Wildcat Hills Mine - Cottage Grove Pit Coal

At 5:03PM, the surface supervisor received a call from a 2nd shift employee in Pit #11 of smoke coming from the 1-54 Shovel and it could potentially be on fire. The surface supervisor immediately drove back to the pit and found the 1-54 Shovel on fire.

On 6/3/2016 employee said while mounting the lowboy ee placed foot in the bottom step, reached to grab the handrail and began experiencing right shoulder discomfort.(EE said there was no slip fall etc.) EE continued to experience discomfort, surgery was performed 10/12/2016. Doctor notes were reviewed 12/2/2016. Determination was made to report this as an injury.

IE and another EE were transporting a drill on the lowboy. Other EE exited the lowboy cab from the passenger side. IE the driver was looking back over his right shoulder at the drill and unloading ramp and had his hand against the door frame. When the other EE closed the passenger door it pinched IE's thumb causing a lacerating that required 7 sutures.

Employee was changing a ripper tooth on a D-11 dozer. The ripper tooth pin was in a bind so he struck the ripper tooth with a sledge hammer. He said that when he struck the ripper tooth a small piece of metal struck the back of his right hand resulting in a laceration. The employee received 5 sutures.

The employee was preparing to set a pump following a 2" rain. He was approximately 40 ft. from the highwall and there was a protective catch berm between him and the wall. He said he heard something fall from the wall so he ran. The employee fell and received a laceration to the head that required 6 sutures.

Employee said he's had Dr. appointments since 2007 due to back pain. He began missing work from 1/4/2011 to 1/25/2011. Notes from his appointment with MD Orthopedic Surgeon on 1/25/2011 says employee has congenital stenosis and that there is no acute injury.

Operator was hauling dirt from cut area. He had just dumped a load on spoil and was driving on return ramp when he drove up on berm, proceeded approximately 80 feet and then drove off of highwall, resulting in injuries and damage to equipment.

IE was repairing a steering arm on a haul truck. A grease line was attached to the steering arm and supporting part of the weight. When IE removed the grease line, the steering arm dropped and he tried to catch it. His left ring finger was pinched between the steering arm and a piece of cribbing, resulting in a laceration that required 8 sutures.

Mechanics were tightening bolts on an R-190 axle box. They were using a 1 inch impact with a universal / 1in 7/8 socket combination. The socket came off and struck ee in the mouth resulting in a lacerated lip that required sutures and fractured two teeth.

EE received a laceration on the right ring finger that require sutures when he result between the bydoy seat and the driver seat of a 777 end dump truck to remove a trash bag that had been placed on the driver seat to hold keep the cloth seat clean.

Employee struck a pin with a sledge hammer and caught his index finger between the sledge hammer handle and the frame of the truck. The injury required sutures.

EE set the parking brake and was preparing to exit the truck to inspect it, when he noticed the truck fire. He shut down the engine and activated the suppression system by pulling the pin and striking the actuator. EE jumped from the drivers side catwalk. EE sustained a fractured left hip and dislocated his left elbow. Fire was extinguished in approx 20 minutes.

At shift start up at 7am, EE was cleaning the cab of his haul trk. EE said he leaned over he experienced back pain. EE said this has happened before for no apparent reason. MRI revealed pain is due to degenerative discs. 1st lost workday 5/7/07.

On 7/24/06 at approx. 12:30pm the 1800 backhoe operator noticed smoke coming from the right front corner of the machine. The operator exited the cab to investigate. Upon discovering fire the operator returned to the cab, activated the fire suppression system and exited the machine. Attempts to control the fire were unsuccessful. Damage to the 1800 backhoe was significant.

While dismounting a D-11 dozer EE noticed the last step on the push arm was filled with dirt and stepped a distance of 27" to the ground. EE experienced pain in his upper right thigh/hip. Medical notes are not yet available. Obesity (body mass index of 54.6), mobility limitations and repeated mounting and dismounting over 32 years are contributing factors.

Employee was removing the belly pan from a D-11 dozer when it fell on his legs. He was instructed to place the tractor on our concrete pad and use the designated JTA procedures for removing the pan. He was told to use a jack and to be sure to be careful in the process. He decided to start cutting the pan loose from the tractor and had no cribbing or jack under the pan.

While cleaning the side window on a D-11 dozer, employee bent over to pick up his paper towels then rose up and reached for the grab rail. His hand slipped from the grab rail and he fell from the dozer.

While hauling gob with a 777 end dump truck, ee fell asleep. The truck came to rest with the left side leaning against the ditch wall. EE was running with the driver's side window down. Evidence suggests that mirror it pinched his left hand resulting in fractures of the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones. EE stated and evidence supports that the seat belt was in use.

