»" •♦ '*o .•^°^ .** .•"• ^0 ^^ .'. o • "^w^ -A"- ^--^^ '^' ^^^^^ '-^ L^ .0..- <%. 0^ 'b *-'7vi* A <^J ^o ..**\c:^.\, ./,.ii^->o / -'•• 0^ " ° " . O .^ .. "^^ •.^'iw?^-- ./% -.l^.- **'% %^^.' /\ -J •X '^O' ^\/ " to follow the same format, so that the reader will have a continuous "i^ record for another 23 years. Even though the frequency and severity of major coal mine explosions have been reduced dramatically since the early days, problems remain and the threat still hangs over the heads of the miners and operators. For example, 28 miners were killed in 3 explosions in December 1981 and Jan- ^ uary 1982, too late for the accidents to be fully reviewed. Included in this summary are analyses of the causes of ignition and explosions (to the extent known), and a brief review of how modern min- ing methods have changed the nature of hazards encountered and how safe- ty research and enforcement of safety regulations have contributed to the reduction of disasters. Also included are brief reviews of the Fed- eral mine health and safety acts of 1969 and 1977, with an estimate of how these laws have affected the coal mine explosion problem. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has increased safety in mines by more frequent and more thorough inspections, and by assessment of more severe penalties for noncoiiq>llance with safety regulations. Hopefully, hazards can be reduced still further through current research at the Bureau of Mines and by its research contractors. CONTENTS Page Preface 1 Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Acknowledgments 2 Major explosions, 1959-81.... 2 Analysis of 18 major explosions of 1959-81 15 The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 15 The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 17 How new mining methods have changed the nature of hazards 17 Research being conducted to correct problems 18 Suppression of Ignitions and explosions 18 Methane detection 18 Coal dust hazard detection 18 Prevention of f rlctlonal Ignition 19 Methane drainage 19 Research on explosives 19 Conclusions 20 Final note 21 References 21 Appendix 23 ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Explosion area, Phillips and West Coal Co., No. 1 Mine, Robblns, TN, March 23, 1959 3 2. Explosion area. Viking Mine, Terre Haute, IN, March 2, 1961 4 3. Explosion area, Blue Blaze Coal Co., Mine No. 2, Herrln, IL, January 10, 1962 5 4. Explosion area, Robena No. 3, Carmlchaels, PA, December 6, 1962 6 5. Explosion area, C. L. Kline Coal Co., No. 2 Mine, near Robblns, TN, May 24, 1965 7 6. Explosion area, Slltex Mine, Mt. Hope, WV, July 23, 1966 9 7. Explosion area, River Queen Mine No. 1, Greenville, KY, August 7, 1968... 10 8. Detail of River Queen Mine 10 9. Explosion area, Flnley Coal Co., Nos. 15 and 16 Mines, Hyden, KY, December 30, 1970 11 10. Detail of explosion area, Flnley Coal Co., No. 15 Mine 11 11. Detail of explosion area, Flnley Coal Co., No. 16 Mine 11 12. Explosion area, Itmann No. 3 Mine, Itmann, WV, December 16, 1972 12 13. Explosion area, Scotia Mine, Whltesburg, KY, March 9 and 11, 1976 13 14. Explosion area, Dutch Creek Mine, Redstone, CO, April 15, 1981 14 A-1. Number of f rlctlonal ignitions and associated injuries and fatalities per year, 1959-80 23 A-2. Number of nonf rlctlonal ignitions and associated injuries and fatalities per year, 1959-80 23 A-3. Number of minor ignitions and explosions by cause, 1959-80 24 TABLES A-1. Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 25 A-2. Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 32 A-3. Ignitions and explosions classified by cause, 1959-68 46 ii TABLES — Continued Page A-4. Summary of injuries by cause, 1959-68 46 A-3. Summary of fatalities by cause, 1959-68 47 A-6. Ignitions and explosions classified by cause, 1969-80 47 A-7. Summary of injuries by cause, 1969-80 48 A-8. Summary of fatalities by cause, 1969-80 48 A-9. Frictional and/or methane ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79 49 HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF COAL MINE EXPLOSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1959-81 By J. K, Richmond, ^ G. C. Price, ^ M, J, Sapko, ^ and Et M, Kawenski ^ ABSTRACT This Bureau of Mines publication presents investigators' reports of all major coal mine explosion disasters that occurred in the United States from 1959 through November 1981, along with a brief analysis of common factors in these disasters. The report reviews the Federal mine health and safety acts of 1969 and 1977, and discusses how implementation of these acts has reduced the number of both fatalities and disasters. Current Bureau health and safety research is summarized, and an appendix lists most of the ignitions and explosions in the period of record. ^Supervisory research physicist/ Pittsburgh Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. ^Mining engineer. Safety Technology Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA. ^Research chemical engineer, Pittsburgh Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pitts- burgh, PA. ^Chief, Industrial Safety Division, Safety Technology Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA. (Retired). INTRODUCTION In 1959-81 there were 20 major explo- sions in U.S. coal mines; i.e., explo- sions in which 5 or more miners were killed. This publication, a sequel to Information Circular 7900 (9),^ repre- sents a joint effort by the Bureau of Mines (BOM) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to include in one document both the reports of 18 of these accidents and related research and supporting information. Two accidents in December 1981 and one in January 1982 occurred too late for their full reports to be included. Accident reports in general came from BOM or MSHA inspectors and/or field in- vestigators; BOM technical personnel sometimes contributed additional data. Most of the reports of the 18 major ex- plosions of 1959-81 are printed herein verbatim, as a matter of historical rec- ord, with occasional comment by the present authors, by footnote or in the analysis sections. Unfortunately, much relevant information, especially in con- nection with the largest disasters, is not available because of sealing of mines or because of litigation and impoundment of records by the courts. It should be pointed out that the most violent explosions (relative to extent and property damage) did not necessarily cause the most deaths because sometimes there happened to be few miners under- ground when the explosion occurred. It should also be noted that although mech- anization has tended to decrease the accident rate per ton of coal mined (because of higher productivity), it has had less effect on the accident rate per miner-hour worked. All ignitions and explosions provide useful and necessary data for safety research. This report describes safety research that is directed to both long- and short-term solutions. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of their colleagues at the Bruceton Safety Technology Center of MSHA and at the Pittsburgh Research Cen- ter of the Bureau of Mines. They would also like to pay their respects to H. B. Humphrey for his great work on the his- torical record of coal mine explosions, published in 1959 as Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7900. MAJOR EXPLOSIONS, 1959-81 PHILLIPS AND WEST COAL CO. NO. 1 MINE ROBBINS, TN MARCH 23, 1959 - 9 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 1) The mine was classified non-gassy by the Tennessee Division of Mines. 6 Pre- shift, on-shaft, and weekly examinations for gas and other hazards were not made. No flame safety lamps were available at the mine. 7 \ ^Underlined numbers in parentheses re- fer to items in the list of references preceding the appendix. ^BOM classification not available. The fan was started each morning short- ly before the men entered the mine and stopped when the shift was completed. This fan was not in operation between the completion of the shift on Friday and 6:40 a.m. Monday; the explosion occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. Eight of the inby eleven stoppings in the main entries were constructed of brattice cloth and three were open. There was also a 32- inch opening in one of the permanent stoppings 550-feet outby the face of the entries. 8 'A possible consequence gassy classification. ^A source of leakage. of the non- Shaker conveyor out 1 1 Forces extended (Jj: m f" to surf ore ! ' ' LEGEND - — Intake air - — ' Return air •^ Direction of forces •• Bodies He Permanent stopping Ijl Check curtain — Limits of flame FIGURE 1. - Explosion area, Phillips and West Coal Co., No. 1 Mine, Robbins, TN, March 23, 1959. Methane gas, believed to have been lib- erated from a faulted or "pinched" zone occurring in rooms adjacent to the active working area accumulated during the peri- od the mine fan was down. When the fan was started, this gas migrated through the brattice cloth stoppings and/or open crosscuts to the haulage road where it was ignited by arcing when the trolley wheel of the locomotive left the wire or by workers smoking. All nine men underground died of burns or toxious gas fumes resulting from the gas and dust explosion. VIKING MINE TERRE HAUTE, IN MARCH 2, 1961 - 22 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 2) An air dust explosion, originating near the intersection of 4-North Right "B" and 8-East Right "A" entries in the 4-North section of the northwest angles, killed 22 of 55 workers underground. The flame area encompassed most of the 4-North sec- tion from the track entries in the mains inby 6-East and 7-West, 8-West, 7-East, and the face of the mains. Forces oc- curred from the mouth to the faces of 4- North, a distance of 1500 feet, and throughout 6-East, 7-East, 7-West, and 8-West. All workers in the 4-North sec- tion were killed while workers in other areas of the mine escaped uninjured. The mine was classified gassy. Evi- dence showed that the area where the ex- plosion originated had encountered sub- sidence from the underlying mined out Nos. 3 and 4 coal seams. This may have increased methane liberation. Coal spillage and lack of adequate rockdusting in this area added to the severity of the explosion. The inby door of the airlock^ in the 6-East was removed during material recovery operations which would short- circuit air from the right side of the 4-North working section if the remaining