Pocahontas Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2013

Overtravel switch became inoperative on the service hoist.

Hoist became inoperative at approximately 1:45am. Surge Suppression warning was indicated. Hoist engineer reset fault and made several test runs with hoist prior to operation. Issue was resolved at approximately 2:50am.

The inter coder was not functioning and needed repaired. Hoist became in-operational at 6-25-13 5:10pm and was fully functional at 6-25-13 5:39pm.

At approximately 6:55 PM the service hoist seized to function. The mine was evacuated via the emergency hoist after the initial inspection did not reveal the problem. A piece of chain was found fouled in the bottom gate target/sensor that had apparently fallen while supplies were being transported.

On March/16/2013 the (30) day hoist inspection was being conducted on the (19 man) hoist at the Affinity mine. During the inspection it was observed that the slack rope brake was not adequate to the manufactures specifications. Both regulatory agencies were contacted, and the mine personnel was evacuated from the mine by 11:00am. The hoist was operating again at 1:15pm.

Service hoist became inoperative. A positioning wire was damaged at the surface area of the hoist making the hoist incapable of landing in the required location on both the surface and the mine bottom. All mine personnel was withdrawn from the mine and both regulatory agencies was contacted in an timely manner. The hoist was back in full operating capacity at 9:40am.

Employee stated his back was hurting. Employee is a roof bolt operator. Loads bolt machine daily with bolt supplies, and installs roof support daily.

Employee was hanging miner cable in the #5 Entry to clean and felt a pain in his back.

Fireboss opened a mandoor and stepped through onto uneven bottom and his weight was posted on his left knee twisting it. Initial x-ray report showed no injury but he was told not to work until he got an MRI that took 12 days to get and 3 more days to get the results. Notified on 6/3/13 that he had sustained an ACL strain with cartilage damage and needed to remain off work.

Employee was on ladder removing tin off hoist house walls. Gust of wind blew down house, employee fell off ladder injuring Right ankle and left wrist.

Belt man was connecting a plastic rock dust line and the line slipped and started to slide down the slope. He lunged forward to grab it and felt a sharp pain in his lower abdomen. He was diagnosed with a hernia that required surgery.

Employee bent down on one knee to take an air reading and felt pain in his knee. He went to the phone & went outside & was transported to the hospital.

While switching seats in his shuttle car the employee felt a pain in his left knee.

Employee was pulling a water hose and felt a pain in his belly button area. Doctor placed employee on restrictive duty on 06/21/13 and is on restrictive duty until his surgery is scheduled.

Employee was standing at the corner of an intersection. An electrician went by on a 2-man ride going up the grade when the elect. tool box slid back and struck the tram pedal. The electrician switched to neutral and pushed the brake hard causing the brake cable to break. The ride went backward down the grade and struck the employee on his left lower leg fracturing both bones.

Roof bolter operator was preparing to install an outside bolt in the row. He placed the bolt over his canopy and pulled down to bend it and felt a sharp pain in his lower left abdomen.

Shuttle car operator parked his shuttle car and when he stepped out onto uneven bottom he twisted his left knee.

Roof bolter operator was spotting a bolt and as he straightened the bolt after starting it in the hole a piece of rock approximately 4""X5""X3/4"" thick fell and struck his left little finger against the drill pot. He sustained a laceration of his left little finger requiring (5) sutures and a small bone chip at the middle joint. He returned on restricted duty 3-27-13.

Employee was sampling flowable fill concrete at the Affinity Mine. Sometime during his shift he was splashed on the chin by two specks of wet concrete and did not notice until he got home that night. On 12/30 he sought medical attention and was diagnosed with two small second degree chemical burns on his face and prescribed oral antibiotics and an antibiotic cream.

Employee was spot bolting and a piece of rock fell and struck his ring finger. Medical reportable. No lost days or restrictive days.

While plastering a stopping the employee got plaster (B-Bond) under the plaster glove he was wearing on his right hand that extended up his forearm. The next day he told his foreman about the incident. The following day his skin was red and swollen and he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a chemical burn to his right forearm. This is to report medical treatment only.

Employee was traveling inby on the slope. He lost his footing and began to fall down and as he fell he struck his right hand on the belt and dislocated his ring finger at the middle joint. This is to report medical care only no work days were lost.