Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLCMining Incidents in 2002

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE NO.1 ENTRY OF TG-101. THE FALL IS BETWEEN XC 27 & 28. THE FALL IS APPROXIMATELY 50 FT LONG BY 20 FEET WIDE BY 18 FEET HIGH. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED BY 8 F T TORQUE TENSION BOLTS SUPPLEMENTED WITH WIRE MESH. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF SLICKEN-SIDED MATERIALS IN THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE FALL.

A ROOF FALL HAS OCCURRED INT HE NO.1 ENTRY OF TG-101. THE FALL AREA IS APPROX 50 FT. LONG BY 16 FT WIDE BY 8 FT HIGH. THE FALL IS BETWEEN CROSSCUTS 39 AND 40. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED WITH 8 FT TORQUE TENSION BOLTS SUPPLEMENTED WITH MESH

ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR WAS SPINNING A ROOF BOLT TO MIX THE RESIN. THE BOLT PLATE STRUCK OR RUBBED AGAINST THE STEEL MAT AND CAUSED HEAT OR SPARKS. THE BOLTER HELPER OBSERVED A YELLOWISH FLAME TH AT LASTED AN ESTIMATED 4 SECONDS. THE OPERATOR DID NOT SEE THE FLAME. WORK WAS STOPPED AND THE SCENE SECURED. MSHA WAS NOTIFIED. AN INVESTIGATION BEGAN WHEN MSHA INSPECTORS ARRIVED.

WATER HAD SATURATED THE SPOIL PIL. SPOIL SLID DOWN BECAUSE OF WATER. NO MEN OR EQUIPMENT INVOLVED. EVERYONE WAS EVACUATED.

MINE EXAMINER DISCOVERED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL IN TG-101, ENTRY 3, BETWEEN XC-33 & XC-34. THE FALL AREA IS APPROX 25 FT LONG, 10 FT HIGH, 15 FT WIDE. THE AREA HAD BEEN BOLTED WITH 8 FT BOLTS, SUPPLEMENTED WITH WELDED WIRE MESH & TRUSSES.

A ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR WAS MIXING RESIN DURING INSTALLATION OF A ROOF BOLT. AS HE SPUN THE BOLT, THE HEAD WAS PUSHED AGAINST THE PLATE HARD ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SPARKS. AS THE SPARKS HIT THE ROOF A BLUE FLAME WAS OBSERVED BY THE OPERATOR. THE FLAME SELF-EXTINGUISHED. MANAGEMENT DID NOT LEARN OF THIS INCIDENT UNTIL 8/27/02.

WHILE CONDUCTING A PRESHIFT EXAMINATION, A MINE EXAMINER OBSERVED A ROOF FALL SC-19, TG-101. THE FALL WAS IN THE NUMBER 2 ENTRY. THE FALL IS APPROX. 25' W X 25' L X 10' HIGH. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED WITH 8' FULLY GROUTED RESIN BOLTS ON 5' CENTERS. THE BOLTS HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED WITH WELDED WIRE MESH.

MINERS OBSERVED A ROOF FALL AT CROSSCUT 27 IN THE NUMBER 3 ENTRY OF TG-101 WORKING SECTION. THE FALL WAS APPROX 20 FT IN LENGTH WAS APPROX 18 FT IN WIDTH AND WAS UP TO EST 13 FT TOTAL HEIGHT. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED WITH 8 FT FULLY GROUTED BOLTS ON 5 FT CENTERS. THE BOLTS HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED WITH WELDED WIRE MESH.

EXAMINERS DISCOVERED A ROOF FALL BETWEEN CROSSCUTS 35 & 36, IN NUMBER 1 ENTRY. THE FALL WAS APPROX. 150' IN LENGTH WAS 1-18' IN WIDTH. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED WITH 6' TORQUE TENSION BOLTS THE BOLTS HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED WITH WELDED WIREMESH.