door at 6-East were latched open. The line curtain in 8-East Right "A" was re- moved when the continuous miner moved to the 4-North Right "B" entry. These con- ditions could have permitted methane to accumulate. Permissible equipment in the active faces of the explosion area consisted of Jeffrey Colmols and Joy Loading machines; nonpermissible face equipment consisted of Joy 6SC shuttle cars. However, the permissible equipment was not maintained in a permissible manner. Smoker's arti- cles were listed among the personal ef- fects of many of the victims including the foreman. Underground employees were not searched for smoker's articles before entering the mine. Either an electrical arc or open flame could have initiated this explosion. °" stopping with door" on map. LEGEND Limit of flame Limit of forces Ventilation Direction of forces Track Bodies Stopping with door Locomotive Empty mine car Loaded mine car Wooden brattice blown out Concrete block stopping blown out Check curtain blown out CD □dicuij HD r it n <■! Pooca 1 1 U t V M *t- K t I I I I 1 1 f t n t t t ^^,t..f^ ^ %^+^ * 4 4 i o > ) I I It <-i ■ ■ ■'■ _'^ aaa«3' — T dt -♦ — ^^-^ h^ " Forces FIGURE 2. - Explosion area, Viking Mine, Terre Haute, IN, March 2, 1961. BLUE BLAZE COAL CO. MINE NO. 2 HERRIN, IL JANUARY 10, 1962 - 11 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 3) The mine went into production on July 30, 1961. The main shaft provided the only escapeway from the mine. A sec- ond shaft, being drilled, was within 74 feet of breaking through into the coal seam at the time of the explosion. The mine was not classified as gassy; however, all other mines in the Illinois No. 6 coal bed in the vicinity were classified gassy. Pre-shift and on-shift examinations were reportedly made; how- ever, no flame^O safety lamp was found in the mine after the explosion. A set of entries and rooms were driven for storage of rock and rubble produced while sinking the new shaft. This area was abandoned and sealed when it was TI) Flame safety lamp would have been found to be too far to transport the rubble. On the day of the explosion, one room off 1-North inadvertently cut through into the sealed area, thus per- mitting methane, which had accumulated behind the seals , to enter the mine ven- tilation system. Mine equipment was relatively new and maintained in permissible condition. At the time of the explosion, maintenance work was being performed in the control panel of the shuttle car. Under such conditions, it was customary at this mine to try equipment with the power on and with one person observing the contacts. The removal of the enclosure cover would provide several gas ignition sources which could have and probably did provide the primary ignition. Coal dust accumu- lations in the section provided fuel for widespread propagation. Forces of the explosion traveled throughout the mine and up the shaft. All 11 men in the mine were killed by suffocation, burns, and/or forces. needed for inspections. -Roof falls Flame 150 _i 300 I Scale, feet 'OD □ G D i p Q a □ □ □ '> p □ D □ D^D Seols^ □ ocz] DO ezD o Cjcj_^ a n cao^ Q C7C7Q I w5c=:34in U C7 o a CD ^o da CJCJ _^ I l ls I i nTl^ lllll l illlll M I I I m il II Klfl li h llllll M llllllil / l IllimW- _) 3E oc^oa V I i nn III III m ill I II iiiiiiiiiiiii '-^yyi l MTlu — -^ c:]\^ a Q [Zi^d] a a iT^^rr^rGJ 2E IE — Limit of flame — - Ventilation — Direction of forces ++++ Track • • Bodies E_ Fall of cool LEGEND i™ Locomotive 1=1 Empty mme car Ml Loaded mine car '^ Wooden brattice blown out :^ Concrete block stopping blown out "^ Check curtain blown out Note: Forces extended throughout the entire mme. The greatest forces were near and at the bottom of the main shaft. FIGURE 3. - Explosion area, Blue Blaze Coal Co., Mine No. 2, Herrin, IL, January 10, 1962. ROBENA NO. 3 CARMICHAELS, PA DECEMBER 6, 1962 - 37 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 4) Two explosions, the first at 1:05 p.m. and the second at 1:25 p.m., originated near the faces of 8-Left 4-Main entries. Thirty-seven miners were killed in the first explosion. The customary system of development in 8-Left was to advance entries from the return airside of the split toward the intake or from left and right toward the center. Entries 0, 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 be- ing returns and 3, 4, 5, and 6 intakes. To facilitate development of entries at 90° to 8-Left that would intersect a recently sunk shaft (Kirby), the cus- tomary system of entry development was changed. The intake entries were ad- vanced to get the radii driven for track and expedite the construction of over- casts to permit splitting the air. These changes adversely affected the face ven- tilation permitting a methane build-up. The methane was ignited by an electric arc from an open-type fan, car-puller motor, fuse, frictional heat, or sparks from bits cutting through a clay vein in the face of slant between Nos. 7 and 8 entries. Coal spillage along the shuttle car runways , 53 loaded cars , and one par- tially loaded car of coal supplied coal dust to propagate a widespread explosion. COMPASS NO. 2 DOLA, WV APRIL 25, 1963 - 22 KILLED The 22 men working in 3-Right area of the mine were killed by the explosion. All 36 other men in the mine escaped uninjured. LEGEND ^^ Check curtain =)f^ Masonry stopping — - Intake air • Bodies ■ — - Return air :^ Overcast — Direction of forces ^t^ Metal stopping **** Track Origin of explosion 100 200 Scale, feet FIGURE 4. - Explosion area, Robena No. 3, Carmichaels, PA, December 6, 1962. Serious and prolonged Interruption of the ventilation current permitted an ac- cumulation of methane In the working faces. An airlock door was found blocked open, a check curtain was rolled up and wrapped with wire, possibly a man door was left open, and stoppings and/or curtains removed to facilitate moving equipment may not have been replaced. Inadequate testing for methane allowed the accumulation of methane to remain undetected. 11 The greater part of the permissible- type electrical face equipment In the mine was not maintained In permissible condition. The loading machine was the only piece of electrical equipment In operation at the working face when the l^A common factor in many mine disas- ters reported here. explosion occurred. The bottom Inspec- tion cover was missing from the main motor housing of this machine. The com- mutator on this motor had high and low bars and heavy arcing was indicated at the brushes. It is presumed that this arcing was the source of the ignition. Coal dust picked up from roadway spill- age and accumulations at the belt tail- piece and transfer points aided in the widespread propagation of the explo- sion. Satisfactory rockdusting adjacent to and outby 3-Panel prevented the fur- ther spread at the explosion. CARBON FUEL CO. NO. 2 MINE HELPER, UT DECEMBER 16, 1963 - 9 KILLED, 1 INJURED This disaster was caused by the igni- tion of a body of methane and coal dust initiated by frictional heat or sparks or by an electrical arc. Methane was liberated in the face of No. 4 dip entry and accumulated because check curtains were not erected; the line canvas was poorly constructed and ter- minated 36 feet from the face. An in- operative water pump on the left side of the continuous mining machine permitted excessive float dust to collect in the return airway. This and coal dust from coal being transported on the belt con- veyor provided fuel for propagation. Possible ignition sources were an elec- tric arc from permissible face equip- ment with permissibility deficiencies or frictional heat or sparks from the miner bits rubbing against or cutting top rock. This explosion points out two common weaknesses. In a slightly gassy mine enough attention is not given to direct- ing the ventilation current to the work- ing faces and tests for gas are not made frequently enough to determine whether a dangerous gas condition is developing. C. L. KLINE COAL CO. NO. 2 MINE (NEAR) ROBBINS, TN MAY 24, 1965 - 5 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 5) An explosion, originating in the face area of the left main aircourse, killed all five men in the mine. The explosion occurred when a methane accumulation was ignited by a cigarette lighter. The methane was emitted from crevices in the roof near the face. The mine was classified non-gassy by the State. The owner-operator was the only one that possessed a flame safety lanq). He reportedly made a gas check during his pre-shift examination. Ventilation was inadequate. The mine fan was not capable of supplying air flow appropriate to the size of the mine. Also, the inby eight stoppings in the mains were constructed of brattice cloth and the left main aircourse was advanced 300 feet inby the last crosscut with a line curtain terminated 25 feet from the face. Dust from coal on the conveyors and from spillage along the conveyor lines entered into the propagation. MARS NO. 2 WILSONBURG, WV OCTOBER 16, 1965 - 7 KILLED A stripped down continuous miner was being trammed into the mine. Rubber con- veyor belting was used to insulate the miner from the trolley and trolley feeder wires. However, the traction pump drive of the miner came in contact with the en- ergized trolley and/or trolley feeder line. The ensuring electric arcing ig- nited the belting, coal, hydraulic oil and oil lines. Disconnect switches were not installed in the trolley and trolley feeder lines to permit timely and effec- tive deenergizing of the circuit. Glenmary coolbed 36 inches thick LEGEND Permanent stopping Check curtain Intake air Return air Door Note" Forces extend to mine portals Left main air course- FIGURE 5. - Explosion area, C. L. Kline Coal Co., No. 2 Mine, near Robbins, TN, May 24, 1965. Two foremen and five workmen inby the fire died of asphixiation while a crew tramming a miner outby the fire escaped uninjured. The mine fan was stopped to prevent fanning of the fire by the air current. It was restarted after 15 to 20 minutes because smoke was backing up in the entry Shortly after restarting the fan an ex- plosion occurred when the distillate by- products were coursed over the fire by the renewed air currents. No atteiq)t was made to short-circuit contaminated air from the inby workings. Only 2 of 13 self -rescuers found in the possession of the 7 victims showed evi- dence of attexapts to use them. 12 DUTCH CREEK MINE REDSTONE, CO DECEMBER 