Mining Incidents

Mine #23Coal

McCoy Elkhorn Coal Co. · Underground
Pikeville, Pike County, KY · Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1518721
Fatalities
2
Total incidents
57
Years on record
2004–2015
Latest incident
Jul 2015

Fatalities at this mine

2 recorded
Struck by falling object

EE WAS SETTING A TIMBER ALONG THE RIB WHEN THE RIB ROLLED OFF AND STRUCK HIM, TRAPPING HIM UNDERNEATH THE RIB, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES. THE TOTAL RIB ROLL WAS APPROXIMATELY 26'LONG x 8' HIGH x 18"" THICK. ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MSHA HOT LINE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was operating a scoop between the #5 & #6 entries on the 001/002 MMU one break inby survey station #1411. He was pulling a shuttle car cable that had been wrapped around the canopy post on the left side of the operating deck. As he was pulling the cable, the rear wheel of the scoop ran over the cable. This caused the cable to unwrap & strike him on the side of his head.

Reportable incidents

55 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2015 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

EE was walking beltline and rubbed his hand accidently across top of an oil can that had been cut open.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was adjusting flow of caustic being applied to pond. A snake was in the path of the EE. EE turned to get away from snake and twisted his Knee. This accident did not become reportable until 9/23/2015 when EE started missing work.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was changing hose on scoop using a bar to pry on the hose. EE felt top of shoulder pop. This accident was not reportable until EE started missing work on 07/20/2015.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was changing hub on roof bolter machine. EE was driving stud bolts in hub. EE hit his left hand with a hammer causing a small hair line fracture.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was lifting on bottom roller to train belt. EE felt a strain in lower back and right hip. This became reportable when EE started missing work.

2014 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was loading rock-duster with dust. EE strained hemorrhoids out of rectum.

Fall down stairs

ICY STEPS, SLIPPED AND FELL LANDED ON BACK. BRUISED BACK AND LUMBAR STRAIN

2013 · 4 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A non injury roof fall occurred on the 3rd Northeast Mains in the #6 entry intake split approximately 150 ft. outby survey station # 184. The fall was approximately 50ft. long x 20ft. wide x 7ft. thick.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS UNLOADING TIMBERS OUT OF A SCOOP AND WHEN HE LIFTED A TIMBER, HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was helping to remove a canopy from a roof bolter and mashed his left ring finger between the canopy and the frame of the roof bolter.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE tried to catch a belt structure that was being tossed under the beltline during a belt set-up and the fingers of his left hand were mashed between the structure and the mine floor.

2012 · 6 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TRIMMING A CONVEYOR BELT AND HIS UTILITY KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS INDEX FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND.

Struck against stationary object

EE was pulling a piece of conduit onto the continuous miner cable and his hand slipped and struck a piece of rock, resulting in a cut.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was pulling on a canopy extention on a roof bolter and felt a sharp pain in his groin area. He continued to work his regular duties, but the pain persisted. He sought medical attention with his family doctor on 08/23/2012, at which time he was taken off work for a hernia.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred in the #5 entry of the 6th Southeast Bleeder Panel approximately 10' inby survey station 5493. The fall is approximately 140' long x 19' wide x 6' high. The fall was found by the mine foreman and MSHA inspector while traveling the bleeder entries. The fall was reported to MSHA hot line on 2/29/2012 (date fall was found).

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was cutting a strap that held a bundle of roof bolts together. When the strap came loose, it struck him on the left wrist, resulting in a cut.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was building a brattice. He was on his knees, and as he picked up a block to place on the 5th row of the brattice, he felt a sharp pain in his back.

2011 · 6 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was getting out of a mantrip and placed his left foot under the frame of the mantrip on the mine floor. When he placed his right foot on the mine floor, he slipped and fell backwards, spraining his left foot that was under the mantrip frame.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred in the #5 entry one break inby the mine portal. The fall was approximately 20ft. wide x 7ft. thick x 20ft. long. The fall was reported immediately to MSHA and OMSL.

