Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLCMining Incidents in 2003

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN THE NO. 2 ENTRY OF TG-102 AT CROSS CUT 7. THE FALL BLOCKS TRAVEL TO THE NO. 7 SEAL. THIS AREA WAS MINED IN FEBRUARY OF 2002.

FOUND THE CAVE HAD OVERRUN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE LAST SHIELD BETWEEN 53 & 54 X-CUT. THE FALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 7 FT HIGH, 18 FEET WIDE AND 20 FEET LONG. VENTILATION ON THE FACE WAS MAINTAIN ED ABOVE PLAN MINIMUMS. THE FACE WAS ADVANCED 6 PASSES TO GET BEYOND THE FALLEN ROOF. THE TG BLOCKAGE PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED DURING THIS MINING.

THE ROOF ADJACENT TO THE LAST SHIELD ON THE FACE HAD FALLEN AND WAS BLOCKING THE TAILGATE TRAVELWAY. THE BLOCKAGE OCCURRED BETWEEN XC10 AND XC9. THE FALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 25' LONG, 18' WIDE & 10' HIGH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE EAST MAINS SECTION. THE FALL IS LOCATED IN NO 5 ENTRY, IN THE INTERSECTION OF CROSSCUT 54. THE FALL IS APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BY 20 FEET AND FELL ABOVE THE ANC HORAGE OF THE PRIMARY ROOF SUPPORTS.

AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED DURING A PRESHIFT EXAMINATION. THE FALL OCCURRED IN THE NO. 1 ENTRY OF TG 101, BETWEEN X-CUTS 22 AND 23. THE FALL AREA IS APPROX 19 FT WIDE, 50 FT LONG AN D 10 FT HIGH. THE FALL DID NOT OBSTRUCT TRAVEL THROUGH THE TAILGATE ENTRY, NOR DID IT OBSTRUCT VENTILATION.

ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR WAS INSERTING A BOLT INTO A BOLT HOLE. AS THE BOLT WAS PUSHED INTO THE HOLE, IT WAS BEING SPUN AT HIGH RPM TO MIX THE RESIN. AFTER SPINNING FOR THE REQ'D TIME, THE BOLT WAS THRUST UPWARD INTO THE HOLE. AS IT WENT UP, A SPARK WAS CAUSED AND A FIST SIZED BALL OF FLAME WAS OBSERVED. FLAME LASTED APPROX. 15 SECONDS LOCATION- NO.3 ENTRY XCUT 53, MMU-001-0

ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR WAS INSERTING A BOLT INTO A BOLT HOLE. AS THE BOLT WAS PUSHED IN TO THE HOLE, IT WAS BEING SPUN AT A HIGH RPM TO MIX THE RESIN. AFTER SPINNING FOR THE REQ'D TIME, THE B OLT WAS THRUST UPWARD INTO THE HOLE. AS IT WENT UP, A SPARK WAS CAUSED AND A FIST SIZED BALL OF FLAME WAS OBSERVED. IT IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF LOCATION- NO. 5 ENTRY X-CUT, MMU-001-0

A SECTION OF THE ROOF IN FRONT OF THE SHIELDS ON THE TAILGATE END OF THE LONGWALL FELL AND PREVENTED SAFE TRAVEL OFF THE TAILGATE SIDE OF THE LONGWALL FACE. THE ALTERNATE ESCAPEWAY DOES NOT GO OUT THE TAILGATE. THE FALL DID NOT RESTRICT AIR VELOCITY ON THE LONGWALL FACE. THE TAILGATE WAS TRAVELABLE WITHIN 24 HOURS. 8'HIGH X 18'WIDE X 10'LONG.

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED INT HE NO. 3 ENTRY OF HG-101. THE FALL BEGINS JUST INBY XC-39. THE FALL EXTENDS TO JUST OUTBY XC-41. THE FALL IS APPROX. 100 FEET IN LENGTH. THE FALL IS APPROX. 6-8 FEET IN HEIGHT.

DISCOVERED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL AT XC-24, TG-101, NO. 1 ENTRY. THE FALL IS APPROX. 40 FEET LONG, 20 FEET WIDE AND 9 FEET HIGH. THE AREA HAD BEEN SUPPORTED WITH 8' RESIN BOLTS, SUPPLEMENTED W ITH WELDED WIRE MESH.