28, 1965 - 9 KILLED A gas and coal dust explosion killed 9 of 30 workers in the mine. The other 21 escaped uninjured. Face ventilation was interrupted by 20 to 25 tons of coal piled on the floor by the continuous miner. Methane feeders were present at the face and a coal bump released additional gas. The gas was ig- nited either by a blown splice in the loading machine cable or by arcing from an exposed power conductor in the shuttle car cable. The gas ignition propagated''3 C04I dust from the piled coal or spillage along the tramway. SILTIX MINE MOUNT HOPE, WV JULY 23, 1966 - 7 KILLED, 2 INJURED (SEE FIGURE 6) Methane from feeders and from pillar falls was ignited by an electric arc or 1 ^Oxygen self-rescuer could have saved these . spark. Coal dust played a very minor role in this disaster. Eleven men, trapped inby the explosion area, erected a barricade and remained behind this bar- ricade until rescued about 1-1/2 hours later. Ventilation in the explosion area was insufficient. Poorly constructed tem- porary stoppings, no line brattice in continuous miner places , lack of a reg- ulator on air splits, and lack of a bleeder system combined to add to the hazard. The foreman was the only person on the section with a flame safety lamp. Sufficient lamps were not available at the mine to provide a lamp for the oper- ator of each piece of face electric equipment. The combination of a damp to wet sec- tion, rockdusting, and opened areas for explosion expansion inhibited propagation and caused the explosion forces to dissi- pate rapidly. All electric equipment in the area was found to be in a non-permissible condi- tion. Arcs or sparks at the cable-reel collector ring assembly of a shuttle car was the igniting agent. The explosion originated in the vicinity of the pillars being removed near the left edge of the map of Figure 6. RIVER QUEEN UNDERGROUND MINE NO. 1 GREENVILLE, KY AUGUST 7, 1968 - 9 KILLED, 2 INJURED (SEE FIGURES 7 AND 8) Permissible explosives, stored on a coal drill 45 feet from and in direct line with the face, were detonated by blasted material expelled from the coal face. Coal dust was involved to some degree, but propagation was short lived. Methane was not a factor. 1 -^Initiated an explosion in the coal dust. FIGURE 6. - Explosion area, Siltex Mine, Mt. Hope, WV, July 23, 1966 CONSOL NO. 9 FARMINGTON, WV NOVEMBER 20, 1968—78 KILLED The destruction due to this explosion, added to that caused by secondary explo- sions for several days afterwards, fol- lowed by final sealing of the mine pre- vented a conqjlete Investigation and the Issuance of an official report. As of this writing, 13 years later, some of the bodies remain sealed In the mine, with the cause of the explosion sealed with them. The following Information Is from an Interview of Lewis Evans, Safety Director of the United Mine Workers of America (12). The first explosion took place at 5:30 a.m., November 20. The 21 men who escaped came out shortly afterwards. Eleven escaped through the slope, two came out Atha's Run Portal, and eight were lifted by bucket up the Mahan shaft. After the explosion destroyed the shaft at Llewellyn Portal, fire and smoke belched forth, making conditions too haz- ardous even to consider putting mine res- cue teams Into the mine because of the danger of more explosions. A succession of recordable explosions did take place. As of November 29 there had been 24 plus Innumerable smaller "pops" and "puffs." Undamaged fans were kept running for a while In an effort to supply fresh air, but within 2A hours large fires developed along with dan- gerous levels of carbon monoxide and methane. 10 ' S3. LEGEND — Approximate limits of flame - — Intake air — ' Return air — Direction of forces • Bodies • Injured survivor o Uninjured survivor 3C Blown out stopping mz Permanent stopping in: Temporary stopping Conveyor ■od tie It Origin of explosion Flame aoooooooDoo oj^^a o □ c o o o o oo Q 05? od a o a c 200 400 Scale, feet One man uninjured FIGURE 7. - Explosion area, River Queen Mine No. 1, Greenville, KY, August 7, 1968. Another shaft that was damaged by the explosion was at Mod's Run. An atteiq)t was made to seal the two portals at this location with 26 tons of steel and con- crete on each shaft in what proved to be a vain attempt to cool off the fire. The seals were of short duration, being des- troyed by subsequent explosions only min- utes after placement. The Mod's Run portals were later suc- cessfully sealed by dumping into each of them 500 tons of coarse limestone. This amount was put into each shaft, and this semiseal held until final decision to seal off all of the mine was made. Consol No. 9 Mine was among the largest in the United States. Its underground tunnels extended through the West Vir- ginia hills in a space roughly 10 miles by 6 miles. It worked three production shifts per day, and its crew of 380 men. -Origin of explosion Caved •Conveyor belt 50 100 _l I Scale, feet • • LEGEND Intake air Return air Direction of forces Bodies Temporary stopping blown out Permanent stopping blown out FIGURE 8. - Detail of River Queen Mine. 320 of whom worked underground, produced 9,500 tons of coal per day. It was a very gassy mine, releasing from 7 to 9 million cubic feet of methane per day. Consol No. 9 Mine was located in the Pittsburgh coal seam. Fourteen years and one week prior to this explosion the same mine had blown up, killing 16 men (Nov. 13, 1954). Upon the present occasion, the mine was sealed and partially reopened 6 months later, at which time some of the bodies were recov- ered. These two blasts were considered by some to have been the most violent up to that time. The Bureau of Mines had inspected this mine 3 months before the disaster and the State of West Virginia 2 weeks before. 11 FINLEY COAL CO. NOS. 15 AND 16 MINES HYDEN, KY DECEMBER 30, 1970 - 38 KILLED (SEE FIGURES 9-11) Coal dust was thrown Into suspension and Ignited during the blasting of roof rock for a loading point. Excessive accumulation of coal dust and Inadequate rockdustlng permitted propagation of the explosion throughout the mines. According to former practices In blast- ing boom holes and evidence presented by various persons, found during the Inves- tigation, It must be concluded that on the day of the explosion, 100 or more shot holes were drilled Into the roof, each charged with one or two cartridges of explosives, connected by a trunkllne of Prlmacord with short leaders of Prlma- cord to each charge with one electric detonator held In place with pieces of paper and fired by means of a blasting cable attached either to a shot-firing unit, power cable, or to the battery con- nections of a nearby battery-powered tractor. LEGEND • • Bodies 5 10 Scale, feet -30'- 50 1b explosives 28' ^cga (^Sy Loaded car '^^^^^^s__^ji£^^^^^ __ faQ idQ'do ooao ]DD"DD OODiD ^DCDbODd'QD )D D □ a D d'O D _ _ _ ' '_ -jDO SqdcddPciDdODI aD ^oC30DDaoaaUOa XD'DO.a DiDiajD a n d □ Q ) □ czto D D O D D Cr D D o aoDQcan DDO0C3O ODDoDb DQDnDD DO DO OQ nn aODDDDDnai DPaoaaoooaf' Q D'D D D O □ D a DiC! a C3 D D O'S' D o o a I a ooQ( Jiaio ji-a cm c apo ODQoaaaa d*a q g ( DaaDDDaDDaaDi Odd 000000 aaD( DDDOOaDOD QQD DODDQQ D □ DDD DDOD a D Ota D D a a D aQQaoDDQa p Coveyor belt LEGEND — Intake air HI Permanent stopping — Return atr 3EI Permanen'i stopping blown out — Direction of forces IZZ Check curtain • • Bodies ^ Check curtain blown out FIGURE 9. - Explosion area, Finley Coal Co., Nos. 15 and 16 Mines, Hyden, KY, December 30, 1970. Mining v- — -'^- machine *f* Explosives wagon-' No. 6 entry, 2d right • (^ Lunch kit FIGURE 10. - Detail of explosion area, Finley Coal Co., No. 15 Mine. Mining machine 23' Blasting coble Detonator box-^-D Coiled / ^ blasting cable ^^V^^^ ■ bi (damaged) Wagoi Detonator box^ ■28'- No. 5 entry LEGEND • • Bodies ^^ Miner's hat 5 10 ■ I I Scale, feet FIGURE 11. - Detail of explosion area, Finley Coal Co., No. 16 Mine. 12 Prlmacord was available In a storage area on the surface and was found at the blast site and other places underground. During clean-up of the rock from the loading point, only one set of leg wires was found. If electric detonators rather than Primacord were used to initiate the blast, there should have been at least 100 sets of leg wires in the blasted material. Testimony also indicated that wads of paper or brattice cloth were used to stem holes drilled for loading points. (This would constitute an unconfined shot. ) non-permissible manner. ) In the previous August, one man had lost his eyesight, and a second suffered cuts and a ruptured eardrum, due to the accidental detonation of explosives underground. The account states that 120 shots were fired in blasting a "boom hole" in the roof, even though safety regulations permit only 20 shots to be fired at once. A physician found that 31 or 32 had died instantly from the blast, and the rest probably from carbon monoxide. Thirty four widows and 103 children were left to mourn the loss. The mine was classified non-gassy and methane was not a factor in this explosion. More background information was sup- plied by an article "Disaster at Hurri- cane Creek" in Popular Mechanics (1). Two state inspections and four federal inspections during the preceding nine months had revealed excessive coal dust and other combustible materials, insuffi- cient rock dust, and other violations. The disaster occurred exactly one year after the 1969 Act became law. The coal dust explosion was so extensive that dust and other materials were expelled from all eight openings of the mine. (Non- permissible explosives were used in a ITMANN NO. 3 MINE ITMANN, WV DECEMBER 16, 1972 - 5 KILLED, 3 INJURED (SEE FIGURE 12) This explosion resulted from the igni- tion of a methane-air mixture in the track-belt entry about 1,000-feet outby the working faces. The methane was ignited by an electric arc from a portal bus being used to transport the section crew to the surface. The electric arc occurred when the trolley-pole harp lost electrical contact with the trolley wire. The investigators were of the opinion that in addition to the usual methane liberation in the entry, excessive pres- sure from the adjacent strata released Duster CABIN CREEK 4-PANEL Continuous miner car Flat car Feeder a 5 Origin of explosion LEGEND HH Permanent stopping JZ Check curtain — Intake air -—' Return air •— Direction of forces • Bodies ® Injured man Belt Posts ooooooooooooo _ ,, f^"="^ -^^ Trolley wire ! ! ! J ! II Ti ^^ftTnr Track • • Detail of portal bus FIGURE 12. - Explosion area, Itmann No. 3 Mine, Itmann, WV, December 16, 1972. 