All MSHA-reportable accidents at Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLC operations in 2016. Fatalities appear first.
A surface foreman went to investigate the source of some smoke on a spoil pile in the Juniper Pit. Foreman found some remnant coal that was burning due to spontaneous combustion. Extinguished with water from surface water trucks then spread out the material and buried it with gypsum.
The control room was notified by security that there was a fire at the stock pile at 4:52am. Control room notified 211 to investigate. EE drove to the fire and put it out with a shovel, notifying the control room at 5:32am. The fire was at ground level. EE later had the area compacted with heavy equipment to pack the ground further to prevent re-occurrence.
Employee felt a pop in lower back when employee and another miner were lifting a bottom roller up into position during a belt move.
Employee was assisting 2 other miners lift up the Huesker mesh as part of the longwall roof support installation process. As employee was lifting, felt a twinge in back. As the shift progressed the pain became worse. Medical provider placed the miner on restricted duty.
Employee strained their back while removing belt conveyor structure.
On 3/23/2016 the employee returned from 6 days off and reported that on last shift had strained knee while opening a mandoor. Sought medical attention on 3/23/16.
Employee stretched out to reach a piece of j-channel and as they pulled it toward self felt a burning sensation in pelvic area.
While operating the shearer the operator was struck by a chunk of coal that bounced off the back of the panline. The lump struck against the side of the EE's left leg.
Two miners were standing in the panline when a slab came off the face, striking against the sprags, then breaking and rolling into the panline, striking the 2 employees. Both received contusions to their legs and are placed on modified duty. Longwall recovery prep.
On the above date the employee was manually removing chunks of rock from a catwalk near a belt transfer. No treatment was immediately sought. Treatment was sought later and the employee was placed on restricted duty of not lifting more than 10 lbs and as such became reportable due to the restrictions.
Tripped while walking in the return. Tried to catch self by grabbing the rib mesh. Right middle finger was caught in the mesh and resulted in a fracture and laceration.
Installing roof bolts. Went to place wrench back in the holder and missed. As the wrench fell employee tried to catch it which resulted in finger being caught between the wrench and the frame of the roof bolter.
Lost balance and fell forward while walking along entry. Reached out with right arm and caught himself, causing pain in right shoulder
On March 7 this employee was removing a staple from a hydraulic fitting, using a pry bar. The bar slipped, causing the employee's arm to swing across chest. EE felt a pop in shoulder. No medical treatment was provided until June 28, at which time EE received shoulder surgery.
Employee was standing in back of a coal car taking down ventilation tube. Employee slipped and fell in back of the coal car with the ventilation tube landing on the employee torso.
Employee was cleaning up and getting ready to put tools away after fixing a horizontal pin. Employee was carrying an impact wrench and tripped and fell with the impact wrench and hitting the shield toes. Causing fracture to left thumb.
Manually pushed up on D11R track to remove last bolt when breaking track and strained right side rib/back area.
Employee was struck on the arm by a transport manifold after employee had raised a shield to the roof on the set up face. Resulted in a lacerated forearm.
While dismounting from a motor grader the employee shifted their weight while one foot was still on the ladder. This caused EE's hip to twist and EE felt something pull in their right inner thigh.
Two miners were standing in the panline when a slab came off the face, striking against the sprags, then breaking and rolling into the panline, striking the 2 employees. Both received contusions to their legs and are placed on modified duty. Longwall recovery prep.
While preparing to install a new belt splice, the bottom belt moved unexpectedly when a pinch clamp failed, causing the belt to toss the cutting tool up, striking the employee in the mouth, breaking a tooth.
The employee was moving toolbox from the storage area to another shop bay to begin repairs on a truck. 5th finger on right hand was caught between the handle and another toolbox.