Sapphire Coal CompanyMining Incidents in 2006

An inundation of water from old works, thought to be over 300 ft from the face occurred in the No.1 entry of the 001 MMU. Miner was backing out of a clean up when he brushed the rib and the water burst through.

The continuious miner was stuck in a pillar run and before the miner could be pulled out a planned fall occurred & caught on the miner. Mining was disrupted for more than one hour and is therefore reportable.

An unintentional roof fall has occurred in the #5 intake entry at the #5 crosscut along the #3 belt panel. The fall was from rib to rib, approx 60 feet long and approx. 6 foot high.

An unintentional roof fall has occurred outby spad #338 in the #6 entry, along the # 5 Belt panel. This is an intake entry, ventilation has not been affected and area cribbed off to prevent travel into the area. The fall was approx. 12 feet long, 5 feet high and 18 feet wide.

Unintentional roof fall was found at 11:00 AM during a weekly examination. Area fall was found was 1 x-cut inby spad 2706. Fall was 40' long by 20' wide and 6' to 8' high.

An unplanned roof fall occurred in the #3 belt panel return entry at the #2 entry intersection of #8 X-cut. Fall was 50' in intersection and cross-cut and 30'long, 7' to 9'high. Area bolted with tension rebar.

An unintentional roof fall has occurred int he #3 hdg of 002-0 mmu inby spad. This fall was 20' wide 6' to 8' high and approx. 70' long. Fall did not impede ventilation or didn't involve any equipment. area bolted with 5' bolts.

AN UNINTENTIONAL ROOF FALL WAS FOUND AT 2:00 PM ON 1/18/06 IN THE #5 BELT PANEL IN #5 ENTRY, APPROX. 150' INBY SPAD 2282.

UNINTENTIONAL ROOF FALL, APPROX. 20' WIDE X 150' LONG X 6-8' HIGH. LOCATED AT BREAK 25 ON NO. 5 BELT PANEL IN THE #4 ENTRY.

Shovelling under belt rollers and felt pain in lower right side. He was diagnosed with a miscropic hernia.

Employee was unloading belt structure when he felt pain in his stomach. He later went to the Doctor and was found to have a hernia.

Employee slid a piece of rock off the 6 inch waterline. The rock scraped his right hand and middle finger. His finger nail was scrapped off and stitches were required to close the wound. (Employee began missing work on 11/14/06 because of infection)

Employee began missing work because of an injury that occurred on 10/27/2006, when he was squatting on the mine floor and raised up and suffered damage to his knee.

Employee informed company on 12/12/2006 that he had surgery on a knee that was injured on 10/18/2006. The original incident was recorded when he raised up from handling a miner cable and felt pain in his right knee.

Employee stepped over a roof bolter cable and knee gave away.

While employee was carrying a tool bag he felt pain in his lower back. His original injury occurred on 10/5/06, but he visited the Dr. on 10/16/06 & began missing work on 10/17/06.

He was making a belt splice when a belt clamp came loose and as he fell he was struck in the head. Later in the shift he started having back pain.

Employee was handling as miner cable and twisted his lower back.

Employee was shoveling belt and was struck by the shovel. This report was filed to abate violation #7436522.

Employee was moving miner cable when he fell on wet mine floor and landed on his back.

Employee was climbing down from belt crossover at No. 5 drive and his foot slipped. This is being reported to abate violation No. 7436824

As employee was loading bottom belt roller, the load shifted and caught his little finger on right hand causing a laceration that had to be closed with stitches.

Loading rock dust and moved quickly and twisted his back.

Employee was plastering a brattice when plaster was splashed onto his face and glasses. When he wiped off his face he wiped some materials into his eye and had to have the eye washed out. This is a medical reportable injury.

Employee was cutting a piece of conveyor belt when he cut his right leg with a utility knife. The wound required stitches to close.

Details unknown as no report filed by employee. An investigation by mine mgt. has not determined if a Part50 CFR reportable event has occurred. This report is being filed under protest and in response to MSHA by employee.

Employee was cutting belt with a knife when he fell and accidentally cut his right thigh. Wound required staples to close.

Employee was struck by a flying piece of metal as he was using a hammer. Metal was removed and stitches were needed to close the wound.

Employee was plastering a brattice when plaster was splashed into his left eye.

He was using a bar to install fan belt when the bar slipped and struck him on the shin. The injury required stitches.

EE WAS ROOF BOLTING WHEN HE CAUGHT HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE WRENCH AND A ROOF BOLT BEING INSTALLED. CONTUSION & LACERATION - INDEX FINGER ON LEFT HAND.

Mashed finger on cable hook on miner while taking pull rope off. Removed finger nail on left hand 5th finger.

Employee was diagnosed by a doctor as having bursitus in his right knee. I am protesting this reporting because there is clear evidence that he was treating before he reported the event on 10/21/06 and that this is not mine related.