Struck against stationary object

EE was pulling a 3' x 2' x 6"" piece of rock off top of the continuous miner and cut the 2nd and 3rd fingers of his right hand on the edge of the rock.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was operating a mantrip and a pogo stick on top of mantrip caught a stiff jack at a belt drive and sprang back and hit him on the nose.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was operating a continuous miner. He was cutting the bottom ledge of rock out from the edge of the #9 intersection, (continuous miner was in the last open crosscut between #8 and #9). The crosscut was on a downward grade, and when he start the cutter head and placed it in the bottom, the miner slew around and struck him with the conveyor boom. EE was not in the ""RED Zone"".

Struck by flying object

EE WAS OPERATING A CONTINUOUS MINER, CUTTING OUT THE MINE ROOF FOR AN OVERCAST, WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FROM THE CUTTER HEAD STRUCK HIM ABOVE THE RIGHT EYE REQUIRING STITCHES.

2010 · 10 incidents

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS HELPING SET TIMBERS ON THE OFFSIDE OF THE BELTLINE. THEY WERE SLIDING THE TIMBERS ACROSS THE BELT ON THE BELT RAILS. EE GOT HIS FINGERS MASHED BETWEEN THE END OF A TIMER AND THE COAL RIB.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was cutting down a set of fly pads with a utility knife and cut his left index finger requiring stitches.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN THE 7TH SOUTHEAST MAINS RETURN AIR COURSE FOR THE 004-0 MMU AT SPAD NO. 3971. THE ROOF FALL STARTS IN THE 7 RIGHT CROSSCUT AND CROSSES THROUGH THE NO. 8 ENTRY AND STOPPED 25' INTO THE NO. 8 CROSSCUT. THE FALL IS APPOXIMATELY 6'-8' THICK, 19' WIDE, AND 70' LONG.

Accident type, without injuries

A fall of the roof has occurred between the #7 and #8 entry of the 3rd SE mains two breaks inby survey station #2827. The fall is approximately 8' thick, 19' wide, and 50' long. The fall was found by company personnel and an OMSL inspector during routine inspections.

Struck by powered moving object

EE was greasing the tail roller on his shuttle car and a scoop came thru a set of fly pads with his bucket up and the bottom (flat) part of the bucket struck EE and knocked him down, injuring his shoulder and hip.

Struck by falling object

EE was repairing a hole in a brattice. The block above the hole fell and struck him on the right hand and cut his little finger, requiring stitches.

Accident type, without injuries

A fall of the mine roof occurred in the 2nd SW Bleeder Panel in the #7 intersection of the #2 entry, two breaks inby survey station # 4356. The fall is approximately 10' thick, 15' wide, and 50' long. Fall was found by company personnel and an MSHA inspector during routine inspection.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was putting a tire on a shuttle car. The shuttle car was being held up by a scoop. The shuttle car slipped off the scoop bucket, resulting in EE's fingers being caught bewteen the scoop tire and the fender.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was setting a belt head and stepped backwards and stepped on a crib block, causing him to fall and fracturing (hairline) his left ankle.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occured one break inby survey station number 3960 in the #8 entry. The fall was approximately 3600 feet from the working 003/004 mmu. the fall was approximately 19' wide x 65' long x 10' thick. This was found at 9:35 am on 3/18/2010. The fall was report to MSHA's hot line.

2009 · 8 incidents

Struck by falling object

EE was helping on the continuous miner when a coal rib rolled off and struck a timber that was set against the mine roof. The timber struck EE on the right side of the head and shoulder.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occured in the #5 entry intersection 70' inby survey station # 3966 of the 003/004 mmu. The fall was approximately 40' long x 20' wide x 7' thick. MSHA was notified at 12:40 pm on 11/20/2009.

