Performance Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2009

Roof fall in the #1 Entry of the longwall at Spad 28+33. Fell out between the bolts on the stage loader crushed and blocked part of the primary escapeway. No injuries occured.

Roof fall in the #2 entry, primary escapeway. Fall was 40'X20'X8'. No injuries and no equipment involved.

Attempting to start pump located behind splitter box. When he attempted to walk around the splitter box through approximately 8 inches of water, his left knee gave out. Marfork Safety Department was informed employee returned to work but he called today 2/1/10 and reported he is scheduled for surgery 2/17/10.

Replacing bottom roller hangers on the #1 section belt line. Employee lowered the bottom roller to install the hanger. As he pulled up on the hanger to hand it back on the belt rail his right index finger was pinched between the hanger and belt rail. Injured also felt pain in his right lower back and hip.

Witnesses stated Injured was on the down wind side of bearing in fresh air when they smelled smoke. The Fireboss went to the belt line and found a hot bearing. They started spraying water on it to cool it down and injured inhaled smoke.

EE was using a slate bar to move a 60 lb. track rail that was loaded on a flat car, when it suddenly rolled causing his left hand to become pinched between the roof and the bar, fracturing his left little finger.

EE was helping secure a retaining fence on mt. face. He was working on a bench below workers located on top bench that were securing the same retaining fence. Debris was dislodged and fell from the top bench striking ee on his right shoulder/shoulder blade.

Mantrip #2 was coming outside & cautioned to watch for #1 mantrip which was checking the belt. At airlock doors mantrip #1 was traveling back to track switch when it slid into mantrip #2 & member twisted right knee by getting tangled in nascar netting attempting to get in clear. Member continued working then had been seen by specialist & MRI & had meniscus tear.

Member stated that he was hanging the continuous miner cable across the roadway, when he felt pain in his arm (R). He did not report this incident to anyone, but went to doctor the next day and was taken off work by doctor until 7/8/09. Mine management was informed on 7/6/09 about the alledged accident, which no report was filed.

Member had installed 1st row of bolts in #4 entry. He then installed a bolt in the next row and swung the drill head out to spot a bolt, when coal/rock rib measuring 14' L, 20"" T and H was 68"" struck members left leg, pinning his leg against the drill head near a panel switch. Left leg above knee received laceration & abrasion wound. Surgery repaired muscles and tendons.

Member was walking backwards caarrying a top roller 48"" belt structure when he tripped and fell landing on his backside. The top roller struck his lower left leg causing a sprain/contusion.

Member was tramming shuttle car from #3 right crosscut toward #4 entry. As he was making the right hand turn the shuttle car struck the inby corner of #3 coal pillar causing a whiplash type injury to his head, neck, back & legs.

We were marking off belt line for the longwall belt. We had to use a 12' ladder due to the height of the mine roof, while moving the ladder under some cables to reposition it the ladder slipped. While I was still holding onto ladder. Tearing rotary cup in my right shoulder.

Injury had started the continuous miner to prepare for bading shuttle car. The shuttle car opr. signaled for her to check her cable slack on the reel. After shutting miner off, she walked to shuttle car to check the cable slack when a piece of slate rock measuring 1' wide, 2' long, and 1"" thick struck the top of hard hat causing staving but not knocking her down.

While the member was carrying roof bolts from the middle of the machine toward the front tray of the bolter, he stepped in mud and tripped. The roof bolts he was carrying hit the rib keeping him from falling causing a strain to the middle portion of his back.

As injury was installing a roof bolt in the rib, he pulled the drill steel out of the hole, a piece of coal and rock measuring 48 inch long by 18 inch wide and 13 inch thick fell from the rib striking him on the left knee causing a contusion.

The employee was installing a roof bolt when a piece of rock and coal fell striking him on the back.

The employee was out of the shuttle car cleaning out the deck when he was hit by a piece of coal in the back pushing him into the shuttle car injuring his right knee. Was diagnosed on 2/10/09 by a specialist after a MRI with a hyper-extended knee and remains off at this time.

While loading the shuttle car, a small rock measuring 3"" long, 3"" wide and 1"" thick, came out of conveyor chain and struck continuous miner operator on left cheek and mouth which required 2 stitches.

Member was in the process of putting drill steel against the roof to start drilling a hole, when a piece of rock measuring 0-1/2"" thick, 4"" wide and 12"" long, fell out and struck him on the side of his face, causing an abrasion to right side of face from below right eye and cheek and a laceration to his chin that required 4 stitches.

Member was removing cinder blocks from an old stopping when a loose block fell from the stopping and caused a laceration to the middle finger on his right requiring 7 stitches.

While walking beside mantrip while laying track, 2 steel sandjacks fell over, member heard noise and raised both arms up and sand jacks struck arm and drove them on top of mantrip causing a laceration to his right index finger requiring 3 stitches.

While member was preparing to assist re entering the miner cable the hose clamp was damaged. As he pulled on the nut to loosen it from the packing gland his hand slipped causing lacerations to his right middle and ring fingers. Middle finger required 10 stitches.

The employee was cleaning the belt conveyor when a piece of rock that went thru on the belt came back and struck him of the left wrist.

The EE was helping load conveyor belt on a flat car, using a clamp called a Dick Bill. The clamp slipped off the wet conveyor belt, striking the EE in the lower left side.

The EE was riding in a track jeep, when a wood board that was hanging from the roof hit the EE on the head. The board had just been tore down by a supply motor and was not seen by the motor crew or the jeep operator. The board was removed.

The employee was removing a chain from belt stand when his left thumb was caught between the chain and the stand causing a laceration. The employee was wearing gloves at the time of this accident.