSION BOLTS AND SPOTTED BY 8' CABLE BOLTS. FALL WILL BE CLEANED UP AND RE-BOLTED, USING 6' TORQUE TENSION BOLTS. AT NO TIME WILL ANY MEMBER BE BEYOND PERMANENT ROOF SUPPORT.

Ee was carrying a acetylene bottle from last open break toward tool cars. He tripped over half header and fell face first toward the mine floor. The actylene bottle fell against ee rt. hand.His rt middle finger was cut off at 1st joint and his rt. ring finger was cut and mashed. Finger was put in ice and sent to hospital. Unable to reattach finger.

EE STATED HE WAS STEPPING THROUGH A MANDOOR TO CONDUCT A PRE-SHIFT OF THE EP-22 AREA WHEN HE SPRAINED HIS RIGHT KNEE. AFTER HE SPRAINED HIS KNEE HE FELT SEVERE PAIN IN HIS KNEE AND LEG. HE TRANSPORTED HIMSELF OUTSIDE AND LEFT VIA AMBULANCE TO CHARLESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL WHERE X-RAYS WERE PERFORMED AND WERE NEGATIVE. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TORN TENDONS BY HIS SPECIALIST.

Employee exited a Brookville motor in an attempt to place a mine phone along the track entry. He stepped up on a flat car and as he stepped off his right ankle rolled over producing a loud popping noise. The safety department was not notified of this accident until 12/2/05.

Employee was riding in a 5 passenger personnel carrier along with the operator. They had departed the motor bern traveling toward the south portal back switch. Upon reaching the switch they collided with another carrier resulting in employee's fingers getting smashed.

EE WAS WAITING ON HELPER TO SPOT A BOLT BEFORE ENTERING #2 LEFT TO BOLT WHEN A 12"" BY 12"" PIECE OF ROCK FELL BETWEEN BOLTS STRIKING OPERATOR ON THE HARD HAT BOUNCING OFF OF HAT STRIKING HIM IN THE RIGHT FOREARM CAUSING A LACERATION ABOUT 4"" LONG ON ARM. RECEIVED 17 STITCHES.

EE was attempting to pry rock off of the top of a continuous miner with a slate bar. When the rock slipped causing continuous miner with a slate bar. When the rock slipped causing the other end of the bar to come up into his midchest area. He was admitted overnight at Raleight General Hospital for observation.

EE WAS OPERATING THE HEAD END OF THE SHEAR CUTTING TO HEAD AT ABOUT #40 SHIELD. THE CUTTING DRUM THREW A ROCK STRIKING HIS LEFT HAND FRACTURING HIS PINKY, RING AND MIDDLE FINGER.

EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING 2 BUCKETS OF STOPPING SEALANT. HIS FEET WERE STUCK IN THE MUD. AS HE TWISTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FREE HIMSELF HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

Employee and co-workers had loaded a longwall shield onto a flat car. Employee reached his right arm under the shield to remove a hook-up chain and as he pulled his arm out the top of his forearm grazed a metal burr, lacerating his arm.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE TRYING TO GET PUMP PRESSURE FROM GLUT TO FACE AREA. INJURED WAS TURNING #3 VALVE ABOUT 1/4 TURN WHEN PRESSURE CAUSED GLUT TO BREAK CHAIN THAT HELD GLUT TO MONORAIL. GLUT KNOCKED BOTH TO THE GROUND. EE SAID GLUT HIT INJURED IN THE HEAD. X-RAY SHOWED FRACTURE IN NECK. ALSO RECEIVED SUTURES.

After completing a belt move, Injured and another employee were palnning to build an intake stopping.Helper set the bucket down on the 35-c scoop pinching injured's right foot at the tip end of the metatarsal. Only the 2 smallest toes on right foot were bruised.

EE PICKED UP A LARGE PIECE OF COAL THAT WAS ON THE MINER CABLE AND THREW IT, CATCHING HIS MIDDLE FINGER BETWEEN PIECE OF COAL AND RIB.

