Mining Incidents

Howesville MineCoal

Sunrise Coal LLC · Facility
Jasonville, Clay County, IN · Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1202354
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
31
Years on record
2005–2006
Latest incident
Aug 2006
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

31 on file

2006 · 25 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The ee was ratcheing a ratchet strap to secure supplies on a trailer. The buckle of the strap was above his head. The ratchet buckle came apart during pressurition striking the ee on the left sheek below the exe. the laceration was cleaned and glued at the er.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred inby the tailpiece at 28+60 #4 2nd west. The crosscut between #5 and #4 was mined opening the intersection in #4. The roof was being supported in the crosscut when the intersection of #4 fell. The area had been initially bolted with 6' resin bolts. The fall was 30' long, 18' wide, and 6' high.

Fall onto or against objects

EE was installing roof support in the face area. A rock fell from roof in the general area of the EE. He turned to run outby, tripped and fell knocking off his hard hat, and struck the back of his head against the coal rib. The blow caused a slight laceration of the scalp. The cut was treated at the ER applying glue. No stitches.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred on the working section between 20+20+21+00 in the #7 2nd west entry. The area had been under observation since 3:00 AM. The intersections outby and inby the fall area had already been timbered and dangered out prior to the fall. The fall was combined to 6' high 25' long and 14' wide. The area was bolted with 6"" resin bolts. Water was the cause.

Struck by falling object

Employee placed his right hand on the top of the drill pot for balance. He then stooped down to examine the roof area that he was drilling. A rock fell from the roof, approx. 8"" x 15"" x 2"" striking the back of his hand. The employee was taken for x-rays. No broken bone were found. A deep contusion was found between the thumb and index finger.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found out by the working section at 8+20 #5 to #7 entries of the 2nd west mains. Ventilation was disabled and then immediately reestablished by construction of new stoppings. It was originally supported with 6in resin bolts & secondarily supported with 10' cable bolts. Fall was 120'L, 18'W & 10'H. Upper block coal seam was cause.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred inby the dump point at crosscut 14+60 in #4 entry of the second west mains. The fall was 25' long, 18' wide, and 11' high. The area was initially supported with 6' fully grouted resin bolts. The area was secondarily supported with 10' cable bolts. Localized weak sandy shale was determined to be the cause.

Fall onto or against objects

The employee was attempting to clean a clogged belt press with a water hose. He was standing on a fabricated ladder. He lost his footing and fell into the ladder causing a laceration of the chin. He received two staples at the hospital.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found by the pumper in the return at 7+80 #1 of the first west entries. The fall was 30' long, 18' wide, and 12' thick. The area was initially bolted with 6' resin pins and was secondary bolted with 10' cable bolts. Water in the roof was determined to be the cause.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The EE was loading timbers onto the roof of a mantrip. The timber was dropped, trapping the tip of the EE's finger between the timber and the mantrip roof. X-rays showed a slight fracture.

Accident type, without injuries

Found during the preshift examination prior to the start of 3rd shift.Mine was idle at the time of the fall. Fall located in #5 1st west entry at 22+20. Fall was 17'l, 18' w, 12' thick. The area was initially bolted with 6' resin bolts, trusses, had been added as secondary support. Cause was determined to be water & slip in the weakened roof.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occured out by the tail piece during the night. The mine was idle at the time of the fall. The fall was found during the preshift examination prior to work on dayshift Sunday. The fall was located inby the intersection of 2+40 in #6 2nd west entry. The area was initially bolted with 6' fully grouted resin bolts. The cause was a hidden slip in the roof,

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL WAS FOUND DURING THE WEEKLY AIR COURSE EXAMINATION AT 9+40 BETWEEN #6 & #7 WEST. THE FALL EXTENDED INTO THE INTERSECTION OF #7 WEST. THE FALL WAS 35'LONG X 16'WIDE X 15'HIGH. THE AREA WAS SUPPORTED WITH 6'FULLY GROUTED RESIN BOLTS. WATER WEAKNENING THE IMMEDIATE TOP WAS DETERMINED AS THE CAUSE. THE AREA WAS DANGERED OUT & TIMBERED.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found on an idle shift. The fall was found at 0+80 #4W. It was 30' long, 18' wide and 15' thick. The area was initially supported with 5' install III bolts. 12' install II long bolts had been installed as secondary support. Water in the top was determined to be the cause.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found during the weekly air course examination at 19+00 between main entries #6 and #7 west. The fall was 30""long, 17.5'wide and 6.5'high. The cross-cut was initially supported with 6' fully grouted resin bolts. Water was determined as the cause. The cross-cut was timbered and dangered out.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found during the weekly examination of the air courses at 2+40 #1west main entry. The fall was in the intersection. It was 15'long, 18'wide and 6'thick. Water was determined to be the cause. The intersection was initially bolted with 5' install III bolts. The intersectioin was timbered off and dangered out.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS ASSISTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CRIB. HE HAD POSITIONED HIMSELF ON THE SIDE OF THE CRIB TO REACH THE TOP TIMBER POSITION. EE LOST HIS FOOTING, CAUSING HIM TO FALL. HE ATTEMPTED TO GRAB THE TOP TIMBER TO CATCH HIS FALL, PULLING THE TIMBER WITH HIM. THE TIMBER STRUCK EE IN THE ANKLE, CAUSING A CONTUSION.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The ee was attempting to insert drill steels into the drill pot. when they did not line up he applied upward pressure on the boom. The steels warped under the pressure. The steel released into the drill pot slapping the between the thumb and index finger splitting the skin no rotation was involved in this injury. ee received 6 stitches.

Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall occured out-by the working section at cross-cut 18+20. The fall was 100' in length crossing the #2W & #3W entries. Fall was 18'wide and 12' high. The area was initially bolted with 6' fully grouted rebar bolts with 10' cable bolts as secondary support. A slip was exposed at the top of the fall.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A roof bolter op attempted to use machine rotation pressure to aligne his drill steels. This procedure also put pressure on the bottom pusher steel warping the steel. The steel spun striking the op's thumb. His left thumb was fractured where it ataches to the hand.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occured in-by the feeder location at intersection 19+80 #6W. The area was initially bolted with 6' fully grouted resin bolts. The fall was estimated at 10' high. Water was exposed at the 10' level.

Struck by falling object

EE was preparing to set up his machine to start a cut in #1L. He was standing beside the miner head examining the roof conditions inby the miner. A piece of rock fell out between the bolts above the head of miner. The rock struck the head & flipped off striking the employee in the shoulder. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays. The x-rays were negative for broken bones.

Struck by falling object

Employee was lifting an arch section off the top of a mantrip. The arch became stuck on a bolt head protruding from mantrip. Steel beam dropped severing the tip of finger. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays. No broken bones were found. He lost skin only in the accident.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED INBY THE FEEDER LOCATION AT INTERSECTION 16+60 #5W. THE AREA WAS INITIALLY BOLTED WITH 6' FULLY-GROUTED RESIN BOLTS. SECONDARY SUPPORT WAS ADDED BY INSTALLING 10' CABLE BOLTS (VERTICAL). FALL PEAKED AT 15' HIGH. WATER IS BELIEVED TO BE A FACTOR IN THE CAUSE OF THE FALL. A SLIP WAS EXPOSED AT THE 10' LEVEL.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS BYSTANDER TO UNIT POWER MOVE. COWORKERS WERE PULLING SLACK MINER CABLE WITH A BATTERY SCOOP. EE WAS GETTING A DRINK AT TOOL SLED. SCOOP OPERATOR WAS NOT SIGNALED TO STOP BEFORE PULLING DOWN THE SLACK CABLE WHICH WAS HUNG OUTBY THE POWER CENTER. WHEN CABLE & WATER LINE WERE PULLED DOWN THEY STRUCK EE IN THE HEAD & KNOCKED HIM TO GROUND. WENT TO HOSPITAL AS PRECAUTION.

2005 · 6 incidents

Struck by falling object

WHILE INSTALLING PRIMARY ROOF SUPPORT IN THE FACE OF #1 WEST, THE EMPLOYEE WAS STRUCK IN THE CALF OF HIS LEFT LOWER LEG BY DRAW ROCK. THE ROCK 2' X 3' X 3"" FELL BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS TWO ROWS OF ROOF BOLTS, STRUCK THE OPERATOR'S CANOPY, THEN STRUCK THE OPERATOR. AN AIR SPLINT WAS APPLIED AS A PRECAUTION. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE SURFACE, THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred inby the feeder location between #6 west and #7 west at 4+20. The area was initially bolted with 5' install III bolts. Secondary support was added by installing 12' install II long bolts. The immediate top broke up and fell 5' high. The long bolts are still hanging in place. The unit was idle at the time of the fall.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occured int he dump point cross-cut at 3&60 #2 west. The dump point being at 3 & 60 #5 west. the area was initially supported with 5' install iii bolts. Secondary support was added by installing 12' install ii long bolts. The roof fall exposed slick and sided rock at the anchor point of the long bolts. The roof fall topped out at this point.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURED INBY THE LOADING POINT OF THE #6W INTAKE ENTRY AT THE INTERSECTION LABELED 3+00. THE ROOF CONDITIONS IN THE AREA HAD BEEN CONTINUALLY MONITORED SINCE THE AREA HAD BEEN MINED. ADDITIONAL ROOF SUPPORT HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FALL WAS DUE TO WATER IN THE UPPER ROOF. INITIALLY BOLTED WITH 5' INSTALL III BOLTS. ADDED 12' INSTALL II BOLTS.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURED INBY THE LOADING POINT OF THE #5W BELT ENTRY AT THE INTERSECTION LABELED 3+00. THE ROOF CONDITION IN THE AREA HAD BEEN CONTINUALLY MONITORED SINCE THE AREA HAD BEEN MINED. ADDITIONAL ROOF SUPPORT HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FALL WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO WATER IN THE UPPER ROOF. THE AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 5'INSTALL II BOLTS.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

The employee was helping pull high voltage cable by hand to the mine substation for installation. conditions were very muddy from rainfall over the prior weekend. The ee while stuck in the mud over twisted causing a hip injury. the ligaments of the ee's left hip were strained.