All MSHA-reportable accidents at Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLC operations in 2007. Fatalities appear first.
Discovered a small roof fall in x-cut 12 between 1 & 2 entry in the tailgate of LW-202. The area was dangered off and additional supplemental supports were installed to prevent the fall from growing. The fall was approximately 12 ft long and was rib to rib at the mouth of the crosscut toward number 2 entry. The fall was above the roof bolts.
The roof failed over and between the existing cribs and rocprops in the tailgate resulting in a blockage. No injuries or damage occurred.
As the ash truck operator was beginning to dump a load of ash, the load shifted causing the truck to rock back on to the endgate in a wheelstand. The operator was trapped in the cab until a manlift truck could be taken to the location to remove them from the operator's cab. This took in excess of 30 minutes.
During a fault crossing, a large rock slid off the top of the last shield and obstructed the travelway off the face into the Tailgate entry. The entry remained open.
Incident occurred on a stockpile at the power plant. While pushing coal to a feeder, a D11 dozer became stuck over one of the feeders. The operator was instructed to stay in the cab until coal could be removed from around it, this took approximately an hour. MSHA jurisdiction for this event is under dispute.
Roof material between the shield canopy and the first bolt in the pattern fell out. The material was of sufficient volume that it sloughed in around the taildrive and obstructed the walkway off the longwall face. The bolts and roof to floor support in the tailgate remained intact and the enry remained open.
A roof fall adjacent to the last shield on the face was discovered. The fall was obstructing travel off the face and in to the tailgate.
Discovered that the roof had come in adjacent to the last shield on the face and travel off the face in to the tailgate entry was blocked. The face was located at survey station 117+60 at the time of the fall. The fall was approximately 18 ft wide, 7 feet high and 15 ft long.
A roof fall was discovered in the East Mains working section in Number 4 entry at XC 80. The fall involved the entire intersection, approximately 20ft W by 20 ft long, rib to rib and estimated to be 15 feet high.
Roof bolter operators were installing tensioned cable bolts through some steel mats. The holes in the mats needed to be enlarged to allow for grouting the cable bolt. A gas test was taken at the roof bolt hole and no methane detected. When the cutting torch flame was directed toward the roof, gas in the hole ignited. A small blue flame was observed and extinguished within seconds.
A roof fall was discovered in front of the No. 6 Seal at approximately 6:00 am. The fall was approximately 18 ft wideand approximately 10 ft high. The length could not be determined. As the longwall retreats, this location will be consumed by the gob within 36 hrs. The weekly exam on the seal will not need to be performed again due to retreating past this location.
Conveyor Belt broke free from feeder breaker and struck employee on his back, knocking him down.
While ee was leaning over greasing the miner, a 25 lbs rock fell fromt he roof striking ee in the back.
Employee complained of back Pain on right side when putting boots back on. Possibly caused from 54 yard pour of concrete and transferring of concrete bags.
Employee stepped on an uneven ground of roadway causing ankle to twist. Reliance Medical Group diagnosed left ankle fracture.
Employee was using 90lb rock hammer to break up rock in the headgate. The hammer slipped out of the employee's hands striking another employee causing injury to the second employee'e hand.
Employee was moving shields in the TG when a slab of roof rock fell from the roof, slid across the TG drive and hit him in the hand which was resting on his chest.
Using a pry bar to bend chock block holder back in to place when he felt pain in the groin area.
EE's footing slipped after putting belt structure in the scoop bucket, caused his knee to twist. Doctor released his to restricted duty.
Employee's left index finger was caught between oxygen bottle and railing in weld shop. Employee was seen at Reliance Medical and received 8 stitches.
Slab of coal fell from the rib and struck employee in the head, causing abrasion/contusion to nose and right knee and chipped four teeth.
employee was straightening a d-ring to be installed in hydraulic safety block on the mesh tray of 440 bolter, when the d-ring slipped out of the employees hand, making contact with his mouth. employe sustained a chipped right front tooth and a small laceration inside upper lip. employee was released full duty.
Employee injured knee while standing up after sitting on a floor creeper.
Installing a cam shaft in a deisel engine at San Juan College for training.
Initial injury was reported on 8-25-07, while removing an air operated grease pump from fixture. Follow up visit on the 27th resulted in restricted duty.
Employee smashed finger between a jack hammer & cable trough while breaking rock on longwall face. He was evaluated at medical facility & diagnosed with left 5th finger laceration & required sutures.
While employee was hitting the bolt with a hammer the bolt came loose striking him in the mouth. He didn't think he needed to seek medical attention until 7-31-07 & was referred to Periodontics. Periodontist removed his front loose tooth on 8-14-07. Required a partial denture implant.
EE was rolling a clevis pin off the longwall shield and the sharp portion of the clevis pin penetrated through his glove, resulted into a laceration. The cut required sutures.
Employee was power washing an equipment. She stated her eyes became irritated at the end of the shift, so removed contact lenses and washed eye out. The next day while driving to work felt eye still sore. At the end of that day, employee went to Urgent Care facility after work. They referred her to a specialist, who gave her prescription med. On the third day, she told her supv.
Employee pinched hand between bolt head and plate while installing a bolt. He was transported to medical facility and received suture to right hand at thumb and web.
Faulty meter; contact with low oxygen atmosphere.