13 additional methane shortly before the explosion occurred. 14 of the eight men in the portal bus at the time of the ex- plosion, five were killed and 3 seriously burned. This was primarily a methane explosion and coal dust entered into propagation only to a minor degree. SCOTIA MINE WHITESBURG, KY MARCH 9, 1976 - 15 KILLED MARCH 11, 1976 - _n KILLED 26 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 13) Because of the controversial nature of some aspects of this disaster and the lack of publication of an official ac- count, we will confine this account to information included in a report pub- lished by the House Education and Labor committee, and a Grand Jury charge. Two explosions occurred within 60 hours of each other, both apparently originat- ing from ignitions of methane, although the mine had not been considered exces- sively gassy. It had been producing about 250,000 cubic feet of methane per day. Both explosions are considered to have originated in the No. 2 Southeast mains. Two mining locomotives were in the area, both equipped with battery- operated air compressors. There were al- so two methane "feeders" in this area. Nine men were killed almost instantly by the explosion on March 9, and six more survived for a while by taking refuge in No. 2 left off 2-Southeast, but were eventually overcome. In about 18 hours, rescue teams had recovered all bodies. Mine Enforcement and Safety Administra- tion (MESA) inspectors determined that a roof fall had occurred over a track en- try, so roof bolters were called in, in order that further inspection could pro- ceed. On March 11, in mid-afternoon, a 13-man crew entered, including 3 Federal inspectors and 10 company employees. ^^Perhaps there was evidence of an outburst. Then the second explosion occurred, and all but the two roof bolters were killed. The second explosion was more severe than the first, apparently originating about 2,000 feet from the origin of the first explosion. About 12 hours later, the rescue team found the 11 bodies, but was withdrawn without removing them be- cause of imminent danger of another ex- plosion. The mine was sealed, to be opened approximately a year later. The Labor Standards Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee pub- lished a report charging the Scotia Coal Co. with responsibility for the first explosion and MESA for the second. The No. 2 Southeast main had not been fire- bossed prior to the entry of the two lo- comotives; apparently inadequate ventila- tion prevailed in this section. Similar Left Panel FIGURE 13. - Explosion area, Scotia Mine, Whitesburg, KY, March 9 and 11, 1976. 14 hazardous conditions existed prior to the second explosion. The above report was reviewed in Coal Age (^)» Later, Coal Age (_5) reported Grand Jury charges that the disaster was caused by the lack of adequate ventilation in all sections, failure to fire boss, and submission of false records. The Blue Diamond Coal Co. (owner of the mine) has sued MESA for responsibility for mine damage due to the second explosion, and widows of the first explosion were suing Blue Diamond. FERRELL MINE NO. 17, WESTMORELAND COAL CO. BOONE COUNTY, WV NOVEMBER 7, 1980—5 KILLED The following account was taken from newspaper reports and from Coal Age (6^) Five men, all maintenance workers, were removing track in an unused portion of the mine about 1 mile away from any other work crew when the explosive occurred. Another 70 men working in different parts of the mine escaped without injury. The blast resulted from an ignition of meth- ane in the presence of inadequate venti- lation. A spark from a "locomotive-type" vehicle the men used to get to their workplace may have set off the explosion, according to a con5)any representative. The blast was so strong it blew large cinder blocks 150 feet and overturned a conveyor belt several hundred feet away. Apparently, the men were killed instant- ly. After the explosion, toxic or nox- ious gases, including methane, hampered rescue, so that a day passed before the bodies were reached. DUTCH CREEK NO. 1 MINE MID CONTINENT RESOURCES CO. REDSTONE, CO APRIL 15, 1981—15 KILLED (SEE FIGURE 14) The blast occurred at about 4:15 P.M. MST, when 22 men were in the mine. Three men came out uninjured, four were slightly injured, while the remaining 15 were killed, almost instantly, when a coal dust, methane-air mixture was ig- nited after a bump occurred at the work- ing face. The same mine was the scene of LEGEND — Limit of flame mz Permanent stoppings :5t Overcasts Tracit Bodies Flame Belt entry FIGURE 14. - Explosion area, Dutch Creek Mine, Redstone, CO, April 15, 1981. an explosion that killed nine men on December 31, 1965. Within 38 hours after the explosion all 15 bodies had been removed. The working areas were reached by a 15-degree slope which was partially flooded by water when the blast knocked out power to the pumps. The location of the blast was about 7,000 feet from the mine portal. The mine had been considered very gassy. A recent re- port by MSHA listed the following con- tributing factors: 1. Large amounts of methane and coal dust were dispersed over wide areas by the bump. 2. Face ventilation was disturbed by the destruction of brattice by the coal outburst. 3. The methanometer in the continuous miner located near the face of the 102 longwall entry shut off the main power to the machine but not to the lighting circuit. 15 4. The lighting circuit had been de- energized by throwing its two-pole switch to off. 5. The switch enclosure was later de- termined to be a non-permissible condi- tion by virtue of a wire being caught under the lid. There was evidence of a flame propagating out of this enclosure so the latter is assumed to have been the ignition source. 6. Three of the six victims in the immediate face area of the 102 Section died as a result of concussive blast injuries, two as a result of carbon mon- oxide poisoning, and one as a result of a combination of concussive blast in- juries and carbon monoxide poisoning. The two victims near the shuttle car further outby in the 102 Section died as a result of concussive blast injuries caused by the explosion. The victim in the face of the No. 2 entry of the 102 section, and all six men in the Slope Section died as a result of carbon monox- ide poisoning. ANALYSIS OF 18 MAJOR EXPLOSIONS OF 1959-81 Eighteen major explosions are reported here, mostly verbatim from inspector's reports, often with only speculation as to the cause. Twelve were apparently caused by the electrical ignition of methane-air mixtures in areas where the normal ventilation had been seriously in- terrupted in the process of mining or transport. In most of these cases, coal dust contributed to the explosion. When methane is present, very much more rock dust is required to inert the coal dust; so much more, in fact, that such protec- tion is very unlikely. To increase the incombustible content from 65% to 80%, more than twice as much rock dust is re- quired. Even the 65% value required by law has a very small safety factor when considerable float dust is present. A mixture containing 70% incombustible with 80% of the coal passing through 200 mesh will propagate a strong explosion in a mixture of Pittsburgh pulverized coal dust (36% volatile matter) and rock dust (20). Although Richmond ( 20 ) listed sur- veys indicating that the fineness of coal dust has been increasing over recent years, chiefly as a result of the use of continuous mining machines and longwall systems, regulations have not been changed to reflect this new situation. In some cases, supposedly permissible equipment was not so, or ignitions oc- curred outby the last open crosscut, where permissible equipment was not required. Two explosions occurred as a direct result of a methane outburst, during attempts to ventilate the large quantity of gas, but nonpermissible or defective electrical equipment ignited the gas. In one case, fuel-rich fumes from a fire were recirculated over the fire (improper ventilation) and ignited. Two disasters resulted from the improper use of explosives underground, resulting in the direct ignition of dust clouds, in the absence of methane. Damage resulting from the worst disaster at Consol No. 9 was so severe that no cause could be reported, but the mine was gassy, so one might assume that improper ventilation was a major contributing factor. THE FEDERAL COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT OF 1969 (PUBLIC LAW 91-173)15 In the preamble to Public Law 91-173, Congress declared that the first priority l^safety Act passed December 30, 1969, but Part 75, Mandatory Safety Standard - Underground Coal Mines, was not published initially in the Federal Register until November 20, 1970. and concern of all in the coal mining in- dustry must be the health and safety of its most precious resource — the miner; that there is a need to provide safer working conditions in the Nation's coal mines and to prevent occupational dis- eases; and that the existence of unsafe and unheal thful working conditions is a 16 serious Impediment to the growth of the mining industry and to the growth of commerce. The purpose of this act was to estab- lish interim mandatory health and safety standards, by direction to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and Secretary of the Interior; to require operators and miners to comply with such standards; to cooperate with and assist the States in setting up health and safe- ty programs; and to improve and expand research, development, and training pro- grams aimed at preventing coal mine acci- dents and occupationally caused diseases. Among the many impacts this law has had are the following: 1, Established an advisory on coal mine health research. committee before and after December 31, 1972. Title V included a significant section requiring the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct research to im- prove working conditions regarding both safety and health, to publish reports, etc. To assist with this research, the Secretaries may enter into contracts with, and make grants to, public and pri- vate agencies and organizations and indi- viduals. Information so developed shall be available to the general public. Funds were appropriated to carry out this research — $20 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970; $25 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971; and $30 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and for each succeeding fiscal year thereafter. The actual ap- propriations in fiscal years 1974-79 fol- low, in millions: 2. Established right of entry into mines, with frequent entry. 