| Accident Report Type | Location Name | Accident Date | Accident Precis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Injury | Prince of Wales | 05/04/02 | At a large coal mine in an uwitnessed accident a contractors bowser driver suffered a fracture of the right ankle when he slipped as he exited a tractor. The tractor was a JOHN DEERE 3400, in good condition, and with steel access steps and handrails in an "as supplied" condition. Conditions were said to have been dry at the time of the accident requiring extensive use of the bowser. It was likely that with the exercise of care the accident could have been avoided but the manager will publicise the circumstances and ensure that these are discussed with mobile plant operators through the medium of risk assessment or tool box talks. |
| Major Injury | Boulby | 05/04/02 | At a miscellaneous mine an experienced miner suffered a fractured tibula and fibula and ankle area of the right leg when he was struck by a reversing manitou. The IP had previously left the operating area of the manitou and then returned without advising the driver and proceeded to hold up some ventilation ducting which had become dislodged. To prevent a recurrence the manager will pursue retro fitting of audible or visual reverse alarms, extend manager's rules to identify exclusion zones and publicise the details of the accident. |
| Major Injury | Thoresby | 05/04/02 | In an underground roadway of a modern coal mine, an FSV driver sustained a fracture and laceration of his thumb resulting in him being detained in hospital over 24 hours. Whilst working with others to load scrap steel RSJ girders onto the flatbed of an FSV, the IP trapped his gloved hand between a girder and the back-plate of the FSV. Matters relating to the lack of care and attention and absence of manual handling risk assessment were taken up with the manager. Details were obtained by enquiry at the mine. |
| Major Injury | Maltby | 15/04/02 | At a large coal mine a surface weigh bridge operator, slipped and fell as he entered the weigh bridge at the beginning of the day shift and injured his right forearm. He went to hospital for x-ray but no injury was diagnosed. He did not attend work for the remainder of the week (4 days) but resumed on the following Saturday and worked until the following Wednesday (9 days after accident) before his GP sent him for a second x-ray at which time a fracture of his right forearm was diagnosed. The exercise of reasonable care may have avoided the accident but the manager will publicise the details to assist in preventing a recurrence. Details obtained by enquiry at the mine. |
| Major Injury | Welbeck | 29/04/02 | In a main intake roadway of adequate dimension a fitter, travelling outbye at the end of the shift, suffered a dislocation to his shoulder when he stumbled as he was attempting to board from an intermediate boarding station onto the top belt of a manriding conveyor. The IP had recently been off work and the conveyor speed had been increased from 2.87 m/s to 3.2 m/s during this period. This increase had been well publicised throughout the mine. If the IP had been aware of this he may have taken more care when boarding the belt. The manager will highlight belt speeds at boarding stations and review intermediate boarding platform arrangements. |
| Major Injury | Riccall | 16/05/02 | During the hours of daylight on a level dry and secure surface of a large coal mine a surface worker suffered a fracture of the left wrist. He had been placing materials, old wooden cupboards, into a skip and stepped onto a wooden pallet that was placed next to the skip and as he was stepping off the pallet he put his foot through a broken board in the pallet and fell. With a little more care the accident may have been prevented. Details obtained by enquiry. The manager will ensure that all wooden pallets are removed when they are not being used. |
| Major Injury | Maltby | 29/04/02 | At a large coal mine a contractor's electrician, during preparation for face salvage, suffered bruising and peppering of the skin to his face, ear and right arm and hospitalisation for +24 hrs, when a 2" air hose, which he was repositioning, parted on a clamped joint and the resultant release of pressure blew debris into his skin. Witnesses note that a whip check was fitted and the two bolt clamp fully fastened. Investigation by the mine reveals that engineering tolerances between different product suppliers may result in specific combinations of hose ferrule and clamp having less secure connection than others. This matter is being reviewed on a company wide basis. |
| Major Injury | Eastlays | 09/05/02 | At a large storage mine, at the beginning of the workday, a female worker stumbled and fell whilst negotiating the access steps into the mine sustaining a fracture to her left arm. Fellow workers noticed she was unsteady as she approached the mine reception area. She fell within the first few metres of the access tunnel stairway. There were no apparent defects identified in the access route. Medical reasons were ruled out as a cause of her lack of co-ordination. It was apparent she was intoxicated. The manager will review her situation and ensure employees attend work in a fit state. |
| Major Injury | Tower | 14/05/02 | At the face end of a large coal mine, a chargeman cleaning in front of the powered supports was struck on the back of the hand by a piece of stone propelled over the AFC spillplates from the leading drum of a radio controlled DERDS as it cut into the corner for the second time. A fracture of a bone in the hand was later diagnosed. Poor roof conditions prevailed due to an unconformity in the seam. By avoiding the area immediately in front of the leading drum as the shearer cut through the area of weak roof, the risk of such an injury could have reasonably been prevented. There were no other specific recommendations. |
