Pocahontas Coal Company, LLCMining Incidents in 2014

Hoist gates would not open...magnets would not release gates. Hoist functioned but would not allow persons to enter or exit. No employees trapped or endangered.

Upon inspection of hoist it was taken out of service due to possible wear of the bull gear assembly.

Left CMO briefly saw an orange glow around the head of his CM and believed it could have been a small ignition. Investigation determined there was no evidence of a methane ignition.

During an exam a fault (relay mismatch fault) was observed. The depth indicator on the Allen Bradley screen appeared out of synch. Depth indicators were resynchronized to the proper settings. No persons were endangered during this event.

Overhead crane on the service hoist became inoperative. No employees were in danger. Hoist became operative at 6:36am. Was only inoperative for approximately 36 minutes. Hoist was fully functional but a rail box was located on the hoist and the overhead crane mounted to the hoist would not work. Rail car was immediately removed once overhead crane/hoist was operational.

Roof fall was reported outby on Unit #2 Section. Fall occurred approximately two breaks outby the tailpiece in the intake.

Service hoist did not malfunction. Crew was unloading supplies and was not able to jog the hoist to the bottom. Hoist was approximately 3 feet from the bottom. All employees were evacuated until hoist was fully operational, which was approximately 4:32am on 6/7/14. Hoist was inoperable at approximately 2:45am on 6/7/14.

During routine maintenance the bull wheel bearings showed signs that they needed replaced. Hoist was fully functional...passed all required inspections. Bull wheel bearings were ordered and replaced on 6/1/14. All production ceased to avoid a large number of employees from being underground until bearings were replaced due to unlikely but potential issue with bearings.

Small brush fire was observed. At the time it was observed and called in, it was unknown if the fire was on mine property. Within a few hours it was determined the fire was not on mine property. Cause is still unknown. Was put out by approximately 4:10pm on 5/9/14.

While lowering supplies with the internal hoist the internal hoist quit operating, which would not allow the service hoist to be raised due to the supplies still be connected to the internal hoist. All underground crews were evacuated and no persons were in danger.

Brake system was not functioning properly, was taken out of service until repaired and passed inspection. No persons affected. Was fully operational at approximately 1130am on 3-27-14.

Overtravel sensors were not functioning properly. Were repaired. Hoist was fully operational by 9pm on 3-23-14. No persons affected.

Escape elevator was being operated to task train an employee on its use and the hoist would not run its full course. Crews were immediately evacuated.

Elevator operator ran the elevator (not for emergency use) and it would not travel all the way to the bottom. Crews were immediately evacuated.

When 7 day examination of hoist was tried the hoist would not operate due to ice.

Employee was rolling out lay flat discharge waterline and took a step backwards and tripped over a 2 inch waterline and rolled his left foot... hyper extended his foot and caused a minor stress fracture to his left foot.

Employee stated he was pulling dust hose from the pod duster to the #3 belt line and felt a pain in his lower back. Strained a muscle in his lower back.

Employee was working on belt drive and slipped and landed on his tailbone.

Employee was getting out of forklift when his foot got hung and as he was leaning forward to catch himself the incident occurred. Broke bone in his left wrist.

Employee was walking on the motor side of a belt drive and stepped on a rock and twisted his right knee. Employee finished his shift.

Employee was operating a shuttle car and was traveling the #3 entry to the CM on Unit 4. While traveling to the CM in the #3 entry he believes he hit a bump or irregularity in the mine floor on the off side of his shuttle car causing his head to hit the side of the control deck of the shuttle car. His left ear received a minor cut.

Employee was bending a bolt and the bolt slipped and struck his left hand and broke his pinky finger. Occurred on #4 Section in the #6 entry. Roof Bolt operator.

Injured removed a piece of grating at the surge bin area where coal was fed onto slope belt. He did this to drop a pump through hole by using a hoist. The slope belt shut down but the vibrator did not completely stop. When injured attempted to shut vibrator off he forgot about the hole and fell through to lower area.

Employee was removing the part from forklift jacks to place on Service Hoist when the part slipped and caught his left hand breaking his pinky finger. Employee finished his shift and reported incident at end of shift to management at approximately 7am (work 12 hour shift).

Employee was working near 4 break on 4 Unit in supply roadway and was bent over walking and his left ear caught a roof bolt strap that was not firmly against the mine roof. Received 3 stitches to left ear and returned to work and finished his shift.

Employee was using a chain ratchet to pull together dust pipe that had came loose. While pulling the employee fell forward and hit his head (hard hat fell off when employee fell forward).

Cutting the top piece off of a plastic knee pad with a utility knife. Cut his index finger on his left hand. Required 4 stitches.

Employee stepped off the diesel mantrip into 4-5"" of water near spad 260 at the elevator and twisted his right ankle. This is to report medical treatment in the form of orthopedic immobilization. (Crutches/Cane and Ankle Splint)