EE WAS DISMOUNTING OFF THE BACK END OF SERVICE TRUCK. HE STEPPED OFF THE BED OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE BUMPER WITH HIS LEFT FOOT AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STEPPING DOWN AND TURNING, WHENHIS LEFT F OOT SLIPPED AND HE FELL APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE FEET TO THE GROUND. ON HIS WAY DOWN, HE HIT THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY, INFLICTING THE INJURY.

EE WAS INSTALLING ROOF BOLT. AFTER TIGHTENING, EE DROPPED THE DRILL HEAD AWAY FROM THE ROOF BOLT AND THE WRENCH FLEW OUT OF THE DRILL HEAD AND STRUCK EE IN THE MOUTH.

WHILE EE WAS HELPING CONSTRUCT THE TOP DECK OF THE OVERCAST, AS HE MOVED THE BEAM IN PLACE, IT MOVED FORWARD AND MOVED QUICKLY THAN EE ANTICIPATED, BOTH OF HIS WRISTS WERE TWISTED AS THE BEAM WAS MOVED AWAY FROM HIM. THE TWISTING CAUSED SOME PAIN, SO HE SWITCHED JOB TO OPERATE A FORKLIFT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. ON HIS RETURN TO WORK 4-19-02 HE TRIED TO RESUME HIS NORMAL DUTIES, BU

EE WAS OPERATING A SCOOP AND PUSHING A COAL HAULER TO THE BATTERY CHARGING STATION. THE EQUIPMENT BECAME ENTANGLED AND SUDDENLY FREED UP, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIAL JOLT. EE'S HEAD WAS TH RUST UPWARD INTO THE CANOPY AND HE WAS MOMENTARI7LY DAZED AND THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY COUPLE OF MINUTES OF TINGLING SENSATIONS IN HIS EXTREMITIES.

EE WAS TAKING DOWN A SECTION OF CONTINUOUS MINER TRAILING CABLE FROM THE CABLE TROLLEY SYSTEM. SMALL PIECES OF COAL FELL ONTO HIS FACE, WENT BEHIND HIS SAFETY GLASSES AND INTO HIS EYES. HE CO NTINUED HIS REGULAR DUTIES. TWO HOURS LATER HIS EYES BECAME EXTREMELY IRRITATED.

WAS HOLDING BOLT CUTTERS AGAINST HIS CHEST TO GET LEVERAGE TO CUT A MESSENGER CABLE. CUTTERS FLIPPED BACK & HIT HIM IN THE CHEST.

EE AND CO-WORKER WERE WRECKING FORMS ONE OR BOTHEE STEPPED OUT ONTO PIECE OF PLYWOOD WHICH HAD NOT BEEN NAILED DOWN- BOTH EE'S FELL 15' TO BOTTOM OF SHAFT.

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING PIECE OF IRON, IRON FELL AND STRUCK FOOT CAUSING FRACTURE. STARTING LOSING TIME.

AFTER COMPLETING INSTALLATION GO ALL THE TRUSS HARDWARE, EE USED THE TIGHTENING GUN TO TENSION THE TRUSS. DURING TIGHTENING ONE OF THE TRUSS LEG BOLTS BROKE OFF ABOUT ONE INCH ABOVE THE TIGHTE NING NUT. THE SADDLE FELL DOWN AND STRUCK EE ON THE LEFT FOOT NEAR THE TOP OF THE ANKLES. A BRUISED BONE WAS DIAGNOSIS BY THE DR, DUE TO PAIN EE WAS UNABLE TO PUT WT. ON THE ANKLE AND WAS UNA

EE WAS HELPING HANG VENTILATION TUBING. HE AND ANOTHER EE SLIPPED ONE END OF THE TUBE INTO THE HANGING TUBE. AS THE STRAPS WERE BEING HOOKED UP, ONE END OF THE TUBING SLIPPED OUT OF THE TUBE A ND FELL, STRIKING EE ON THE THUMB. RESULTED INTO A SPRAINED THUMB.