| Major Injury | Nant Hir No2 | 01/05/02 | Whilst filling out by hand at the face of a small timber supported coal mine, a collier sustained a fracture and soft tissue damage to the back of his unprotected hand when a lump of anthracite fell from the face. Shotfiring was normally used however, in order to top up the last mine car in the journey, a fellow worker was trimming extra coal from the face using a compressed air 'jigger'. The injured workman was shovelling at close quarters to the jigger operator when the accident occurred. Support standards were deemed to be satisfactory. Matters pursued with the manager included use of gloves, improved awareness of personal positioning and limiting the use of 'jigger' picks. |
| Major Injury | Rossington | 16/04/02 | A faceworker suffered a fractured right humerus when he was struck by a small fall of ground between powered supports at the tailgate end of a retreating longwall face. He had laced a piece of mesh over the last PS to aid roof control and the PS was being reset to the roof. Had the roof been adequately dressed down, and a better personal position adopted, the accident would have been avoided, This accident was originally reported as a +3 day accident, reassessment of the original X- ray resulted in a fracture being diagnosed. Investigated by enquiry. |
| Major Injury | Boulby | 01/06/02 | At a miscellaneous mine an experienced miner suffered a fractured ankle of the left leg when he slipped and fell in the pit bottom area at the start of his shift. Roadways were in the salt horizon and the movement of vehicles had polished the immediate floor. The IP was walking between the "bus" stations in the pit bottom and fell as he negotiated the inside corner of a 90 degree bend where there was a slight camber and the immediate floor was highly polished. The IP boarded a vehicle and travelled inbye and only realised the full extent of his injury when he could not place any weight on his injured leg. To prevent a recurrence the manager would arrange for the floor to be milled, removing both the slippery surface and the camber, and extend the static lighting in the area. Zone inspectors reports were to be extended to include reference to the condition of the floor having regard to pedestrian activity. |
| Major Injury | Thoresby | 20/05/02 | On a longwall face of a large coal mine, an experienced machine operator controlling the leading drum of a radio controlled DERDS was struck on the arm by a piece of stone falling from the roof between gaps in the 2 leg IFS powered support canopies. After receiving treatment for a wound to the elbow, the workman returned to work the following day but was referred to hospital where a fracture of the elbow was diagnosed. Investigation highlighted abnormal roof conditions due to the presence of a 1.2m displacement fault. The accident occurred as the shearer cut through weakened roof in fault zone where grading of the roof had resulted in 100mm gaps forming between powered support canopy edges. By making fuller use of the radio control feature on the DERDS whilst cutting through areas of weak roof and standing under powered support canopies rather than between gaps, the risk of an injury could have been reduced. |
| Major Injury | Riccall | 31/05/02 | In a large underground roadway with a 1.52m wide belt conveyor installed an official suffered a traumatic amputation of the first joint of the left index finger. He had been assisting a workman to move a 1.5m length RSJ girder from the travelling road when he stumbled and trapped his finger between the RSJ and a conveyor base girder. If more care and attention had been taken then the accident may have been prevented. An improved risk assessment will be carried out and the official will concentrate on his own work rather than carry out that of a workman. |
| Major Injury | Kellingley | 18/06/02 | At a large coal mine, a contractors service engineer suffered crush injury to and partial amputation of two on his left foot. The IP was engaged in ultrasound testing of powered supports for leakage and facing the goaf, in a kneeling position, had operated ram push but his foot had entered into the gap between ram and clevice. A worn restrictor orifice allowed the ram to enter the ram lock state and full pressure (4500 psi) was applied to the ram. Investigation still continues with the manager pursuing details regarding the personal positioning necessary to carry out the testing, means of identifying worn out restrictor orifices and other safety critical information from the manufacturers. |
| Major Injury | Wistow | 20/06/02 | At a large coal mine a locomotive driver deployed with a work mate to load a conveyor loop section suffered partial amputation of the gloved third finger right hand when it was trapped between a lifting hook and the loop section. The loop section had been pulled across the roadway, the lifting chains slackened off, and unexpected movement of the loop section trapped the IP's hand as he sought to adjust the lifting hook. D links were not being used. To prevent a recurrence the manager would ensure suitable supply of D links both to ensure easy attachment of the lifting hook and prevent inappropriate loading on the hook. |
| Major Injury | Stillingfleet | 20/06/02 | During the construction of a large square junction in an arched roadway a workman suffered injury requiring admittance to hospital for over 24 hours when he was struck by a piece of mudstone, estimated size 50cm × 40cm × 15cm. He was under supported ground assisting to pull a large junction girder into place when the stone fell, slid down an old mesh panel and struck him on his left hand. If the old arch mesh had been completely removed the accident may have been prevented. The manager will amend the method statement accordingly. |
| Major Injury | Prince of Wales | 25/06/02 | At a large coal mine a workman, salvaging pipes, suffered a fractured right ankle when the single plank bridging the yellow bird scaffolds broke and he fell to the ground. The IP worked normally the following shift before taking time off. The accident was originally reported as an over three day injury before the full extent of the injury was discovered and it was reported as a major injury. This mine will shortly close and in the intervening period the manager has specified the use of tower scaffold only. Details obtained by enquiry at the mine. |