EE caught his toe and fell on the stairs as he was attempting to enter the cab on the 3500 shovel. He had a laceration on his right knee that required six stitches. 0-Lost work days

Employee was preparing to start an end dump truck that had been repaired. As he walked in front of the truck he slipped on the ice/snow and fell on his back. (diagnosis - herniated disc) This is a LTA.

Ee was driving a metal post with a hand post driver, he raised the driver too high, missed the post on the downward stroke and struck his left thumb between the post and the driver - fracturing his left thumb. (Leather gloves were being worn.)

While working on drill, wheat light head fell from under dash and hit him in the lip after he bump ladder he was standing on knocking wheat light off ladder.

Injury happened when he dismounted water truck, his foot slipped off bottom rung of ladder leaving him hanging from hand rail. Ladder was wet from rain.

WHILE PUTTING BRAKE CALIPERS ON AN R-90 END DUMP TRUCK, EE SEVERED THE TIP OF HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER WHEN THE CALIPER MOVED PINCHING HIS FINGER. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL ER. HE IS SCHEDULED FO R SURGERY TO REPAIR HIS FINGER ON 11/7/03.

ON 9/22/03 EE WAS LYING ON HIS STOMACH ACROSS A BEAM WHILE MAKING REPAIRS ON A HYDRAULIC SHOVEL. ON 9/28/03 HE NOTICED A KNOT ON HIS STOMACH AND VISITED HIS DR ON 9/29/03. (DIAGNOSIS-HERNIA). EE HAD SURGERY ON 10/1/03. THIS ALLEGED INJURY WAS DISCUSSED WITH AN MSHA EE AT THE VINCENNES OFFICE ON 10/10/03, AT THAT TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFO TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS MSHA REPORTAB

ON 8-2-03 MAVERICK WAS ON FIRE WATCH WHILE WELDING WAS BEING DONE ON A 3500 SHOVEL. ON 8-3-03 THE NEXT MORNING HE EXPERIENCED EYE IRRITATION AND WENT TO THE LOCAL E.R WHERE HE WAS GIVEN GEN TAMICIN SULFATE SOLUTION FOR FLASH TO HIS EYES. EE RETURNED TO WORK HIS NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT. CO-LAST WORK DAY

EE FELL ON THE SNOW & ICE WHILE WALKING AROUND THE EQUIPMENT. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL E.R. & RETURNED TO WORK. ON 12/7/02, EE WAS INFORMED THAT FURTHER EXAMINATION OF HIS X-RAY SHOWS A NON- DISPLACED FRACTURE INVOLVING THE ANTERIOR ASPECTOF THE RT. 7TH RIB. EE HAS CONTINUED TO WORK, NODAYS LOST.

EE WAS USING CUTTING TORCH DISMANTLING A BELT LINE WHEN APPARENTLY SPARK OR SPARKS IGNITED HIS SHIRT ON HIS RIGHT SIDE IN BELT ON WAISTLINE. HE PUT FIRE OUT HIMSELF WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS BUR NING. HE WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WE HAD HIM GO TO EMERGENCY ROOM OF HARRISBURG MEDICAL CENTER.

ON 11-12-02 WHILE AIR ARCING, A FOREIGN PARTICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH EE'S LEFT EYE. EE WAS TREATED AT THE LOCAL ER ON 11-13-02. DIAGNOSIS-CORNEAL ABRASION. PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS WERE PRESCRI BED. 0 LOST WORK DAYS.

WHILE LEAVING THE PIT OUR MANTRIP (SCHOOL BUS) DROVE THROUGH A SOFT PLACE IN THE ROAD CAUSING PAIN IN EE'S BACK. EE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MUSCLE SPASMS AND WAS UNABLE TO WORK HIS NEXT SCHEDULED S HIFT. 10-20-02.

DURING THE SHIFT OF 6-1-02, EE GOT A SMALL FOREIGN PARTICLE IN HIS LT. EYE. THE EXACT TIME & CAUSE OF THIS INJURY IN UNKNOWN. EE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL ER ON 6-2-02 WHERE THE PARTICLE WAS REMO VED & PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS WERE GIVEN. EE WAS RELEASED TO WORK, 0 LOST WORK DAYS.

WHILE DRIVING OUR SCHOOL BUS (MANTRIP), EE RAN OVER A ROCK/WINDROW & THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED INJURING HIS LEFT WRIST. EE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL ER WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURE OF T HE DISTAL RADIUS.

