Spoil side highwall sloughed off due to unstable material (sand and water). The area was accessible at the time of slide. MSHA was called and a 103(j) order was issued. Upon arrival, MSHA inspector modified the initial order and a 103(k) order was issued. Dozers were allowed to slope and stabilize the area and the 103(k) order was terminated.
Electrician picked a piece of dragline cable up and the wind blew sand in his eyes. The employee flushed his right eye out with a first-aid eye wash, but was still a little scratchy. Employee was taken to the Emergency Room and was diagnosed with conjuctivitis, caused by an allergic reaction from the sand. He was given two prescriptions for his eyes.
A dozer operator making shift change encountered a hard spot in a high wall. The dozer became slightly offset with the highwall lost power and could not back up the slope. The dozer operator was assisted up the slope with no injuries. He was in the dozer less than 10 minutes. This 7000-1 is filed in protest arising from a citation issued for failing to report under 50.10(c).
Cat 777D end dump was being loaded by an EX1900 Hitachi. Hitachi operator was blinded by the sun momentarily and the bucket of the backhoe hit the back of the end dump jarring the end dump operators neck. He was diagnosed with muscle spasms and a muscle strain of the neck and received two days of at home rest starting 3/1/11. This met the criteria for an MSHA recordable.
A Miner was removing a clevis from a section of damaged wire rope and was struck in the nose when he pulled out the clevis pin. No medical treatment was needed other that First Aid and a tetnus shot. X-ray did show a small crack.