Struck by falling object

EE was walking underneath some header boards that were stuck to the mine roof from where a brattice had been located and knocked. The header boards fell and struck him on the left arm and back. EE did not seek medical attention until 11/09/09. First day missed was 11/09/09.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was drilling a hole in the mine roof with a roof bolter and the drill steel broke and struck him on the right eye brow.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was pulling a conveyor chain together with a chain ratchet. The hook on the chain slipped off and struck him on the right hand and broke his finger.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was getting a bag of rock dust (weight 40lbs.- 50lbs.) off the scoop and as he lifted on the rock dust he felt a sharp pain in his back.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall occurred 210 feet outby the working section in the #8 entry. The fall is located 1 break outby survey station #3175. The fall was approximately 50' long x 19' wide x 6' thick.

Accident type, without injuries

During a weekly examination of the intake airway, a rock fall was discovered 2 breaks outby survey station # 3065. The fall was in the #5 entry of the 003/004 mmu outby area. The fall was approximately 30' long x 30' wide x 7' thick. The fall was in an intersection.

2008 · 3 incidents

Struck by falling object

EE was operating a continuous miner on the 004 mmu section and was turning the right crosscut in the #7 entry. He was positioned on the left side of the entry, approximately 12 ft. inby the miner and a piece of draw rock fell from between bolts and struck him on the head, back, and legs. The rock was approx. 7""thick x 4' wide x 9' long.

Struck by falling object

EE was removing a rub rail from the side of the miner and dropped it on his left foot, resulting in a fracture to the top of the foot.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Shoveling mud, raised up on R knee and popped knee out of place.

2007 · 4 incidents

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS PUTTING BLOCKING UNDER THE WHEEL OF A ROOF BOLTER THAT WAS STUCK. HE GOT HIS FINGERS FOULED UNDER A HALF HEADER AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE ROOF BOLTER TIRE, RESULTING IN TWO(2) FINGERS BEING BROKEN.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was loading resin onto a roof bolter, as he lifted the resin, he felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was scooping up emergency supplies to be moved. He had his right hand on the edge of the scoop canopy to lift himself up to see the chain that he had attached to the supply sled. As he trammed the scoop forward, he steered the scoop and mashed his hand against the coal rib. Third and fourth fingers were lacerated, fifth finger was lacerated and fractured.

Struck by falling object

EE was installing roof bolt in the top, when a piece of draw rock fell from between the TRS& Canopy, hitting him on the back and right knee.

2006 · 3 incidents

Struck by falling object

EE was operating a roof bolter in the #4 heading of the 001 mmu. He was installing a 10' cable bolt. As he was pushing the bolt into the drilled hole with a cable wrench, the bolt dislodged from the wrench head and struck him on the right jaw.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was hooking restraining clamps to cables at the power center after a power move and a miner cathead, approximately 6 ft. away from where he was, blew up causing temporary hearing loss. This occurred in the #5 entry of the 003-0/004-0 MMU. EE was treated and released at Pikeville Medical Center.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EE had repaired a broken conveyor chain on a shuttle car. He was running the chain to check it and heard it making an unusual noise. He was looking under the shuttle car to locate the source of the noise & inadvertently place his left hand on the running conveyor chain resulting in it being pulled under the chain, mashing it. This occurred in the #2 entry of the 003/004 MMU.

2005 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Twisted left ankle by sliding minor cable into himself.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS LEANING ON THE CONT MINER OBSERVING MSHA INSPECTORS TAKING A PRESSURE READING ON THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM AND DRUG HIS RIGHT HAND ACROSS THE MINER CAUSING A LACERATION. WHAT CAUSED THE LACERATION COULD NOT BE FOUND.

2004 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS LETTING THE CONTINUOUS MINER HEAD DOWN ON A CRIB THAT HAD BEEN BUILT FOR BLOCKING THE HEAD WHILE WORKING WAS TO BE PERFORMED. WHEN HEAD PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO CRIB, A CRIB SQUEEZED OUT, STRIKING EE ON LEFT HAND, CAUSING INJURY TO RING FINGER & LITTLE FINGER.

Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED ON THE SECTION OF THE SUBJECT MINE IN THE #5 HEADING. THE ROOF FALL IS APPROX. 30'LONG X 20'WIDE AND 5.5'THICK. THE ROOF FALL IS DIRECTLY INBY SURVEY STATION #16.