3. Conferred power to issue withdrawal orders, with appeals, reviews, etc., upon finding that imminent danger exists. 4. Empowered the Secretary to issue injunctions in case of refusal to comply with orders. 5. Established penalties. civil and criminal 6. Established interim health stan- dards , including those for respirable dust, medical examinations, and noise. 7. Established interim safety stan- dards covering roof support, ventilation, methane monitoring, combustible materi- als and rock dusting, electrical equip- ment, trailing cables, grounding, high-, medium-, and low-voltage circuits, fires, blasting and explosives, etc. An important section (title IV) dealt with black lung (pneumoconiosis) benefits FY 74 - $27.1 FY 75 - $27.5 FY 76 - $29.2 Transition - $ 7.5 FY 77 - $29.2 FY 78 - $40.9 FY 79 - $47.8 Among the immediate Impacts of this act were increases in the number of coal mine inspectors and in the frequency of in- spection; and a large Increase in the amount of health and safety research, both in-house and by contract, resulting in many new techniques, devices, and sys- tems to improve health and safety, along with more mandatory and advisory regula- tions. Training programs expanded rapid- ly, and the Coal Mine Health and Safety Academy was established in Beckley, WV, in 1971. In the 10 years following the passing of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safe- ty Act of 1969, the number of major ex- plosions was only one-third of that in the previous 10 years, and there were two 4-year periods with no major explosions. 17 THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 1977 (PUBLIC LAW 95-164) The following paragraphs summarize Public Law 95-16A with eiiq>hasis on its modifications to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-173). The purpose of the act of 1977 is the same as that of the act of 1969, except it includes all other mines, as well as coal mines. The Federal Metal and Non- metallic Mine Safety Act and the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act are repealed. Sec- tion 405 of the act of November 16, 1973, Public Law 95-153 is repealed. "Coal or other mine" includes areas from which minerals are extracted in nonliquid form, or if in liquid form, are extracted with workers underground. An Interim Conqiliance Panel of five members is established. The Secretary of the Interior shall appoint an advisory committee on coal or other mine safety research, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall appoint an advisory committee on coal or other mine health research. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to institute civil action for relief, including injunc- tions, for violations or interference by operators with enforcement of this act. Penalties have been increased for violations. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is established, consisting of five members, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Provision is made in this act for man- datory health and safety training of min- ers using both initial and refresher courses. Regulations include dust from drilling rock, and restricting quartz content to 5%. More details are pro- vided to regulations concerning roof sup- port, ventilation, combustible material, electrical equipment and circuits, fire protection, blasting and explosives, etc. More funds were authorized for research. The Secretary or his/her delegate is required to make inspections of each underground coal or other mine in its entirety at least four times a year and of each surface coal or other mine in its entirety at least two times a year. Amendments include a definition of exces- sive quantities of methane to be 1 mil- lion cubic feet during a 24-hour period. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is created, and is transferred to the Department of Labor, headed by an assistant Secretary of Labor. HOW NEW MINING METHODS HAVE CHANGED THE NATURE OF HAZARDS Mining of coal by explosives has dimin- ished to such an extent that ignition of dust or gas by permissible explosives when properly used is very rare. The only documented exception of recent date is the Finley disaster of 1970, in which nonpermissible explosives were used. But the advent of the continuous miner as well as longwall mining produced hazards of their own. These techniques tend to produce more fine dust, which is a hazard to both health and safety. As the tables show, there has been an enormous increase in frictional ignitions of methane, usu- ally resulting when the bits struck sand- stone or pyrites. As deeper seams are mined the methane content tends to increase, requiring larger fans and greater fan pressure. Current methane drainage techniques may not work owing to low porosity, lack of fracture, and high friability. 18 RESEARCH BEING CONDUCTED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS SUPPRESSION OF IGNITIONS AND EXPLOSIONS Problem ; Most coal mine explosions originate with ignitions of methane at the face. At greater distances from the face, explosions sometimes propagate in spite of considerable rock dusting. Short-Term Research ; As required by the 1969 act, the Bureau of Mines con- ducted research on suppression of igni- tion at the face U, JU^, r7, ^i) ^^^ funded a contract to equip a mining ma- chine with such a system (10). The goal was to quench incipient ignition of meth- ane at the face before noticeable pres- sure and flame can develop. This re- quired a sophisticated combination of fast detection and efficient quenching. Unfortunately, the system has not found practical application. Long-Term Research ; More extensive re- search has involved passive and triggered barriers to suppress explosion of gas and/or dust which has developed consid- erable flame speed and pressure. Much of this research is based on European tech- nology already in practice. A detailed description of the performance of stone dust barriers, water barriers, and trig- gered barriers in Polish and German mines may be found in chapter 9 of Professor Cybulski's book (7^). Passive water bar- riers were tested extensively in the Bu- reau's Experimental Mine at Bruceton, based on devices developed by the Federal Republic of Germany (13). Modifications were invented to cope with very low speed explosions which might defeat the con- ventional device (14). For general use, as well as for special applications, triggered barriers were tested, using a variety of materials, with sophisticated sensors which had to respond rapidly to a real danger while remaining alert in the presence of false alarms (15). Conveyor beltways are especially vulnerable to ex- plosion hazards, so a special task was devoted to that problem (16). More re- cent research has been directed toward suppression of methane ignition at a longwall face. Such work necessarily involves triggered barriers, with large stored energy and fast response. METHANE DETECTION Short-Term Research ; An accurate per- missible methanometer has been made available (an improvement over the flame safety lamp), but requires the tedious checking of all working areas, which takes time and is all too frequently neglected. Long-Term Research ; The automatic re- mote sensing of methane involves fail- safe procedures including the use of tube bundles strategically located, with a re- mote gas analyzer (^, 8^); local fixed gas sensors or machine-mounted sensors con- nected electrically to a remote alarm or recorder; and an infrared Raman scatter- ing remote methanometer. The latter is still in the laboratory research stage. Remote detection reduces the hazard of local measurements and provides the op- portunity for much more accurate analysis than is possible with hand-held devices. COAL DUST HAZARD DETECTION Problem; Coal dust explosions can oc- cur if there are adequate deposits of fine coal dust inadequately inerted with rock dust. Short-Term Research ; Grab sampling followed by laboratory analysis is an acceptable technique for hazard detec- tion, but the response time is very slow. Long-Term Research ; A device has been designed and built to provide a remote readout in real time of dust depositions in a mine. The system is con^josed of a diaphragm whose natural frequency changes as dust is deposited on it. The dia- phragm is electromagnetically excited, and the frequency is read remotely on a separate device. The instantaneous mea- surement of incombustible content of mine dust in place has been made possible by another device eii5)loying absorption of nuclear radiation. 19 PREVENTION OF FRICTIONAL IGNITION Problem ; Frictional ignition due to the action of continuous miners on rock inclusions shows great potential for causing gas explosions. Short-Term Research : Frictional igni- tion is considerably reduced by a low- volume water spray mounted in back of the cutting bits and impacting the freshly cut sandstone surface. This result was shown by tests conducted in large cham- bers containing methane-air mixtures and full-size cutter bits impacting on sand- stone blocks. Long-Term Research ; Long-range re- search, both in-house and by contract, has been devoted to metallurgical inves- tigations into a nonsparking tool bit and to bit shape design and mounting proce- dures intended to minimize sparking. Re- ducing cutter speeds also tends to reduce incendive sparking. METHANE DRAINAGE Problem; Most coal seams contain meth- ane which is released upon mining, caus- ing a severe explosion hazard. Short-Term Research ; The conventional method is to ventilate the methane as quickly as it is released so that explo- sive concentrations are never formed ex- cept when sudden outbursts occur. Long-Term Research ; This long-range research program has involved a number of projects with objective as follows: 1. To establish by means of data ob- tained in mine and laboratory studies the stratigraphy, lithology, and geologic structure conditions that contribute to the high and low concentrations of meth- ane in coalbeds; to determine the pecu- liar composition of gases occurring in coal and associated rocks and the factors that influence the migration and reten- tion of methane in coalbeds and associ- ated strata; to develop procedures to predict the probability of encountering coalbed discontinuities. 