As of 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, two miners remain trapped in a major roof fall at Dotiki Mine in Hopkins County, Ky., operated by Webster County Coal, LLC and owned by Alliance Resource Partners, LP.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration was informed of the accident at 10:40 p.m. (Central) last night. Rescue efforts began within an hour, but had to be called off early this morning due to adverse roof conditions.
The mine works three shifts with 367 employees. The mining height is 60 inches.
The mine's injury rate, as measured by its Non-Fatal Days Lost (NFDL) was 3.01 last year, better than the the national average of 4.03, with the mine logging 18 injuries.
But the mine reported 25 roof fall incidents or "falling materials" (which may or may not involve injuries) in the last year (see list below).
It had been cited on April 13th for failing to report an accident, and failing to preserve evidence. MSHA could not offer any details at this time.
2/16/2010 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Falling/sliding/rolling materials Roof bolter (single head) Roof bolter/drilling .76 .76 .51 Employee was starting his first steel in the roof, when a piece of gob fell out catching his ring finger on his right hand between the piece of gob and the boom.
1/28/2010 Days Away from Work Only Fall of face/rib/pillar/side/highwall Roof bolter (single head) Roof bolter, nec .65 .65 .32 While the bolter was moving up the employee was beside the bolter when a piece of material fell out from the rib and the corner of the roof hitting him in the lower back causing some hair line fracture's to his vertabra.
1/8/2010 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occurred on the 6th 54 belt at x-cut 128 in the South East Life of Mine Mains B.
11/19/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occurred in the S.E. Life of Mine Mains C at x-cut 433 in the belt entry. The fall measured 60' in length by 20' wide and it was 5' to 6' thick. There was no personell, equi pment nor ventilation affected.
11/13/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Continuous miner operator - Operate continuous miner 4 4 1 The employee was operating a remote controlled miner when a piece of draw rock fell out and struck him in the hand causing a laceration.
10/19/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occurred in the S.E.L. of main A at e-cut 83 in the supply rd. The fall measured 30' in length 15' wide by 5' thick. There were no personnel, equipment or ventilation affect ed.
9/26/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Continuous miner operator - Roof bolter, nec 2.42 2.42 2.23 Employee was pinning a header hole when a small piece of sharp rock fell adn hit him on the arm causing a laceration. Employee received 2 stitches.
9/25/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Welder - Machine maintenance/repair 12.69 12.69 6.23 EE was installing a catwalk at a header when a piece of rock hit him on the shoulder causing a laceration. The EE received 8 stitches. This happened at the 17th header.
9/10/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Roof bolter (single head) - Roof bolter/insertng bolt .88 .88 .46 EE was installing roof bolt when he went to look up a piece of rock fell out and hit him in the forehead. The rock measured 4" long X 2" wide and 1/2" thick. The EE received 6 stiches in his f orehead.
8/19/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A Fall of the roof occured on the south east life of mine mains B at x-cut 144 on the supply road. Ventilation, personnel not equipment where involved on affected.
8/12/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Handling of materials Roof bolter (single head) - Roof bolter, nec .82 .82 .38 The EE was operating a roof bolter when some material fell off the canopy and struck him in the mouth, breaking his front tooth out.
8/10/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Supervisory/management/foreman/boss - Bar down face/rib/side/roof 37.3 37.3 4.23 The employee was scaling rock on the supply road when a small piece of material came in conatct with his left arm. He received 14 staples.
8/7/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of face/rib/pillar/side/highwall Continuous miner operator - Walking/running 4.76 4.76 .53 Employee was walking to the face when some material came in contact with his left arm. This happened on #2 unit. The employee received 6 stitches. His hard hat knocked loose material down on a rm.
6/22/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occurred in the #5 unit in the 11th southwest mains in teh #3 entry inby, the tailpiece at X-cut #5. Length was 35', width 22' and thickness was 6'. Ventlation, personel nor equipment where involved or affected.
6/8/2009 Days Away from Work Only Fall of roof or back Laborer/utilityman/bull gang - Handling supplies/materials .46 .46 .38 The employee was bent over when a piece of material hit him in the back (middle). The employee continued to work until 8/7/09 when we sent him to see a specialist. An MRI was done on 8/13/09. We did not get the results until 8/20/09. On 8/6/09 the employee started hurting - said he couldn't work.
5/29/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occurred on the 1st NE submains at x-cut # 11 on 4B supply road. Approx. 50 ft long, 18' to 18.5' wide and 6' to 8' thick. Ventilation, personnel nor equipment were involved or affected.
4/29/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Handling of materials Roof bolter (single head) - Set brattice 1.15 1.15 1.07 While the employee was putting up a curtain he bent over to get another role of curtain, when he raised up, his head hit the rock knocking it loose and it came down on his back. Was the area properly scaled & bolted?????
4/9/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the foot occurred in the 1st South East Sub Mains (# 4 Unit) Inby the tailpiece in the # 1 Entry throught the x-cut to the # 2 Entry.
4/8/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Roof bolter (single head) - Roof bolter/drilling 1.09 1.09 .53 The employee started his second steel when a rock came out of the ATRS and came in contact with the employee's arm. The employee received 10 stiches in his upper arm.
3/9/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of the roof occured on the south east life of mine mains parellels at crosscut # 31 #7 Entry. Ventilation, personnell nor equipment were involved or effected.
3/9/2009 No Days Away From Work, No Restrictive Action Fall of roof or back Roof bolter (single head) - Roof bolter/insertng bolt .28 .28 .28 The employee was installing a pin when a rock slid off the boom of the bolter cutting the employee's arm. The employee received 15 stitches.
1/22/2009 Accident Only Fall of roof or back Not Applicable - Not Applicable 0 0 0 A fall of roof occurred two crosscut outby the dotiki IV bottom in doors in the 6th south west sub mains. There were no equipment, ventilation nor personnel involved.