Sapphire Coal CompanyMining Incidents in 2011

The weekly examiner was traveling the return with an MSHA inspector and they found a roof fall in #2 entry of Cow Branch Mains near Spad # 4003. The area was dangered off and cribs built in the area.

A roof fall was found in the return off MMU 003-0. It was approximately 40' long by 20' wide by 10' high. The fall occurred in an intersection and blocked travel in the entry. The fall will be cleaned up.

He was working on underground seals. He was loading the machine with seal tec with safety glasses some of the seal tec got under his safety glasses. He went to eye doctor & they flushed his ey e, he has to go back again and get it checked.

He was working on underground deals, he was loading the machine with seal tex with safety glasses some of the seal tee got under his safety glasses. He went to eye doctor and they flushed his eye, he has to got back again and go it checked.

Employee was changing blower motor on roof bolter and tripped and fell, straining his lower back. He continued to work until 7-14-11, at which time he was taken off work by Dr.

Employee stated that a piece of draw rock was falling and he jumped out of the way and twisted his back. The employee worked the following day but started missing on 3-10-11.

Employee was installing a bolt and his left arm was caught between the drill canopy and the drill head, resulting in a broken arm.

Employee was lifting a planetary unit with a chain hoist, tried to pull a crib block out from under it and the eye of the anchor pulled out and the planetary fell on his hand, causing injury to the index finger of the right hand requiring surgery.

Employee was moving a car cable and strained left shoulder. He has had previous problems with the shoulder for years prior to becoming an employee. Dr. placed employee on restricted duty. Company believes this is not an occupational injury but is reporting this out of caution.

THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING A BENT ROOF BOLT OUT OF THE HOLE AND HE HIT THE WRONG LEVER AND THE BOLT STRUCK HIM ON HIS RIGHT WRIST.

THE EMPLOYEE WAS ROOF BOLTING WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM THE ROOF STRIKING THE EMPLOYEE ON THE MIDDLE FINGER ON THE LEFT HAND.

Employee stated that he was putting rub rail on the miner with scoop. He put a slate bar between the rub rail and the scoop and the scoop backed off and caused pressure on the bar that knocked the bar out of his hand. The bar caused a cut on his hand that required 8 stitches.

Employee was cutting a piece of belt with a knife and the knife slipped and the employee was cut on his right leg, requiring 3 stitches. Employee was back to work on the next scheduled shift.

Employee was using a knife while helping make a cable splice. The knife slipped and struck the employee on the left hand causing a laceration requiring one (1) stitch.

WHILE ROOF BOLTING IN THE #7 ENTRY, A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM THE ROOF ON TO THE CANOPY AND SLID OFF STRIKING THE INJURED ON THE RIGHT ARM, RESULTING IN A LACERATION.