INJURED EMPLOYEE HELPED PLUG IN THE NIP TO THE CONTINUOUS MINER. WHEN HE CLOSED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE NIP BLEW UP, BURNING THE EMPLOYEE'S HAND AND STARTING A FIRE INSIDE THE POWER CENTER HO USING. THE FIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED. INJURED EMPLOYEE REFUSED FIRST AID, LEFT THE MINE AND THE STATE. MANAGEMENT LEARNED THE TRUE EXTENT OF HIS INJURIES ON 11/19/03 WHEN HE RETURNED

EE NOTICED HIS BACK HURTING WHEN CLIMBING DOWN THE LADDER OF HIS WATER TRUCK. THE EE CANNOT RECALL A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED.

EE FELT A SUDDEN PAIN IN HIS LOWER ABDOMEN WHILE LIFTING SIXTY FOUR OF THE 45# TEK-SEL BAGS AND PLACING THEM ON TOP OF THE LONGWALL PUMP. INITIAL INJURY OCCURRED 10/27/2003 & WAS RELEASED FULL DUTY FROM MESA OCCUPATIONAL & SPORTS MEDICINE AT TIME. THE PAIN CONTINUOUSLY PROLONGED AND ON 1/20/04 PLACED ON RESTRICTED DUTY. 3/19/04 HE RECEIVED A SURGERY.

EE WAS WORKING AROUND THE HEADGATE DRIVE FRAME, WHEN HE STEPPED ONTO AN 8""X8"" CRIB BLOCK HIS WEIGHT SHIFTED TO HIS RIGHT FOOT, CAUSING THE BLOCK TO ROLL AND EE FELL TO THE GROUND INJURING HIS RIGHT ANKLE. AFTER EVALUATION AT MESA OCCUPATIONAL AND SPORTS MEDICINE IT WAS DETERMINE THAT HE FRACTURED HIS LOWER RIGHT LEG.

EE WAS TRAVELING DOWN HILL IN THE GETMAN. SHE HIT HER HEAD AGINST THE CAB, RESULTED INTO A NECK INJUR. THE INCIDENT HAPPEN AT 2:30 AM ON 9-22-03. AND WAS REPORTED UNTIL HER NEXT SHIFT AT 11:00 P.M. ON 9-22-03.

WHEN EE FINISHED TIGHTENING THE COUPLER WITH THE BATTERY DRILL, THE DRILL CONTINUED TO ROTATE CAUSING IT TO FLIP AND TWIST EMPLOYEE'S WRIST. EE WAS TAKEN TO MESA CLINIC AND THE DR. DIAGNOSED H ER TO HAVE A FRACTURED WRIST.

EE WAS WALKING TO THE KITCHEN AREA AT THE END OF HIS SHIFT, AND STEPPED INTO A RUT CAUSING HIS ANKLE TO TWIST OUTWARD HITTING A COBLE STONE, RESULTED INTO A FRACTURE

EE FINISHED OUT HIS SHIFT ON MARCH 18, 2003 AND REPORTED THE INJURY UNTIL MARCH 19, 2003. EE STATED THAT CAUSED FROM THE INJURY IS FROM THE BUILD UP MUD UNDER HIS WORK BOOTS, AFTER PLACING HIS WEIGHT ONTO THE UNEVEN BOOT HIS ANKLE TWISTED OUTWARD CAUSING SOME PAIN AND RESULTED INTO A SPRAIN. THE SAME ANKLE HAS BEEN INJURED BEFORE.

EE INCURRED A CONCUSSION WHEN AN EMULSION HOSE BURSTED CAUSING HIM TO SLIP AND FALL STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE PAN-LINE.

WHILE EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING FIX THE WINCH CANOPY THAT WAS DAMAGED IN THE TRANSIT, AFTER PULLING THE CANOPY UP THE LEGS THE METAL SLID ON METAL CAUSING THE CANOPY TO MOVE FASTER THAN EXPECTED, E MPLOYEE'S THUMB WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WINCH CABLE ROLLER AND CANOPY. EMPLOYEE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 9-23-03.