EMPLOYEE WAS INITIALLY INJURED 10/4/02, WHEN HE STEPPED ON A LARGE ROCK WHILE RUSHING OUT OF THE WAY OF AN ONCOMING COAL HAULER AND TWISTED HIS RIGHT ANKLE. DIAGNOSIS WAS A MINOR SPRAIN TO THE ANKLE AT THE TIME, DIAGNOSIS REMAINS THE SAME AS OF TODAY. ON 11/4/02 EMPLOYEE FELT HIS ANKLE GETTING SORE WHILE GETTING OUT OF HIS SHUTTLE CAR. HE INFORMED SUPERVISOR HE FELT HE WAS UNABLE T

EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING THE PRE-PM TASK OF STEAM CLEANING WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY BRUSHED THE STEAM CLEANING WAND ACROSS HIS LEFT FOOT RESULTING IN SECOND DEGREE BURN TO THE TOP OF LEFT FOOT.

EE WAS HANGING A TRUSS ON RIGHT SIDE OF 435 BOLTER. EE HUNG TRUSS, WAS GETTING DOWN, HIS LEFT FOOT SLIPPED OFF, STAB JACK RIGHT FOOT GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN EXTENDING CYLINDER & STAB JACK (LOCATION ) TWISTING EE'S RIGHT KNEE. ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST FOUND LEFT KNEE TIBIAL SPINE FRACTURE.

WHILE AN EE WAS STABILIZING A BUNDLE OF SCREEN MESH AGAINST THE RIB AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE POSITION OF ANOTHER EE. A BUNDLE OF LOOSE SCREEN MESH FELL, KNOCKING THE INJURED EE TO THE GROUND AND CAUSING BACK, PELVIS AND LEG PAIN.

EE INCURRED A DEEP LACERATION ON HIS RT INDEX FINGER. EE AND ANOTHER WERE LOADING A METAL SKID SHOE (APPROX 250 LBS) ONTO A TRUCK. WHEN THEY WENT TO PUT THE SKID SHOE ON THE TRUCK IT SLID FROM HIS HAND BECAUSE OF THE ICE, CAUSING HIS FINGERTO BE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TRUCK BED AND THE SKID SHOE. EE WAS WEARING RUBBER GLOVES AT THE TIME IF THE INCIDENT. FRACTURE.

EE WAS SEATED TO EN-ROUTE TO HIS WORKSITE, AS HEREACHED OVER TO CLOSE THE MANTRIP DOOR HE FELT AMUSCLE STRAIN IN HIS MID BACK CAUSING HIM SOME PAIN.

EMPLOYEE WAS GETTING PARTS FROM THE PARTS TRAILER WHEN HE SLIPPED COMING DOWN THE STEPS TWISTING HIS RIGHT ANKLE. EE RETURNED TO WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY BUT IS WORKING RESTRICTED DUTY.

WHILE ROOF BOLTING EMPLOYEE'S HAND CAUGHT BETWEEN A DRILL GUIDE CLAMP AND PINCHED HIS HAND.

EE WAS LOADING A TRAILER WITH THE FORKLIFT. AFTER SETTING THE LOAD DOWN ON THE TRAILER EE STARTED TO BACK OUT, DIDN'T NOTICE THE WHEELS OF THE FORKLIFT WERE OFF THE GROUND. AS EE MOVED BACK, T HE WHEELS DROPPED TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE EE TO BE JOLTED AROUND IN THE CAB. RESULTED IN SEVERE BACK PAIN.

WHILE EE WAS MOVING THE EQUIPMENT DOOR OUT OF THE ROADWAY, HE SLIPPED AND THE DOOR FELL STRIKING HIM ON THE RIGHT LEG. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION BY MESA OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE IT WAS DETERMINE THAT EE HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO HIS RIGHT FIBULA.

EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING TIRE; GOT RIGHT THUMB AND MIDDLE FINGER CAUGHT BETWEEN AXLE HOUSING AND METAL SHIM. INJURY: LACERATION TO RIGHT THUMB, TENDON REPAIR TO MIDDLE FINGER.

WHILE EE WAS MAKING A TEST LIFT ON THE JACK LEG DRILL, THE HAMMER SUNG AND PINCHED EE'S FINGER CAUSING AN AVULSION ON HIS SECOND RIGHT KNUCKLE.

EMPLOYEE WAS CONDUCTING A PRE-OP CHECK ON TR 897-LO-TRAC, WHEN HE RAISED THE ENGINE HOOD TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, HE SLIPPED AND HIS LEFT ARM WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AN D THE HOOD. EMPLOYEE WAS EVALUATED AT MESA CLINIC AND THE X-RAY REVEALED A FRACTURE TO THE LEFT ARM.

WHILE REACHING DOWN TO PICK UP THE RADIO, THE SCOOP OPERATOR LOWERED THE BUCKET ONTO EMPLOYEE'S FOOT CAUSING THE LEFT METATARSAL TO FRACTURE.

EE & CO-WORKER WERE WRECKING FORMS ONE OR BOTH EE'S STEPPED OUT ONTO PIECE OF PLYWOOD WHICH HADNOT BEEN NAILED DOWN. BOTH EE'S FELL 15' TO THE BOTTOM OF SHAFT.

EMPLOYEE RECEIVED A LACERATION TO HIS RIGHT HAND WHILE TIGHTENING LUG NUTS ON THE SHIELD HAULER WITH A WRENCH AND CHEATER BAR. THE CHEATER BAR FLEXED BACK AND PINCHED EMPLOYEE'S HAND BETWEEN THE FRAME OF THE SCOOP AND THE BAR, WHILE BEING BY TWO OTHER EMPLOYEES.

WHILE EE WAS STANDING ON THE COAL CAR HANGING THE BRACTTICE, HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND FELL ON HIS RT. SHOULDER, CAUSING A DISLOCATION.

EE WAS WORKING ON AN ADDCAR GEAR CASE WHEN IT SLIPPED PINCHING HIS FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN FINGER THAT REQUIRED 11 STITCHES.

EE WAS OPERATING A TRACK DOZER, PUSHING OVERBURDEN TO AN ELECTRIC SHOVEL, WHILE IN REVERSE MOTION, THE EE HIT A LARGE ROCK THAT JOLTED HIM AS HIS DOZER WENT OVER IT.

EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING THE ROOF BOLTER STRIPS (BACON STRIPS) ONTO THE ROOF BOLTER WITH HIS FINGER IN THE BOLTER HOLES & THE STRIPS SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO CUT HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER & REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT (STITCHES).

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL A ROPE FROM A TOW PIN ASSEMBLY. HE PULLED PIN FROM ONE HOLE LIFTING TO SLIDE THE ROPE WHEN HE DROPPED THE PIN ON HIS LEFT THUMB RESULTING IN A TUFT FRACTURE REQUIRING

WHILE BACKING DOZER AND LOOKING OVER SHOULDER, DOZER BACKED INTO AN UNEVEN AREA, CAUSING MACHINE TO JERK. OPERATOR TWISTED AND FELT PAIN IN UPPER BACK.

EE WAS MOVING THE MINER CABLE ONTO THE TROLLEY SYSTEM, THE DRISCO PIPE THAT WAS HUNG ON THE TROLLEY SYSTEM FELL, STRIKING EE'S FOREHAD AND NOSE. CAUSED EE'S NOS TO FRACTURE.

EE WAS BOARDING TRUCK ON LADDER, WHILE REACHING FOR RAIL ON CAB BELOW WINDOW, HAND HIT RAIL MOUNTED ON PLATFORM.

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING THE TRUCK WHEN LOADER BROKE APART. HE WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND BACKWARD. STRAIN RESULTED IN CHIROPRATIC TREATMENT.

