All MSHA-reportable accidents at Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC operations in 2017. Fatalities appear first.
At approximately 11:40 a.m. an airway man identified a roof fall in the right return off of 1 section. Both agencies were notified and no one was injured. The stopping line was set over and all approaches were cribbed or timbered off.
While dropping a rail car down the shaft the crane on the service hoist went down due to electrical issues in which prevented the hoist from being able to be used. All employees were evacuated in a timely manner, there were no injuries, and both agencies were notified.
A roof fall was found around 1:47 p.m. in the track entry at 6 break along 3C belt in the intersection at which the actual time of the fall is unknown. The roof fall extended into the crosscut going towards the #3 entry. The fall was timbered and cribbed off and no injuries occurred. Both agencies were notified.
Employee was operating the continuous miner in the #9 face loading a shuttle car when employee saw an orange flash near the top center drum area of the machine. No one was injured, power was knocked, everyone removed to the power center, and both agencies notified. This was considered a possible ignition but at this time no evidence has proved the ignition.
Due to a noise in the bull wheel on the service hoist the hoist was taken out of service for repairs. Both agencies were notified and all employees were evacuated. No one was injured or trapped.
While a feeder was being loaded on the service hoist from the surface the crane went down in which not allow the service hoist to operate. The service hoist itself was not actually down just the crane. No one was trapped or injured and everyone was evacuated.
Employee was using the crane on the service hoist to pick up a shuttle car that was being transported outside when the crane on the service hoist went down. The actual service hoist was operational. No one was trapped or injured.
At approximately 11:30 p.m on 5-14-17 the section boss and safety person heard what sounded like a roof fall. As they started looking across the faces they observed a roof fall in the #5 entry. The roof fall was dangered off and no one was injured. Both agencies were notified.
On 5-2-17 at approximately 1:51 a.m. the service hoist went down due to power issues. No one was trapped or injured. Power was reestablished and the hoist is back up and running.
On 4-28-17 at approximately 5:19 a.m. an employee was riding the service hoist when it went down due to electrical issues. The hoist then started running again and then went down for a second time due to the same electrical issue. The hoist was repaired by changing a contactor and no one was injured.
At approximately 10:18 a.m. an employee was grading bottom with a continuous miner in the 5Rt. face and saw a yellow/orange flame around the center drum. At this time everything was shut down. No one was injured and during the investigation at this time there was no clear evidence of an ignition.
A roof fall occurred in the 3Lt face while mining and when the roof fell in the cut it pulled one roof bolt that was located in the last row. No one was injured and no equipment was damaged.
Employee stated that they flopped the miner cable over & out of the way & felt a pain in their groin. Employee thinks they pulled a muscle in the groin area but finished the shift and reported the incident to the boss @ 12:30 (end of shift) at the bottom of the shaft. Employee didn't want, and refused an ambulance, stating they would apply ice to the area at home.
The offside roof bolter operator on 3 section in #2 entry was struck in the back of the right leg by a piece of rock while roof bolting. The operator was transported to Raleigh General Hospital where x-rays showed a broken fibula, broken pinky toe, and cracked ankle. Operators return to work is unknown at this time. Operator worked for Lightning Contracting Services MSHA ID-8CV.
Employee was moving cable near the roof bolting machine when foot became lodged and as EE turned, EE twisted right knee. Employee is currently off work waiting on an MRI.
Employee slipped near the #7 belt head rock box and twisted EE's left ankle. The employee was taken to Raleigh general hospital where an x-ray showed EE's ankle was not broken. The employee then had a follow up appointment on 2-8-17 where a second x-ray showed that the ankle was broken. Employee is currently off of work and EE's return to work is unknown at this time.
EE placed pusher steel under starter steel that was stuck in the hole; EE was turned away talking to foreman, and the starter steel fell out striking hand on the webbing of left hand, between the thumb and forefinger.
Employee was hitting on a stuck bit in the continuous miner when ee missed and struck left thumb with a hammer. Employee came outside and went to Raleigh General Hospital where ee received three stitches.
Employee was loading full oil cans in the scoop bucket when ee felt a pop in left hand/elbow/forearm. Employee finished shift and then went to the hospital where they reported ee may have some ligament damage so they suggested ee wore support. Employee received a full release and returned back to work the next day.
EE stated was beating an oil can on a cinder block to get dried B Bond out and EE's hand slipped cutting thumb.
Employee was roof bolting and was putting up a bolt in the last row and as they were operating the functions, a fitting came loose spraying hydraulic in the employees face area. The employee was wearing prescription safety glasses and was taken to the hospital where they flushed their eyes and sent them home.
Employee was changing shear pins in the feeder using a bar to foul the outer hub so ee could line up the holes and as ee proceeded to turn the coupling the bar slipped out striking the employee in the fore head. The employee was taken to Raleigh General Hospital where ee received 5 sutures.
Employee was roof bolting in 6Rt. on 2 section on the offside of the roof bolting machine when EE asked the operator to toss EE a dolly socket across the machine. When the operator tossed the dolly socket it hit the canopy bouncing and striking the employee above the left eye resulting in a laceration.
Employee was using a grinder when employee felt debris go under employee's safety glasses. Once the employee went home employee noticed a piece of metal was in employee's right eye. Employee went to the doctor where they removed the metal and gave employee eye drops.
Employee was pushing up a roof bolt with the roof bolting machine and as employee was guiding the roof bolt to the mine roof the plate caught the drill steel guide causing the plate to cock pinching employee's left thumb resulting in a laceration.
Employee was putting up on of the metal roof mats with the roof bolter and as employee was looking up a piece of metal fell behind employee's glasses and got in employee's right eye. The piece of metal was removed and the employee received eye drops and was released.
Employee was roof bolting when a rock fell striking the employee in the left arm. Employee had a cut approximately 2 inches in length. Employee then went to Med Express where they received 4 sutures.
Roof Bolter Operator was in the #6 entry bolting top and as the employee was putting up their last row of roof bolts a piece of rock fell out striking the employee in the nose area resulting in a fractured septum.
Employee was using a pry bar to take a tire off of a scoop and when employee tried to remove the bar it slipped striking them in the mouth chipping a tooth. Employee finished the shift and did not miss any work. Employee saw a dentist and is having the tooth fixed.
Employee was installing a 3' chuck bolt in a flyboard and as the employee was straightening the bolt employee accidentally hit the rotation on the machine twisting left wrist. Employee was seen by a doctor and it was determined employee had a hairline fracture in the wrist. Employee was released back to work.
Employee was mixing B-Bond to plaster a stopping with when B-Bond splashed under employee's safety glasses in employee's right eye. Employee received eye drops and antibiotic cream for employee's eye.
Employee was hammering nails in the end of a piece of belt to make a splice when a piece of the hammer chipped off hitting the employee in the right hand between the index and middle finger. Employee went to the hospital on 1-4-17 after finishing owl shift and the piece of metal was removed.