All MSHA-reportable accidents at Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC operations in 2019. Fatalities appear first.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. an employee was traveling in the right return near #2 belt head when EE encountered elevated methane levels. All power was de-energized in the affected area and the entire mine was evacuated and both agencies were notified. No one was trapped or injured.
At approximately 10:20 a.m. the service hoist went down for an electrical issue. No one was trapped or injured. All persons were evacuated in a timely manner. The issue was corrected and the hoist was placed back in service at approximately 1:10 p.m.
At approximately 11:59 a.m. the service hoist went down for power loss. No one was trapped or injured. All persons were evacuated in a timely manner. The power was restored and the hoist was placed back in service at approximately 2:10 p.m.
On 10/21/2019 at approximately 3:17 p.m. a roof fall was discovered in the #2 entry at 17 break along 3C belt in the left return off of #3 section.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. the Service Hoist was taken out of service to tighten up the friction hoist drum brake pedestal anchors. The bolts were tightened and the hoist was placed back in service. No one was injured or trapped. Both state and federal agencies were notified.
On 8-28-19 at approximately 12:30 p.m. the service hoist went down due to electrical issues. At approximately 1:00 p.m. the service hoist had been repaired and was back in operation. No one was injured or trapped.
At approximately 5:19 a.m. the service hoist went down due to electrical issues. The hoist was repaired and put back in service at around 6:55 a.m. No person or persons were trapped or injured and all persons were evacuated.
At approximately 3:00 a.m. the service hoist went down due to electrical issues. All employees that were required to evacuate exited the mine out the belt slope. No persons were trapped or injured. The hoist was back to normal operation at 6:05 a.m.
At approximately 3:35 p.m. the service hoist went down due to electrical issues. All persons were evacuated the slope and no one was trapped or injured.
An employee had been building cribs under the feeder and as EE was trying to keep balance, EE's right index finger got between two pieces of metal near the jack area smashing the finger. The employee was brought outside and taken to the hospital where it was determined EE would lose part of the finger.
Employee was dropping continuous miner cable and waterline and as employee raised up with the cable on employee's shoulder employee felt pain in lower back. The employee is currently off of work.
Employee was walking through the crosscut between the power entry and the belt entry when EE slipped causing EE to fall resulting in a fracture to EE's fibula in EE's left leg. The employee is currently off of work.
Employee was trying to remove a piece of drill steel that was stuck in a drill steel chuck from a roof bolter and as the employee was beating on the chuck employee smashed a finger between the back of the roof bolting machine and the drill steel chuck. Employee received four sutures and returned to work on next regular shift.
While in the #4 entry the employee dropped the drill pot down on the roof bolter when a piece of drill steel fell out of the hole hitting the ground. The employee bent over to pick up the piece of drill steel when the other piece fell out striking the employee on the left pinky finger. The employee then went to the hospital where it was determined that the finger was fractured.
Employee was walking in the back area of the mine office when EE observed a black snake by the trash can. The employee bent over to pick up the black snake when EE was bitten on EE's right hand between EE's pointer finger and index finger. The employee did not miss any work and both agencies were notified by calling the hotline as a safety precaution.
Employee was cleaning loose coal from the wear plate in the feeder when the sharp edge of the wear plate cut EE's left index finger. The employee was taken to the hospital where EE received 5 sutures.
Employee was walking to the mantrip at the end of shift when left ear caught the end of a roof mat causing a laceration. Employee received 4 sutures.
On 12-3-19 an employee received 15% award in occupational pneumoconiosis. The employee is currently retired and does not work at the operation.
on 6-27-2019 an employee received and additional 5% for occupational pneumoconiosis. The employee is currently working as an outside loader operator
On 6-11-19 a former employee received 15% for occupational pneumoconiosis. It was reported to us that the employees is currently not working.
ON 3-29-19 a former employee received 15% for occupational pneumoconiosis. It was reported to us that the employee is currently not working.
On 1-9-19 Employee received 10% awarded for occupational pneumoconiosis. Employee has retired and is no longer employed with Pocahontas Coal Company.