WHILE DRIVING THE COAL HAULER, EE HIT A RUT CAUSING HER TO BOUNCE UP & LANDED HARD ON THE SEAT, RESULTING IN DISCOMFORT ON HER BACK & LEG.

EE WAS ON TOP OF THE BELT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BELT CLAMP AND PULLING UP ON THE BRACKET, WHILE DOING SO THE CLAMP SPRUNG UP AND HIT EE IN THE CHIN, CAUSING A LACERATION.

EE WAS TAKING DOWN THE MINER CABLE, WHEN UNLATCHED THE HOOK, THE CABLE SLID DOWN HIS ARM CAUSING THE CLIP END OF THE HOOK TO LACERATED HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER.

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING AT WORKSTATION AND STRAINED RIGHT WRIST.

EE WAS IN THE TRUCK CAB, RECEIVED JOLT FROM THE FORCE OF LOAD BEING DROPPED INTO THE TRUCK.

EMPLOYEE SAT AGAINST EDGE OF DESK, STOOD UP AND FELT PAIN IN SPINE.

EE'S FINGER CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ROOF BOLTER DRILL MAST & DRILL STEEL THAT FELL OUT OF THE DRILL HOLE, CAUSING A FRACTURE TO HIS FINGER TIP.

POCKET OF METHANE IGNITED BY CUTTING TORCH CAUSING FLASH BURN TO HANDS, WRISTS, FACE.

POCKET OF METHANE IGNITED BY CUTTING TORCH CAUSING FLASH BURN TO HANDS, WRISTS, & FACE.

EE LEANED BACK ON KICKER WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED. KICKER FELL OUT CAUSING EE TO FALL. BRUISES TO BACK & HIP.

EMPLOYEE WAS KNOCKING OUT THE PUNCHOUT HOLE ON THE BREAKER PANEL, WHEN A CLOUD OF DUST CAME OUT AND GOT SOME MATERIAL IN HIS EYE.

WHILE EE WAS TRYING TO TWIST PUMP BODY AROUND TO CORRECT ALIGNMENT, IT SLIPPED PAST THE ALIGNMENT POINT AND CAUGHT EE'S LEFT RING FINGER BETWEEN THE DISCHARGE PIPE AND THE PUMP BODY.

EMPLOYEE HIT A FAULT WHILE DRIVING, SHARP DROP CAUSING HIM TO GET BOUNCED IN THE AIR, SEAT BELT JERKED HIM BACK DOWN.

EE WAS WORKING ON LEFT HAND DRILL MAST. STEEL WAS STUCK IN THE ROOF. EXTENSION WAS IN DRILL HEAD, ABOUT 12"" BETWEEN STEELS. EE REACHED UP TO PULL STEEL FROM ROOF, WHEN IT CAME LOOSE, IT PINCHED HIS LITTLE FINGER BETWEEN THE STEELS, CAUSING AN INJURY TO THE TIP OF FINGER.

EE WAS WORKING TO CHANGE AN EMPTY GREASE CAN ON LUBE TRUCK. EE WAS USING A TWO-SIDED STOOL LADDER TO REACH THE TOP OF THE EMPTY CAN, AFTER REMOVING THE GREASE PUMP, EE WAS STEPPING FROM THE TO P LEVEL OF THE STOOL TO THE TOP STEP, HIS FOOT MISSED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. HE TRIED TO CATCH HIMSELF AND STRUCK HIS HAND AGAINST THE TRUCK, CAUSING A 1"" LACERATION INHIS RIGHT PALM.

WHILE EE WAS OPERATING A GEHL SKIDSTEER LOADER DURING CONSTRUCTION OF AN OVERCAST, HE FELT DIZZY & DISORIENTED WHILE OPERATING THE EQUIPMENT. EE EXPERIENCED WHAT WAS SUSPECTED TO BE AN ACUTE E XPOSURE TO CO.