Sapphire Coal CompanyMining Incidents in 2007

A roof fall was found in 1-Left Bleeder panel in the #2 entry at spad #2102 when making the weekly examination.

When traveling the bleeder entry in 1 Left Panel off No. 11 belt a fall was found in the #1 entry. Fall fell from pillared works into the travelway.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the #4 heading at spad #2237.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #2 heading approx 60' inby spad 2238. No injurys or equipment involved.

An unintentional roof fall occurred on the MMU 002 Section at the Pillar line. The fall caught the miner. The fall occurred when mining the block between the #7 and #8 entries.

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #4 rt X-cut and extended into the #5 hdg approx 80 feet inby spad #1880.

Highwall gave way onto the canopy and blocked the track entry. Fall was 3 to 5 feet long, 18 feet wide and 5 to 6 feet high.

Employee reports that he was standing with his hands on the belt structure ""looking up the belt line"" when a belt splice caught his coverall sleeve. In order to free himself, he jerked with enough force that he dislocated his right shoulder.

Driver overturned loaded coal truck.

Employee was moving a rockduster from a scoop bucket and felt pain in his groin and lower back.

Employee was striking an insert with a metal wrench and metal flew into his eye.

While loading a Ram Car tire, it fell over onto his foot and ankle resulting in a fracture.

When drilling a hole for a roof bolt, the wrench broke and drill steel struck employee on left forearm. He suffered a fractured bone in the forearm.

Employee was injured 6/6/07 when he twisted his right knee as he was roof bolting. He had surgery on 7/13/07.

Employee was struck by a scoop and suffered a laceration to his left lower leg that required stitches.

This report is to abate violation 6646258. Employee recieved a flash burn to his hands when he plugged up a battery plug. This report is made under protest as I do not believe it meets Part 50 requirements.

Employee was removing a head motor guard on Miner when it slipped and cut finger on left hand requiring stitches.

Cutting tape off a hose and cut thumb with a knife. Injury required stitches.

While bending a bolt it sprung and struck him in the mouth. The injury resulted in stitches.

He was helping repair a Miner cable when as he was holding the cable he suffered a laceration to his right hand, requireing stitches.

Employee reported that while shoveling belts, his right upper arm made contact with a sharp barb on the belt structure. The wound was sutured at the local emergency room and he returned to work the same day.

Bending a bolt on T-Bar, when bolt slipped and struck left hand. Resulting in a hairline fracture to ring finger of left hand. No splint required.

EE stated that while operatig a roof bolting machine, a section of rock spun out of the hole he was drilling striking him on right upper forearm. Required stitches to close laceration.

Mine sealant splashed in his right eye. Employee suffered a chemical burn to right eye that required medical attention that qualifies as a reportable injury.

Drill steel fell out of hole and struck employee on hand resulting in a fractured finger.

Employee turned to go to a mine phone and bumped into a chain connected to a belt tailpiece.

He was working on the drive chain for the #5 Headpiece when he struck the chain with a hammer and a small piece of metal flew into his eye. Right eye.

Lifting jack kicked out, striking employee's right hand and caused a laceration that required stitches to close the wound.

Knife slipped while cutting tape; cut left hand. Required 3 stitches.

Employee was cleaning out dust box and cut his hand on the coal rib, requiring stitches to close the wound.

Employee was traveling thru a mandoor and bumped his head on the mandoor. Stitches were required to close the wound.

Employee was picking up a hollow concrete block and felt pain in back.

Employee reported he had hurt his lower back and did not know how. He had been lifting heavy objects on 2/17/07 but felt no pain or injury. He was diagnosed as having a degenerative disc disease in the area of the pain L5 to S1.