2. To test and refine the various technologies previously developed to con- trol methane in advance of mining in order to make them applicable by the coal mining industry. These include horizon- tal holes from shaft bottoms and from multipurpose boreholes, vertical bore- hole degasification, and directional drilling from surface locations (19). (Vertical borehole technology is effec- tive, but expensive.) RESEARCH ON EXPLOSIVES In spite of the reduced use of explo- sives in the underground mining of coal, ignitions of gas or of coal dust by the use of explosives sometimes occur. The data included in this report indicate that about 15% of both the number of major disasters and the number of miners killed were the results of the improper use of explosives. Research in a number of areas, listed below, is designed to reduce the explosive hazard potential. This information was kindly furnished by J. E. Hay, Research Supervisor of the Explosives Group of the Bureau's Pitts- burgh Research Center. Problem; Criteria for permissibility sometimes give ambiguous results. Research ; Several tests are required for permissible status (inability to ig- nite methane). A new proposed test 8 is intended to be a replacement for one of them — test 4. The primary advantage of test 8 is that it is more quantitative, yielding more information than test 4 on the incendivity of an explosive relative to other explosives. Problem; Leaky water stemming bags can cause loss of stemming in the borehole with consequent ejection of hot detona- tion products and the possibility of ignition. Research: New tests for leakage and fragility were devised for water stemming devices. Problem : Loose hanging roof and large boulders can only be broken down either 20 manually or with machinery, involving loss of efficiency and long exposure of personnel to hazardous conditions, or the temptation to use unsafe (and illegal) forms of blasting. Research: Nonincendive rock breakers built-in were developed, containing a sheath of inhibiting material, such that gas is not ignited. Problem ; Some explosives are sensitive to accidental impact by friction, etc. Research: New permissible explosives (water gels and emulsions) are less sensitive. Problem : Tests have shown that the detonators are the most sensitive com- ponent to accidental initiation which might result from inadvertent drilling into misfired holes or encountering mis- fired explosives in mucking. Research : Development of less sensi- tive detonators has reduced this problem, and nonincendive detonating cords would give a safe alternative to electrical initiation, which is susceptible to pre- mature initiation by stray currents, lightning, etc. Problem : Several instances have oc- curred in which ignitions have resulted from burning explosives being ejected from a borehole. Research : Determination of why and un- der what circumstances this occurs is im- portant to specify ways to avoid it. CONCLUSIONS In the past 23 years, deaths due to coal mine explosions have been reduced considerably, conqpared with the previous 23 years — from 1,674 in 1936-58, inclu- sive, to 335 in 1959-81, inclusive. Greater volume of air required at face, canvas or tubing required closer to face, restriction on tenqjorary splices in trailing cables, the requirement for per- missible electrical equipment to be used inby the last open crosscut, and the gradual transition from dc to ac power systems for mine machinery are the main reasons for drop in the number of disas- ters and the number of fatalities. New and improved techniques in mining, designed to increase productivity, often substitute new problems for old, so that safety research must continue to advance, to cope with the new problems. Also, many disasters are the result of gross negligence and violation of known safety rules, and safety research designed to reduce disasters of this nature becomes very expensive, because such research focuses on developing "fail safe" de- vices that will function in the presence of human failures. Overall, however, economical laboratory research, close- ly correlated with the more expensive full-scale fire and explosion research, contributes much to the safety achieved per dollar available. Contract research has allowed Government programs to draw upon the expertise of industry, and tech- nology transfer programs have been devel- oped to transmit research results to min- ing industry representatives and thus to the mines. Frictional ignitions may be expected to attract attention for some time, al- though, fortunately, disasters are infre- quent in the presence of adequate venti- lations. Figure A-1 in the appendix graphs the number of frictional ignitions and associated injuries and fatalities per year during most of the 1959-81. De- tails of these incidents will be found in tables A-1 to A-8. Figure A-2 graphs similar data for nonfrictional ignitions; details of these incidents will also be found in tables A-1 to A-8. Classifica- tion of the causes of minor ignitions is graphed in figure A-3. It will be seen that continuous miner bits cause far more ignitions than all other causes combined. To complete the story, frictional igni- tion, gas ignitions, and dust ignitions in surface facilities are listed in table A-9. FINAL NOTE 21 During the final preparation of this report, three more major explosions oc- curred in coal mines in Appalachia. On December 8, 1981, an explosion killed eight miners in the Adkins Coal Co. Mine No. 18, in Topmost, Ky. On the next day, 13 miners were killed in an explo'sion in the Dogwood Flats Mountain Coal Mine of the Grundy Mining Co. , a subsidiary of the Tennessee Consolidated Coal Min- ing Co. This mine is located near Pal- mer, TN. Forty-three miners survived the explosion, which occurred when one of the victims used a cigarette lighter in an explosive methane-air mixture that accumulated as a result of inadequate ventilation in 003 section. Yet another explosion occurred on Jan- uary 20, 1982, in RFH Mining Co. 's Mine No. 1 in Floyd County, Ky. Seven miners were killed in this blast, which appar- ently resulted from the ignition of gas and coal dust by blasting. Investigators concluded that the explosion originated in the No. 5 room of the 001 section. Coal dust was ignited by flames from the explosives when the developing crosscut between the Nos. 5 and 6 rooms was shot through into the No. 5 room. Flames from the explosives were not contained within the limits of the coal being shot owing to a blown-out or a blown-through shot. Flame and/or major forces of the explo- sion propagated from the face area of the No. 5 room, traversed the entire mine, and traveled to the surface. Surface facilities that were in direct line of the forces coming out of the mine were extensively damaged. REFERENCES 1. Bacon, S. Disaster at Hurricane Creek. Popular Mechanics, v. 136, No. 4, October 1971, pp. 85-89, 201-202. 2. Burgess, D. S., W. F. Donaldson, A. F. Furno, J. M. Kuchta, and C. R. Sum- mers. Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Halon 1301 From a Commercial Extin- guisher. BuMines RI 7515, 1971, 17 pp. 3. Burgess, D. S., and H. Hayden. A Carbonmonoxide Index Monitoring System in an Underground Coal Mine. Trans. AIME, V. 200, 1976, pp. 312-318. 4. Coal Age. Kentucky Molds Safety Law; Scotia Probes Go On. V. 82, January 1977, p. 19. 5. Scotia Criminal Trial Set for Fall. V. 84, August 1979, p. 29. 6. Explosion Kills Five Min- ers in Southern West Virginia. V. 85, December 1980, p. 21. 7, Cybulski, W. Coal Dust Explosions and Their Suppression. (translated from Polish). Published for the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the National Science Foundation, Washington, DC, by the Foreign Scientific Publications Department of the National Center for Scientific Technical and Eco- nomic Information. Warsaw, Poland, 1975, 583 pp. 8. Hertzberg, M. , and C. D. Litton. Multipoint Detection of Products of Combustion With Tube Bundles. Transit Times, Transmissions of Submicrometer Particulates, and General Applicability. BuMines RI 8171, 1976, 40 pp. 9. Humphrey, H. B. Historical Sum- mary of Coal Mine Explosions in the United States. BuMines IC 7900, 1959, 275 pp.; Bull. 586, 1960, 280 pp. 10. Jamison, W. B. , and H. Hadi. Ig- nition Suppression Device (Contract H0122020 with Consolidation Coal Com- pany). BuMines Open File Rept. 129-76, August 1976, 251 pp.; NTIS PB 261-292/AS. 22 11. Kawenski, E. M, , J. Nagy, and J. W. Conn. Further Development of an Explosion Quenching Device. Pres. at Internat. Conf. of Safety in Mines Re- search, Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 20-25, 1969; available for consultation at Pitts- burgh Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. 17. Murphy, E. M. , D. W. Mitchell, and E. M. Kawenski. Stopping Explosions at the Working Face. Pres. at 80th Ann, Meeting, Coal Min. Inst, of America, Pittsburgh, PA, Dec. 15-16, 1966, avail- able for consultation at Pittsburgh Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. 12. Lauck, R. Most Violent Explosion Traps 78 Miners. United Mine Workers Journal, v. 79, Dec. 1, 1968, pp. 3, 8-11. 13. Liebman, I., and J. K. Richmond. Suppression of Coal Dust Explosions by Passive Water Barriers in a Single-Entry Mine. BuMines RI 7815, 1974, 34 pp. 18. Nagy, J. The Explosion Hazard in Mining. Mine Safety and Health Adminis- tration IR 1119, 1981, 69 pp. 19. Prosser, L. J., Jr., G. L. Finfin- ger, and J. Cervik. Methane Drainage Study Using an Underground Pipeline, Marianna Mine 58. BuMines RI 8577, 1981, 29 pp. 14. Liebman, I., J. Corry, and J. K. Richmond. Water Barriers for Suppressing Coal Dust Explosions. BtiMines RI 8170, 1976, 26 pp. 20. Richmond, J. K. , I. Liebman, and L. F. Miller. Effect of Rock Dust on Explosibility of Coal Dust. BuMines RI 8077, 1975, 34 pp. 15. Liebman, I., J. K. Richmond, R. Pro, R. Conti, and J. Corry. Triggered Barriers for the Suppression of Coal Dust Explosions. BuMines RI 8389, 1979, 24 pp. 16. Liebman, I,, and J. K. Richmond. Suppression of Coal Dust Explosions by Water Barrier in a Conveyor Belt Entry. BuMines RI 8538, 1981, 27 pp. 21. Summers, C. R. , and F. H. Scott. Investigation of Two Types of Quenching Systems. Internal Report, BuMines Pitts- burgh Mining and Safety Research Center, Aug. 5, 1970; available for consultation at Pittsburgh Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. APPENDIX 23 100 CD 3 Z 1 \ I I \ \ \ 1 \ 1 r TZZT — r ^ 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 FIGURE A-1. - Number of frictional ignitions and associated injuries and fatalities per year, 1959-80. 