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS IN THE 3RD RIGHT CROSSCUT. HE ADVANCED THE BOLTER TO INSTALL ANOTHER ROW OF BOLTS. WHILE STANDING AT HIS DRILL STATION WITH HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE DRILL STEEL TRAY A PIECE OF ROCK, 32"" X 24"" X 3"" FELL FROM THE MINE ROOF STRIKING HIS RIGHT PINKEY FINGER RESULTING IN A FRACTURE AND SIX SUTURES

EE WAS WALKING AROUND HEAD DRIVE & STEPPED ON #1 SHIELD RELAY BAR, SLIPPED & FELL. HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 8/17/05. DUE TO CONTINUAL EXPOSURE THIS INJURY HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED & HE IS NOW SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION. THIS INJURY IS BEING REQUESTED TO BE FILED AS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS.

Injured was using a 1 1/2 ton chain hoist to pull the conveyer chain on a 10 s/c. The chain hoist was attached to a belt hanger and the chain. As the conveyer chain was pulled the hook attaching to the conveyer straightened out. The hook then flew striking the victim in the left rib cage.

The crew were traveling to the north mains section in a mantrip on track. The conveyor line and track are in the same entry at the mine. As the personnel carrier traveled by the #4 belt drive a shovel lying on the tailpiece entered the carrier striking an employee in his left rib cage.

SPLICING CABLE, KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT LEFT THUMB. TRANSPORTED HIMSELF TO RALEIGH GENERAL HOSPITAL AND RECEIVED 7 STITCHES.

EE WAS INSTALLING THE OUTSIDE BOLT WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL MEASURING APPROX 2' X 2'. THE ROCK WAS VERY THIN AND HAD SHARP EDGES. THE ROCK BOUNCED OFF HIS CANOPY AND CUT HIS LEG AT THE TOP OF HIS THIGH (RIGHT LEG). HE MISSED SHIFT ON 9/16/05 DUE TO HIS WIFE HAVING BABY.

Employee was located in the #6 face installing roof bolts. A piece of rock fell striking the drill mast and then bouncing up lacerating his left cheek. This accident occurred on the North Mains Section. Employee was on holiday weekend on 9/3 thru 9/5.

Employee was using a hammer to knock strap off connecting link on a broken conveyor chain on the left miner. A piece of metal came off strap striking him in neck.

EE WAS CUTTING OFF A BIT LUG FROM A CONT MINER. HE STRUCK THE BIT LUG WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER & A PIECE OF METAL WENT IN HIS LEFT THIGH. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSP AND TREATED, THEN REFERRED TO A SPECIALIST. THE SPECIALIST DETERMINED THAT THE METAL SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.

EE WAS MAKING CABLE SPLICE ON THE RIGHT BOLTER. AS EE WAS REMOVING INSULATION HIS KNIFE SLIPPED, CUTTING HIS LEFT THUMB. HE TRANSPORTED HIMSELF TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE RECEIVED STITCHES.

EE was trying to spread forks on CLA forklift with his co-worker. Co-worker dropped the fork that he had lifted up while EE was pushing. When co-worker dropped the fork it mashed EE's ring finger and middle finger. EE ceased work and transported himself to the hospital where they put stitches on fingers.

EE WAS WELDING ON BELT TAILPIECE AT HEADGATE 20, BRK. 56, WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING ENTER HIS LEFT EYE. EE FLUSHED HIS EYE WITH WATER & CONTINUED HIS SHIFT. EE LATER TRANSPORTED HIMSELF TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HIS PUPIL WAS SCRATCHED & THEY REMOVED A PIECE OF METAL, POSSIBLY A RUST FLAKE. PERFORMANCE SAFETY DEPT. WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS ACCIDENT ON 6/2/05.

EE was tightening bolts on a shear panel, when his ratchet slipped striking him in the mouth chipping two of his teeth.

Employee was attempting to trim the end off of a 2"" black plastic line when the edge of the line broke resulting in the utility knife slipping off striking his upper right forearm.

EE was changing bits on the longwall shear. Other ee was changing bit inserts, as other was removing a snap ring from the insert, the snap ring flew off the snap ring pliers striking ee in the mouth.

EE WAS MAKING CABLE SPLICE. HE STRUCK CABLE CRIMPER TOOL WITH HAMMER AND A PIECE CHIPPED OFF CRIMPING TOOL, STRIKING HIM IN HIS LEFT HAND. EE TRANSPORTED HIMSELF TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY CLEANED THE AFFECTED AREA. (FIRST AID ONLY: PIECE OF METAL WAS LEFT IN EE'S HAND - MORE HARMFUL TO REMOVE THAN TO LEAVE IN, NO STITCHES, NO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.)