WHILE USING AN AIR CHIPPING HAMMER A PIECE OF METAL (SLAG) WENT INTO HIS RIGHT EYE. EE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL ER AND DIAGNOSED WITH CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY/CONJUNCTIVA (SUPERFICIAL INJURY). THE P IECE WAS REMOVED, PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS WERE GIVEN & EE RETURNED TO WORK. THE FOLLOWING DAY EE HAD THE RUST RING REMOVED BY THE LOCAL OPTOMETRIST. 0 LOST WORK DAYS.

WHILE FILLING THE GREASE TRUCK TANK WITH ANTIFREEZE, THE HOSE RUPTURED SPRAYING EE IN THE FACE &EYES. WE IMMEDIATELY FLUSHED HIS EYES AND AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TOOK HIM TO THE LOCAL E.R. WHERE THEY WERE AGAIN FLUSHED. HE WAS GIVEN EYE DROPS (SULFOCETAMIDE) AND RETURNED TO WORK HIS NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT.

EE LOST CONTROL OF 4-WHEELER GOING DOWN GRADE & WAS THROWN OFF 4-WHEELER. RESULTED IN TO CRACKEDRIBS & DEFLATED LUNG.

WHILE WELDING A BED LINER IN A END DUMP TRUCK EERECEIVED FLASH BURN TO HIS EYES. HE WAS EXAMINEDBY LOCAL PHYSICIAN. TOBRODEX (EYE DROPS) WER PRESCRIBED. HE RETURNED NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT.

ON 7-3-01 EE WAS WORKING ON A D-10 TRACK FRAME RECOIL SEAL. HE APPLIED PRO LOCK THREAD LOCKER TO THE SEAL AND GENTLY STRUCK THE SEAL WITH A HAMMER CAUSING THE PRO LOCK TO SPLATTER IN HIS EYES. EE FLUSHED HIS EYES AT THE EYE WASH STAND AND WAS EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL E.R. WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EYE IRRITATION AND RELASED THE RETURN TO WORK. THE PHYSICIAN APPLIED GENTONICIN SULFAT

WHILE INSTALLING A NEW CB IN THE DMM2 DRILL, EE BENT OVER TO PICK UP THE ANTENNA HE HAD TEMPORARILY PLACED ON THE CATWALK AND THE ANTENNA POKED HIM IN THE RIGHT EYE. (DARKNESS WAS A CONTRIBUTI NG FACTOR). EE WAS TREATED AT THE LOCAL ER WHERE SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM OPTHOMOLIC EYE DROPS WERE GIVEN. THERE WAS 0 LOST WORK DAYS.

EMPLOYEE FRACTURED HIS #8 TOOTH WHEN THE RATCHET/SOCKET HE WAS USING SLIPPED AND HE STRUCK HIMSELF IN THE MOUTH. HE RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FROM HIS FAMILY DENTIST. THERE WERE NO LOST WORK DAYS.

ON 3-25 WHILE USING A HAND HELD GRINDER, A FOREIGN PARTICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH EE RIGHT EYE. HE IMMEDIATELY USED THE EYE WASH STATION THEN CONTINUED WORKING. ON 3-26-00 HE STILL EXPERIENCED EYE IRRITATION AND WAS SEEN AT THE LOCAL ER WHERE A METAL PARTICLE WAS REMOVED AND A PRESCRIPTION OF ERYTHROMYCIN WAS GIVEN. EE RETURNED TO WORK HIS NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT.

ON 2-17-00 WHILE PRYING ON A 777 END DUMP STRUT. EMPLOYEE'S PRY BAR SLIPPED STRIKING HIMSELF IN THE MOUTH RESULTING IN A CHIPPED FRONT TOOTH, HE WAS SEEN BY HIS FAMILY DENTIST AND INFORMED CAP PING THE TOOTH WOULD BE NECESSARY. THERE HAS BEEN NO LOST WORK DAYS.

ON 1-27-00 EE INJURED HER NECKK WHEN HE R-190 END DUMP TRUCK JERKED WHILE DUMPING A LOAD OF DIRT. THIS WAS REPORTED ON 1-28-00 AND ON 1-29-00 SHE REQUESTED MEDICAL ATTENTION. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL E.R. AND DIAGNOSED WITH A PULLED MUSCLE. SHE WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO WORK ON JAN 30,31 OR FEB 1 ST. SHE VISITED HER FAMILY PHYS 1-31-00 AND DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL STRAIN.

WHILE EE WAS CLEARING A TREE LIMB SNAPPED BACK,BREAK THE SIDE GLASS OF THE D-10 BULLDOZER HE WAS OPERATING. A FOREIGN PARTICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH EE'S RIGHT EYE. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL ER . HIS EYE WAS EXAMINED & NO PARTICLE WAS FOUND. THE DX WAS CONJUNCTIVAL IRRITATION. PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS "SULFACETAMIDE" WAS GIVEN.