100 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 FIGURE A-2. - Number of nonfrictional ignitions and associated injuries and fatalities per year, 1959-80. 24 590 580 L^. 80- 70- 60- cr Ixl CD 5 50 13 Z 40 30 20 10- Ld ^ VtT- A z 21 v; 'z p; ::^ ^10 / .v---' .^'^ P^' C-f r^ cf o.^ ^t^ ^0<^^ ^<^^ ^°° ^^^^ O^ ^° o"' ' ■^' "?-" ^^' cr FIGURE A-3. - Number of minor ignitions and explosions by cause, 1959-80. 25 KEY FOR TABLES = Anthracite CM = Frictional ignition from continuous miner bits Cut. = Frictional ignition from cutter bits C/W = Cutting and/or welding Drill = Frictional ignition by roof drill bits Elec. = Electrical arc Expl. = Explosive F = Fatalities FSL I LW OF ONF = Defective flame safety lamp = Injuries = Longwall bits = Other frictional = Other nonf rictional = Multiple entries — report lists more than one possible cause of ignitions, and incident is listed under each. This accounts for discrepancy in adding columns and total. = Cause unknown or not yet specified TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 Date Mine Loveridge do #7 (Peerless) , #5 (Pitfair) , Nelms ■ in (Phillips & West) Robena Peca Shaft Buck Mountain Slope.... Lake Superior #3 Colver #27 Island Creek Compass #2 Moss #3 Dutch Creek Lancashire #15 Compass #2. State I-F Cause 01/29/59 02/05/59 02/06/59 03/02/59 03/18/59 03/23/59 04/16/59 04/22/59 05/05/59 06/01/59 06/04/59 06/27/59 06/22/59 06/23/59 08/15/59 08/20/59 08/31/59 WV WV WV WV OH TN PA PA (A) PA (A) WV PA WV WV VA CO PA WV 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-9 1-0 1-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 FSL Cut. Elec. Expl. Elec. Elec. CM FSL Elec. Elec. CM Elec. Cut. FSL C/W Elec. Cut. 26 TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued Date Mine 10/08/59 #64 Slope (S&M) 10/09/59 Nelms , 10/20/59 Buckhorn #2 , 11/04/59 #2 (Preston) , 12/11/59 Shannopin , 12/21/59 Wildwood 01/03/60 Colver 02/22/60 Nelms #1 , 03/01/60 Jensie 05/17/60 Marianna #58 , 07/06/60 #4 & 6 Slopes (Zerbe)... 07/12/60 Nelms #2 , 07/20/60 Bessie 08/16/60 Dorothy Mae #7 , 08/23/60 "A" #1 , 08/26/60 Compass #2 , 09/11/60 Olga #1 , 10/27/60 Dutch Creek 11/04/60 Enoco Colliery 11/05/60 #3 Rock Slope 11/08/60 Lucerne #3 , 12/07/60 #1 Slope (Mason Herd)... 12/22/60 Wharton #3 , 12/28/60 Phillips #1 , 01/04/61 Scover & Slater Slope... 01/13/61 Dutch Creek 01/16/61 Enoco Colliery 01/17/61 O'Donnell #2 01/21/61 #19 (Wanamie) 02/16/61 Marianna #58 , 03/02/61 Viking 04/13/61 Burnwell #1 04/17/61 Itmann #1 , 04/18/61 Osage #3 , 05/08/61 Day 05/09/61 #16 (O'Quinn) 05/16/61 Moss #2 , 05/29/61 #5 (Omar) 05/30/61 #2 (C.B. & H.) 07/25/61 Glen Rodgers #2 , 07/29/61 #5 (Phillips) 08/03/61 Lynn Camp #1 , 08/28/61 Holmes Slope , 10/07/61 #2 Lykes Slope , 10/17/61 Dome 10/20/61 Nelms #1 , 10/26/61 Lancashire #15 , 11/24/61 Marianna #58 , State I-F Cause PA (A) OH IL VA PA PA PA OH OH PA PA (A) OH AL VA KY WV WV CO IN PA (A) PA PA (A) WV WV PA (A) CO IN WV PA (A) PA IN CO WV WV IN VA VA WV WV WV Va VA PA (A) PA (A) WV OH PA PA 2-0 0-0 3-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 3-0 0-2 1-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 0-22 1-0 2-0 5-1 1-1 0-0 1-0 1-2 1-0 1-0 2-1 0-0 3-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 4-0 0-0 FSL CM Elec. Smoking CM Drill Elec. Elec. Cut. Cut. Elec. CM CM ONF ONE C/W Elec. Elec. CM Elec. Cut. Elec. ONF Smoking Elec. Elec. CM CM FSL CM Elec. ONF Smoking ' CM CM Smoking ONF C/W Elec. Smoking C/W ONF ONF Elec. Elec. Elec. Cut. CM CM 27 TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued Date Mine 11/18/61 12/12/61 12/14/61 01/10/62 01/11/62 02/02/62 02/05/62 02/07/62 04/04/62 04/09/62 05/24/62 06/06/62 06/12/62 07/12/62 08/07/62 08/09/62 08/31/62 09/07/62 09/28/62 10/02/62 10/23/62 10/25/62 11/12/62 11/15/62 11/21/62 11/29/62 12/06/62 12/14/62 12/24/62 01/04/63 01/04/63 01/08/63 01/14/63 01/29/63 01/29/63 02/04/63 03/03/63 03/13/63 03/20/63 04/08/63 04/12/63 04/16/63 04/17/63 04/25/63 04/25/63 05/14/63 05/27/63 07/17/63 State I-F Cause #3 (Virginia City), Federal #1 #2 & #3 Slopes.... #2 (Blue Blaze)..., #6 (Pound) , Nelms #2 , Glen Burn Colliery, do , #2 (Wilroe) , Middle Split Slope. Shannopin , Loyal , #3 (Fields Creek)., #131 Slope , Banning #3 , #1 (Grimsleyville). Wattis #2 , do Moss #3 , Robena , Dekoven , Kenilworth , Skidmore Slope...., Marianna #58....... #5 Top Split Mammoth Seam. Robena Lancashire #15 Emerald do Maple Creek Moss #2 #40 Slope Glen Burn Colliery. Moss #2 , Skidmore Slope. . . . , Itmann #3 , Oakwood , Bird #3 , #4 Acton , Moss #3 , Forger Slope , Bird #3 , Conqiass #2 , do , Moss #3 , Geneva , #3 (Grace) , VA WV PA (A) XL VA OH PA (A) PA (A) WV PA (A) PA PA WV PA (A) PA VA UT UT VA PA KY UT PA (A) PA VA PA (A) PA PA PA PA PA VA PA (A) PA (A) VA PA (A) WV WV PA AL VA PA (A) PA WV WV VA UT KY 0-0 4-0 1-0 0-11 0-0 2-0 1-0 2-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 5-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 2-2 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-0 4-0 2-0 0-37 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 3-1 0-0 2-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 8-4 2-0 1-0 0-22 1-0 0-0 0-0 ONF CM Elec. Elec. Expl. CM Expl. Expl. Drill Smoking ? Elec. Elec. ONF Elec. Smoking Cut. Cut. Elec. Rock fall Elec. CM Elec. CM Smoking Elec. CM/Elec. Rock fall CM CM Cut. CM Smoking Expl. Elec. FSL ? ONF CM Elec. OF Elec. CM Elec. Elec. Elec. Expl. ONF 28 TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued Date Mine 07/18/63 Mathies 07/23/63 Nelms #2 08/07/63 Moss #2 08/08/63 do 08/13/63 Kenilworth 08/17/63 Itmann #3 08/21/63 Maple Creek 08/26/63 Lancashire #15 09/16/63 Mathies 09/27/63 Drifton #1 10/12/63 Moss #2 10/14/63 Compass #2 10/15/63 Robena 10/24/63 do 10/31/63 Ernest #3 1 1/04/63 Gateway 11/06/63 do 11/11/63 Dutch Creek 12/16/63 #2 (Carbon Fuel) 01/15/64 Westwood Slope 02/03/64 Dutch Creek 02/03/64 Sednarczyk #2 & 3 Slopes. 02/24/64 Moss #2 02/26/64 Ireland 02/28/64 do 03/01/64 Crescent 03/1 1/64 Marion 03/19/64 7 South Main 05/07/64 Bird #3 05/08/64 Moss #2 05/26/64 Dutch Creek 06/11/64 Diamond Slope 06/16/64 Compass #3 06/24/64 Moss #2 06/24/64 G'Donnell #1 07/15/64 Ruber Colliery 07/17/64 #2 (Goodspring) 07/20/64 Robena 07/27/64 Concord #1 07/30/64 #2 (Alabama Rod Ash)..... 08/05/64 Robena 08/18/64 Moss #2 , 08/19/64 #9 Vein South Main Slope, 09/03/64 Dekeven #6 , 09/15/64 Gateway , 09/28/64 #6 (Island Creek) , 10/03/64 Nelms #2 , 10/05/64 Dutch Creek , 10/07/64 Lady Dunn #107 , State I-F Cause PA 0-0 Elec. OH 0-0 CM VA 0-0 CM VA 0-0 CM UT 0-0 C/W WV 2-0 Elec. PA 0-0 Cut. PA 1-0 CM PA 0-0 Elec. PA (A) 2-0 FSL VA 0-0 Elec. WV 1-0 CM PA 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM PA 0-0 Expl. PA 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM CO 9-0 CM UT 1-9 CM/Elec. PA (A) 1-0 OF CO 0-0 Elec. PA (A) 1-3 Expl. VA 0-0 Cut. WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM PA 0-0 Cut. PA 0-0 C/W KY 0-0 CM PA 1-0 CM VA 0-0 CM CO 0-0 Elec. PA (A) 3-0 C/W WV 0-0 Drill VA 0-0 Cut. WV 4-0 CM PA (A) 2-0 Smoking PA (A) 2-0 Smoking PA 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Cut. AL 2-0 Elec. PA 0-0 CM VA 0-0 CM PA (A) 2-0 Expl. KY 1-0 CM PA 0-0 CM WV 0-3 Elec. OH 2-0 CM CO 0-0 Elec. WV 3-0 Elec. 29 TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued Date Mine 10/14/64 //9A (Marvin) , 10/17/64 Westland , 11/02/64 Lancashire #15 , 1 1/07/64 Colver , 1 1/09/64 Beatrice , 11/20/64 Itmann #3 , 12/03/64 Concord #1 , 12/07/64 #19 (Wonamie) , 12/11/64 Gateway , 12/16/64 #116 Slope , 12/29/64 Moss #3 , 01/07/65 Sunnyside #3 , 01/25/65 Middle Split Slope , 01/26/65 Bird #3 , 02/03/65 Dekeven #6 , 02/11/65 #5 (Horn & Whited) , 02/18/65 Clyde , 02/18/65 #217 Slope , 02/26/65 Delmont lOB , 03/03/65 Moss #2 , 03/03/65 Pleasant View , 03/16/65 #2 (Carbon Fuel) , 03/25/65 Osage #3 , 03/31/65 Beatrice , 04/13/65 Keystone #1 , 04/28/65 Moss #2 , 04/30/65 Llaellen Slope , 05/24/65 #2A (C.L. Kline) , 06/03/65 Robena , 06/08/65 Tracy Slope 06/24/65 Lancashire #15 , 06/24/65 Loveridge , 07/06/65 #3 Slope 07/06/65 Pandora , 07/16/65 Dekoven #6 , 08/06/65 #5 (Pilgrim Knob) 08/15/65 Sunnyside #1 , 08/27/65 Moss #2 , 09/27/65 do , 10/16/65 do , 10/20/65 Compass #3 , 11/08/65 Flat Top , 11/19/65 Hillsboro , 11/29/65 Keystone #1 , 11/29/65 #11 (Pennington Gap)..., 12/15/65 Keystone #1 , 12/16/65 Brule #4 , 12/21/65 Bishop , 12/23/65 do State I-F Cause VA 0-0 ONF PA (A) 0-0 Elec. PA 2-0 CM PA 0-0 Elec. VA 0-0 CM WV 1-0 CM AL 0-0 Cut. PA (A) 5-0 Expl. PA 0-0 CM PA (A) 1-0 Elec. VA 0-0 Elec. UT 0-0 C/W PA (A) 3-0 Elec. PA 1-0 CM PA 1-0 CM VA 2-0 Smoking PA 0-0 CM PA (A) 1-0 FSL PA 1-0 CM VA 0-0 CM KY 0-0 OF UT 1-0 CM WV 0-0 CM VA 0-0 CM WV 4-0 Elec. VA 0-0 CM WV 1-4 Elec. TN 0-5 Smoking PA 0-0 CM PA (A) 0-0 Elec. PA 4-0 CM WV 1-0 CM PA (A) 2-0 FSL IN 0-0 Elec. KY 2-0 CM VA 1-0 Smoking UT 1-0 Elec. VA 1-0 CM VA 1-0 CM WV 0-7 ONF WV 1-0 CM AL 1-0 Elec. IL 0-0 CM WV 1-0 CM VA 2-0 Elec. WV 1-0 CM WV 1-1 Elec. WV 0-0 CM WV 1-0 CM 30 TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued Date Mine 12/28/65 Dutch Creek 01/24/66 Dekeven #6 , 01/25/66 #19 (Wonamie) , 01/28/66 Shannopin , 01/29/66 do , 02/11/66 #1 Lykens Vein Slope..., 02/12/66 Gateway , 03/02/66 Burnwell #1 , 03/11/66 Dekeven #6 , 03/28/66 Arkwright #1 , 04/19/66 Moss #2 , 06/01/66 Beatrice , 06/13/66 Shannopin , 06/20/66 #1 (Kermit) , 06/23/66 Robena , 07/20/66 #2 Dutch Creek , 07/23/66 Siltix , 08/04/66 Concord #1 , 08/12/66 Warwick #2 , 08/31/66 Ruber Colliery , 09/01/66 #3 & 4 Carrelton , 10/06/66 Ireland , 10/27/66 Stanaford #2 11/04/66 Concord #1 , 11/07/66 #5 (Wade) , 1 1/30/66 Beatrice , 12/02/66 Moss #2 , 12/14/66 Concord #1 12/14/66 #1 Dutch Creek , 12/26/66 Lancashire #24 01/10/67 Mathies 01/24/67 Virginia Pocahontas #1., 01/24/67 Zeni-McKenney-Williams., 01/30/67 Joanne 02/02/67 Nelms #2 02/07/67 Jamison #1 03/06/67 Beatrice 03/10/67 Concord #1 03/30/67 Compass #2 04/03/67 Moss #2 04/19/67 #32 (Bethlehem) 05/12/67 Gateway 06/01/67 do 