All MSHA-reportable accidents at Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC operations in 2016. Fatalities appear first.
On 12-12-16 at approximately 4:55 a.m. an employee got on the service hoist to ride it to the surface. The hoist started moving towards the surface and when it reached the 100 foot mark the hoist stopped. The employee was stuck on the hoist for approximately 35 minutes. The hoist was down for electrical issues and was repaired at approximately 5:30 a.m. No employees were injured
At approximately 5:10 p.m. the service hoist went down due to a malfunction in one of the relays causing the brakes not to release. All employees were evacuated to the surface in a timely manner. No person or persons were trapped or injured.
Employee was testing the emergency hoist when the hoist went down for a gate switch fault. All employees were evacuated immediately and no persons were trapped or injured. The hoist was back up and running at 5:00 p.m. on 8-21-16
Employee was testing the emergency hoist with inspectors when the hoist went down for a slack rope sesor issue and the gatelock at the bottom of the shaft. All employees were evacuated immediately and no persons were trapped or injured. Hoist is back up and running
Employee was testing the emergency hoist with an MSHA inspector when the hoist went down. After troubleshooting it was determined that a lightening arrestor had went bad. All employees were evacuated from the mine immediately and no persons were trapped or injured.
On 7-11-16 at approximately 8:30 a.m. the service hoist went down due to electrical issues. No persons were trapped or injured. All employees were evacuated to the surface in a timely manner. The Service Hoist was repaired and put back in service at approximately 10:55 a.m. on 7-11-16.
At approx. 5:03PM an examiner conducted a functional test on the E-hoist and it would not work. All employees were evacuated from the mine immediately. No persons were trapped or injured during this incident. It was determined that a bad PLC was the cause for the malfunction.
On 5-25-16 the service hoist was taken out of service due to showing signs of additional slack in one of the hoist ropes. Service Hoist was out of service from 5-25-15 to 5-26-16 where it was placed back in service after lakeshore made repairs and corrected. No persons were trapped or injured. All employees were evacuated to the surface in a timely manner.
On 5-21-16 the service hoist was taken out of service due to showing signs of slack in the hoist ropes. On 5-23-16 the hoist was placed back in service after Lakeshore had retensioned the ropes. No persons were trapped or injured. All employees were evacuated to the surface in a timely manner.
Rock fell from top catching employees right index finger between the canopy of roof bolter and the rock.
EE stated that ee was putting on outside bolt when draw rock fell from top hitting ee in right side arm (mid bicep to mid forearm) & shoulder. Report from mine stated draw rock was approximately 24' long, 8'-10' wide & 3'-4' thick.
Offside left bolt machine operator was installing outside bolt in 2nd row located on the right hand rib when the rib rolled striking the employee on right hand, right arm, and legs.
Driver observed an overheating condition in the cab of the truck, shut the truck off, and opened the hood from the side and not from the front of the vehicle. The OEM radiator plastic surge tank ruptured spilling hot antifreeze on the driver's left hand and lower arm inside.
Employee was cutting the belt with a gas chop saw. EE was standing on the belt when EE made a final cut through. The belt moved and employee fell; striking elbow on the roller frame. Supervisor was notified and first aid was implemented and no other treatment was necessary at that time. On 07/15/16 employee presented with elbow swelling, pain and discomfort.
Employee was jacking up a flat car and as EE was in the motion of standing up EE felt a pop in the right knee. Employee then went to Raleigh General after the shift ended and it was determined EE needed an MRI. MRI results showed a torn meniscus on 5-20-16. Note: Injury report was received on 5-20-16.
Employee was climbing the steps on an endloader when the bottom step broke causing the employee to slide down the ladder landing on EE's feet jarring EE's back. Note: Employee came back to work and worked until 3-17-16 at which EE was placed off of work due to a medical evaluation.
Employee was jacking up a track rail when the rail slid off of the jack striking the employee in the shin area on left leg. Employee went to the hospital after the shift and x-rays showed no fractures only swelling. Employee was placed on restricted work until 12-21-16 where EE went back to full duty.
While drilling a hole to install a roof bolt a piece of rock fell from the mine roof striking the drill pot and breaking the rock into pieces. One of the pieces of rock flew under the employee's safety glasses striking the employee in the left eye. Employee received eye drops for a scratched eye.
Employee was putting in a top roller while moving belt when EE noticed that the belt clamp was stuck. When the employee reached down to free the belt clamp another employee grabbed the roller and caught EE's finger between the top rail and the belt roller smashing and cutting ring finger on right hand.
Employee was getting a piece of rock off of the continuous miner and when ee tried to flip the rock in the pan it caught right ring finger and right pinky finger on right hand causing fractures to the tips of both. Note: Employee returned to work on the next regular scheduled shift.
Employee was examining a return stopping and turned around to walk back to the section and caught employee's left shoulder/back area on the end of a monster mat that was bent down slightly.
Employee was exiting a roof bolting machine when employee tripped and fell on employee's hand dislocating employee's left pinky finger.
Employee was located near the bottom of the Service Hoist on the motor side of the Service Hoist. EE and another employee were hooking up a draw bar to the locomotive and EE got EE's left thumb caught in the coupler of the draw head. Minor fracture to EE's left thumb.