All MSHA-reportable accidents at Westmoreland San Juan Mining LLC operations in 2019. Fatalities appear first.
A surface operator reported seeing smoke rising from near the reclamation area and ash dump. Foreman found that some spontaneous combustion of some coal material in the spoil had occurred and sent dozer to extinguish the fire. Fire was not extinguished within 30 minutes so MSHA was called. Fire was extinguished at 08:53.
While assisting another miner unhook a trailer, the injured miner's foot was caught between the trailer tongue and the hitch on the tow unit. The injured worker is a Dependent Contractor, reporting to the mine operator's supervisor.
Employee injured shoulder while lifting the cover off of the 8MVA PC in LW-404. The employee was examined and released to duty that day. An MRI was conducted later on and indicated surgery would be necessary. That surgery occurred on September 16, 2019. That medical treatment and subsequent lost time made this injury recordable as of that date.
On 9/02/19 the employee felt a pop in EE's shoulder while changing a tire on the small water truck. On 9/03/2019 the employee was seen at the medical provider and placed on restricted duty.
While tensioning truss cables, used in the Minova In-Roof truss system, using the truss gun one of the truss shoes broke free from the roof causing the truss gun, cable and dog bone keepers to fall and strike the employee on the right shoulder. Employee received chiropractic care.
An employee came to work on April 8th, stating they had hurt their back on April 2 or 3rd. They had not reported anything to anyone until that time. The employee was seen at Reliance Medical on April 10th. They received chiropractic care and was placed on Modified Duty beginning that day and triggering MSHA reportability.
Day shift employee while getting tools ready for work picked up the tool bag and felt a pinch in back with a sharp pain. Reported it to supervisor, an EMT checked employee out, and employee was brought outside for further evaluation. Employee was taken to a medical provider where employee received chiropractic treatment and was released to full duty.
Employee was standing on Shield 176 and was operating the pan push function, using the in-shield controls. EE left hand was resting on the gob wing. As the TG drive pushed forward, ee middle finger on the left hand was pinched by the gob plate as it moved closer to the shields during the push.
A miner was working in the Longwall Tailgate, removing Backflow ventilation structures. As EE was cutting the ties holding the top rails, EE reached up to cut off the brace and when EE cut the tie, the rail had tension on it, causing it to spring back toward the miner, striking EE in the lip, resulting in EE's teeth being pushed through EE's lip.