HE STRAINED HIS LEFT ELBOW WELDING.

EE WAS SETTING UP EXHAULT TUBE ON GOB VENT TRAILER AND WHILE HE AND CO-WORKER WERE LIFTING TUBE INTO PLACE, HE TWISTED HIS KNEE. REPORTED THE FOLLOWING MORNING THAT LEG AND KNEE WERE STIFF AND SORE.

EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING THE STRUCTURE FROM LW 101 CONVEYOR BELT. WHEN SHE LIFTED THE BOTTOM IDLER (APPROXIMATELY 100#) ONTO HER SHOULDER SHE HYPER-EXTENDED HER ELBOW.

WHILE MOVING UNUSED VENTILATION HOSES, STEPPED ON SMALL ROCK AND SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE.

MECHANIC WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CRIBBING UP A REMOVED GEARBOX. AS HE WAS PLACING ONE CRIBB ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL TOSSED HIM ANOTHER PIECE. THIS PIECE BOUNCED ONTO HIS LEFT HAND, PINCHING HIS LEFT HAND BETWEEN THE TWO CRIBBING MATRERIAL. THE INJURY WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRUSH INJURY WITH NON-DISPLACED FRACTURE OF THE MIDDLE PHALANGE OF THE LITTLE FINGER.

EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING MORE MONORAILS TO THE VENT TROLLEY. HE OVERLOADED AND CAUSED PARTIAL OF MONORAILS TO DROP ON HIS LEFT FOOT RESULTING IN SEVERE CONTUSION WITH 2 PUNCTURE WOUNDS.

EE HYPER-EXTENDED HIS RIGHT KNEE, WHEN HE STEPPED ONTO THE BOOM PLATFORM THAT WAS LOWERED WHILE ROOF BOLTNG

WHILE EE WAS INSTALLING A 1X1 PUMP, AIR & DISCHARGE HOSE ON A SKYLINE 60""BELT STRUCTURE, SHE FELT A SUDDEN PAIN ON HER LOWER BACK. EE FELT HER BACK TO BE A LITTLE TIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF SHIFT.

EE WAS SHUTTING DOOR ON DOZER WHEN HE JAMMED ELBOW INTO THE DOOR. RESULTING IN BRUISE TO LEFTELBOW ULNER NERVE

WHILE EE WAS REPLACING THE CLAMP ON THE DUST LINE, HE FELT A SUDDEN SHARP PAIN IN HIS LT. BICEP.

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ADVANCE A SLIDER TUBE, THE ROPE ATTACHED TO THE TUBE BROKE CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO FALL BACK AGAINST THE RIB AND TO THE GROUND. RESULTED IN A CONTUSION AND STRAIN TO HIS BACK.

EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING DOZER TRACK, TRACK SEPARATED BEFORE HE WAS READY. THE HANDLE OF THE IMPACT WRENCH SCRAPED HIS SHIN.

WHILE EE WAS MANEUVERING THE OIL PAN OUT FROM UNDER A WABCO 190, THE PAN HUNG UP ON A FITTING. THE PAN SHIFTED DURING THE ATTEMPT TO FREE IT, PINCHING AND FRACTURING THE EE'S LEFT MIDDLE FINGE R.

EE TWISTED HIS ANKLE WHILE LEAVING THE KITCHEN AREA. HE COMPLETED HIS NEXT 2 SCHEDULED SHIFTS. ON MONDAY MORNING HE CALLED & REQUESTED HIS INJURY BE EVALUATED TO ASSURE NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

WHILE EE WAS DRIVING THE TRACTOR (GETMAN), EE INDICATED THAT THE BACK OF THE TRACTOR JERKED AND CAUSED HIM TO HIT HIS HEAD AGAINST THE TOP OF INSIDE CAB. RESULTED INTO A CERVICAL STRAIN.

WAS LOADING SPARE BUCKET PARTS FROM ROW ONTO A PALLET. BUCKET SHROUD SLIPPED AND FINGERS GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO SHROUDS. HAND WAS ICED PACKED BY MINE RESCUE. NEXT DATE, BRUISE INTENSIFIED, REQ UIRING BLOOD TO BE DRAINED.

EMPLOYEE'S WET GLOVE CAUSED HIM TO SMASH HIS THUMB BETWEEN 6"" BALL VALVE AND TEE WHEN HE DROPPED IT. AFTER EVALUATION FROM CLINIC IT WAS FOUND THAT HE FRACTURED HIS THUMB.

END DUMP OPERATOR STATED THE SHOVEL OPERATOR HIT HER TRUCK BED WHICH JOLTED HER AROUND IN THE CAB. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF IT WAS THE SHOVEL BUCKET OR A LARGE ROCK THAT HIT THE BED. THE INJUR ED WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL AND THORASIS MUSCLE STRAIN.

GUARD RAIL FAILED, EE FELL, EE RECEIVED CUT ON BACK OF HEAD.

EMPLOYEE WAS INJURED WHILE WORKING WITH THE BULK ROCK-DUSTING SYSTEM. HE ATTEMPTED TO BLEED DOWN THE PRESSURE IN THE DUST TANK, AN UNSECURED VENT HOST SLID OUT OF THE STOPPING AND STRUCK HIM O N THE SIDE OF HIS FACE, CAUSED A LACERATION TO HIS FOREHEAD, CHIPPING A TOOTH AND CORNEAL ABRASION.

EE WAS AIR ARCHING OFF ANGLE IRON, ANGLE IRON BREAKING FREE AND HANGING. GRABBED ANGLE IRON TO BREAK FREE, DROPPED WHILE HOLDING ON TO FEDDER PAN. RESULTED IN LACERATION REQUIRING 6 STITCHES.

WHILE HE WAS SERVICING THE MINER, THE FIRE SUPPRESSION ON THE LUBE TRUCK DISCHARGED CAUSING FIRE SUPPRESSION TO COVER HIM. AFTER WORKING MOST OF HIS SCHEDULED SHIFT HE FELT DISCOMFORT TO HIS E YES. HE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON 2/25/03.

WHILE SERVICING THE MINER, THE FIRE SUPPRESSION ON THE LUBE TRUCK DISCHARGED CAUSING A CLOUD OF FIRE SUPPRESSION TO COVER HIM. AFTER WORKING MOST OF HIS SCHEDULED SHIFTS HE FELT DISCOMFORT TO HIS EYES. EE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL FEBRUARY 25, 2003.

A PIECE OF METAL CAME OFF THE WRENCH AND STRUCK EE ON THE LOWER LIP, WHILE POUNDING WITH A HAMMER ON THE WRENCH BIT.

EE HAD STEPPED OFF THE BOLTER & WAS PUSHING ON SOME MESH SHEET TO TRY & REPOSITION THEM IN THE TRY. AS HE PUSHED ON THE MESH HE LOST HIS FOOTING & FELL FORWARD BRUSHING HIS FOREHEAD & CHEEK AG AINST THE EDGE OF THE MESH OF THE BOLTER. RESULTED IN A SCRAPE & LACERATION TO HIS FOREHEAD, TEMPLE AND CHEEK.

EMPLOYEE'S FOOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE MACHINERY FRAME WHILE GETTING OFF THE EQUIPMENT. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLINIC AND THE X-RAY REVEALED A FRACTURE OF THE CALCANEOUS BONE.

EE HYPER-EXTENDED HIS KNEE WHILE GOING THROUGH A VENTILATION DOOR AND STEPPED ON AN UNEVEN GROUND.

EMPLOYEE HUNG TRUSS CABLE AND PROCEEDED TO GET OFF THE BOLTING TRAY, HE ACCIDENTLY BUMPED THE TRUSS CABLE, CAUSING IT TO SLIP AND STRIKE EMPLOYEE IN THE CHIN.

EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING ON A COAL LEDGE ABOVE THE ROOF BOLTER HOLDING A RIB MESH. HE LOST CONTROL WHEN THE MESH BROKE FREE, EE FELL APPROX 5' FROMTHE LEDGE AND HIT HIS HEAD CAUSING A LACEATION AND BECAME DISORIENTED.