06/14/67 Dekeven #6 06/20/67 Rose Valley #6 06/22/67 #1 (Island Creek) 06/29/67 Osage #3 07/06/67 Humphrey #7 State I-F Cause CO KY PA (A) PA PA PA (A) PA CO KY WV VA VA PA WV PA CO WV AL PA PA (A) WV WV WV AL VA VA VA AL CO PA PA VA VA WV OH PA VA AL WV VA PA PA PA KY OH WV WV WV 0-9 0-0 4-0 0-0 5-0 1-0 0-0 0-3 1-0 4-0 1-0 3-0 0-0 2-0 4-0 0-0 2-7 0-0 0-0 2-0 2-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 0-0 4-3 5-3 4-2 0-0 6-0 3-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 2-0 3-0 0-0 Elec. Expl. Elec./Expl. CM CM Elec. CM Elec. Expl. CM CM CM CM Smoking Rock fall CM Elec. Cut. Elec. Smoking Elec. CM FSL Cut. Elec. Elec. CM Cut. CM Elec. Elec. Elec. Elec. CM CM CM CM Cut. CM Rock fall C/W CM CM Cut. Elec. Smoking /ONF CM CM TABLE A-1. - Ignitions and explosions, 1959-68 — Continued 31 Date Mine 07728767 #1 (Princess Coak) , 08/10/67 Moss #2 , 08/17/67 Forge Slope , 08/18/67 Robena , 09/06/67 #7 (Hern & Whited) , 09/23/67 Robena , 09/27/67 Lancashire #15 , 10/10/67 Ireland , 10/17/67 Compass #2 , 10/17/67 #32 (Bethlehem) , 10/17/67 Buck Slope , 11/17/67 Dekoven #6 1 1/27/67 Gateway ., 11/28/67 Compass #3 , 1/ 13/68 Gateway , 01/20/68 Jamison , 01/22/68 West Gulf #5 , 01/24/68 #6 (Pearly) , 02/08/68 Clyde , 02/22/68 Sunnyside #1 , 04/09/68 Vesta #5 , 05/08/68 Virginia Pocahontas #1., 06/23/68 Choctaw , 06/25/68 do , 07/05/68 Howe #1 , 07/10/68 Concord #1 , 07/15/68 Mars #2 , 07/19/68 Howe #1 07/24/68 Slab Fork #8 , 07/26/68 Howe #1 , 07/30/68 do , 08/02/68 #8 (Allen Fork) , 08/07/68 River Queen , 08/27/68 Ireland , 08/30/68 Moss #2 09/12/68 Nelms #2 09/18/68 Auger , 10/03/68 Howe #1 , 10/21/68 1 Middle Split Slope , State I-F Cause Smoking /Elec. Rock fall Rock fall/ Smoking . CM Elec. C/W CM CM CM Elec. Smoking C/W CM CM CM 7 Elec. C/W CM Elec. CM CM C/W ONF CM Expl. FSL CM CM CM CM Smoking Expl. CM CM CM CM CM Smoking KY VA PA (A) PA VA PA PA WV WV PA PA (A) KY PA WV PA WV WV VA PA UT PA VA OK OK OK AL WV OK WV OK OK KY KY WV VA OH WV OK PA (A) 0-4 0-0 2-0 0-0 6-0 0-0 4-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 1-0 4-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 0-. '■:' 2-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 8-0 0-0 0-0 3-0 2-9 0-0 2-0 0-0 1-1 2-0 1-0 32 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 Date Mine 01/08/69 #10 (Slab Fork) , 02/06/69 Howe #1 , 02/12/69 Robena , 02/13/69 #1 Dutch Creek , 03/19/69 Howe #1 , 04/28/69 Robinson Run #95 04/29/69 #2 (Carbon Fuel) , 05/23/69 Concord #1 , 05/26/69 Gateway , 06/05/69 Blacksville #1 , 06/09/69 Gateway , 06/10/69 Lambert Fork , 06/10/69 Keystone 3B , 07/23/69 Skidmore Slope , 07/24/69 Atrian , 07/30/69 Howe #1 , 07/30/69 Zeigler #9 , 08/13/69 Loveridge , 08/13/69 Concord #1 08/18/69 Virginia Pocahontas #1... 09/02/69 Forge Slope , 09/05/69 Joanne 09/05/69 Badger #14 , 09/09/69 Federal #2 , 09/19/69 Howe #1 , 10/15/69 Moss #2 , 11/10/69 Howe #1 11/18/69 #2 (Carbon Fuel) , 11/18/69 Howe #1 11/15/69 Concord #1 12/01/69 #1 Cedar Grove , 12/11/69 Concord #1 12/23/69 Maple Creek , 01/06/70 Moss #2 01/07/70 #1 Cedar Grove , 01/20/70 Howe #1 01/23/70 Eagle #2 , 01/29/70 South Dip Skidmore Slope, 01/30/70 Howe #1 02/04/70 do , 02/25/70 Blacksville , 02/27/70 #18 (Wonamie) 03/05/70 Forge Slope 03/05/70 Seggo #2 03/25/70 #31 (Carbon Fuel) , 03/30/70 Vesta #5 04/02/70 Compass #3 , 04/03/70 Vesta #5 , 04/08/70 Joanne 04/10/70 Homer City , 04/13/70 Loveridge State I-F Cause wv 3-0 Elec. OK 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM CO 0-0 Elec. OK 0-0 CM WO 0-0 C/W UT 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Expl. PA 0-0 CM wv 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM VA 2-0 CM WV 5-0 Elec. PA (A) 6-1 Elec. WV 2-0 Smoking OK 0-0 CM KY 1-0 FSL WV 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Cut. VA 3-0 CM PA (A) 4-0 Expl. WV 3-0 CM WV 0-0 Elec. WV 0-0 CM OK 0-0 CM VA 1-0 CM OK 0-0 CM UT 0-0 CM OK 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Cut. WV 0-0 Cut. AL 0-0 Cut. PA 0-0 CM VA 1-0 CM WV 0-0 Cut. OK 0-0 CM XL 2-0 CM PA (A) 2-0 Expl. OK 0-0 CM OK 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Elec. PA (A) 3-0 Expl./ONF PA (A) 4-0 FSL AL 1-0 C/W WV 1-0 C/W PA 0-0 CM WV 0-1 Elec. PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM PA 3-1 CM WV 0-0 CM 33 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 04/17/70 04/17/70 04/29/70 05/15/70 05/22/70 06/02/70 06/05/70 06/12/70 06/13/70 07/05/70 07/06/70 07/08/70 07/15/70 07/15/70 07/20/70 08/11/70 08/13/70 08/17/70 08/28/70 09/02/70 09/10/70 09/30/70 10/12/70 10/13/70 10/17/70 10/26/70 10/26/70 10/28/70 10/29/70 11/02/70 11/05/70 11/19/70 11/30/70 11/30/70 12/18/70 12/30/70 01/19/71 02/01/71 02/03/71 02/04/71 02/08/71 02/11/71 02/16/71 02/22/71 02/25/71 03/04/71 03/10/71 03/15/71 03/16/71 03/22/71 04/06/71 State I-F Cause Loveridge i Somerset Howe #1 Joanne Loveridge #3 (Kem) , Howe #1 Lambert Fork Vesta #5 #28 (Verdonville) , Gateway Moose Run , Williams Howe #1 , Maple Creek Lambert Fork Gateway , Otsego Lambert Fork do , #1 Cedar Grove , Blacksville #1 , Howe #1 , do , #1 Cedar Grove , St. Charles Maple Creek , Virginia Pocahontas #2. Williams Homer City do , L.S. Ward , Pyro #2 , Howe #1 , Homer City , #15 & 16 (Finley) , Howe #1 , Maitland , Kepler , Howe #1 , Dixiana Howe #1 , Robena. < Gateway , Olga , Howe #1 , do , Forge Slope , Virginia Pocahontas #4. Howe #1 , do , WV CO OK WV WV VA OK VA PA WV PA PA WV OK PA VA PA WV VA VA WV WV OK OK WV KY PA VA WV PA PA CO KY OK PA KY OK WV WV OK VA OK PA PA WV OK OK PA (A) VA OK OK 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 2-0 1-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-38 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 CM Elec. CM Expl. CM Elec. CM Elec. CM Elec. CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM Smoking CM CM CM CM CM CM Smoking CM CM Expl. CM CM CM CM Elec. /Smoking CM CM CM CM CM CM Expl. Smoking CM CM 34 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 04/12/71 Howe #1 04/13/71 do 04/13/71 Nelms #2 04/19/71 Vesta #5 04/23/71 #1 Cedar Grove 05/12/71 Dotiki 05/14/71 Howe #1 05/21/71 #3 Carbon Fuel 05/21/71 Eagle #1 05/22/71 #3 Carbon Fuel 05/24/71 Eagle #1 05/26/71 Howe #1 05/27/71 Florence #2 06/01/71 Howe #1 06/05/71 Humphrey #7 07/08/71 #3 Carbon Fuel 07/16/71 Eagle #2 08/03/71 Concord #1 08/28/71 Eagle #1 09/10/71 do 09/17/71 do 09/20/71 Nelms #2 10/26/71 Gordon Creek #2 11/23/71 Concord #1 01/04/72 Itmann #3 01/14/72 Compass #3 02/23/72 Bishop 02/29/72 Virginia Pocahontas #2. 03/01/72 Kepler 04/11/72 Virginia Pocahontas #3. 04/19/72 #6 (Sue) 04/24/72 Virginia Pocahontas #2. 04/25/72 Virginia Pocahontas #3. 05/01/72 Delmont 05/20/72 Moss #2 06/09/72 Nelms #2 06/13/72 Concord #1 06/15/72 Zeigler #9 06/19/72 Itmann #3 06/21/72 Concord #1 07/17/72 Greenwich Colliery #1.. 08/02/72 Virginia Pocahontas #3. 08/07/72 Maple Creek #2 08/16/72 Bishop 09/28/72 Robinson Run #95 10/11/72 Eagle #1 11/10/72 Virginia Pocahontas #2. 12/01/72 Robinson Run #95 12/02/72 Virginia Pocahontas #1. 12/05/72 Virginia Pocahontas #3. 12/07/72 I Marianna #58 State I-F Cause OK OK OH PA WV KY OK UT IL UT IL OK PA OK WV UT IL AL IL IL IL OH UT AL WV WV WV VA WV VA VA VA VA PA VA OH AL KY WV AL PA VA PA WV WV IL VA WV VA VA PA 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 c/w 0-0 Cut. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 2-0 CM 0-0 CM 3-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 Rock fall 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Cut. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Cut. 3-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 2-0 Expl. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 CM. 16-0 C/W 2-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Cut. 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Rock fall 2-0 Drill TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued 35 Date Mine 12/14/72 Itmann #3 12/26/72 Moss #2 01/03/73 Virginia Pocahontas #2.. 01/30/73 #3 Carbon Fuel 02/28/73 Wabash 03/10/73 Virginia Pocahontas #1.. 04/04/73 Kepler 04/16/73 Bird #3 04/26/73 Eagle #1 04/29/73 Lancashire #20 05/10/73 Cambria Slope #33 05/14/73 Itmann #3 06/01/73 do 06/08/73 Maple Creek #2 07/18/73 #1 Cedar Grove 08/13/73 Virginia Pocahontas #3., 08/31/73 #33-37 (Bishop) 09/11/73 Itmann #3 09/18/73 Nelms #2 09/19/73 #32 (Bethlehem) 09/24/73 Gateway 09/25/73 #4 (Oakwood Red Ash).... 10/03/73 Eagle #1 10/24/73 Beatrice 10/29/73 Virginia Pocahontas #4., 11/09/73 Virginia Pocahontas #2.. 11/09/73 #1 Cedar Grove ;.. 11/16/73 Itmann #3 11/22/73 do 11/16/73 Moss #2 12/17/73 Virginia Pocahontas #4., 01/09/74 Maitland 01/09/74 Itmann #3 01/10/74 #50 Pinnacle Creek 01/11/74 Maitland 01/14/74 Cambria Slope #33 01/29/74 Virginia Pocahontas #4., 02/04/74 Virginia Pocahontas #2.. 02/05/74 Maitland 02/05/74 Mulga 02/11/74 Dehue 02/12/74 Keystone #1 02/15/74 Shannon Branch 02/20/74 Dehue 02/21/74 Maitland 03/01/74 Beatrice 03/01/74 Virginia Pocahontas #3.. 03/04/74 Oak Park #7 03/05/74 Blacksville #1 04/01/74 Virginia Pocahontas #1.. State I-F Cause WV VA VA UT IL VA WV PA IL PA PA WV WV PA WV VA VA WV OH PA PA PA IL VA VA VA WV WV WV VA VA WV WV WV WV PA VA VA WV AL WV WV WV WV WV WV VA OH WV WV 0-5 Elec. 1-0 Rock fall 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 2-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 C/W 0-0 Expl. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-2 Elec. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 ? 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 36 TABLE A-2, - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 04/08/74 Beech Fork , 04/12/74 Keystone #1 , 04/18/74 #36 (Bishop) , 04/29/74 Oak Park #7 , 05/06/74 Marion , 05/08/74 Maitland , 05/09/74 Itmann #2 , 05/21/74 do , 05/23/74 Beech Fork , 05/23/74 Oak Park #7 , 05/25/74 Loveridge , 05/30/74 Oak Park #7 , 05/31/74 #1 Cedar Grove , 06/15/74 #50 Pinnacle Creek , 06/18/74 Dehue , 06/29/74 Wentz #1 , 07/09/74 Marion , 07/15/74 Bishop , 07/19/74 Virginia Pocahontas #1., 07/23/74 Beech Fork , 08/08/74 Keystone #1 , 08/09/74 Royal #5 , 08/12/74 U.S. Pipe #3 , 08/13/74 Meigs #2 , 08/30/74 Virginia Pocahontas #4., 09/09/74 #20 (Stirrat) , 09/13/74 Virginia Pocahontas #4., 09/16/74 do , 09/18/74 Beech Fork , 09/19/74 Kitt #1 , 09/20/74 Bishop , 09/24/74 Kitt #1 , 10/07/74 U.S. Pipe #3 , 10/15/74 #50 Pinnacle Creek , 10/22/74 Beatrice , 10/25/74 #32 (Bethlehem) , 10/29/74 Concord #1 , 11/06/74 U.S. Pipe #3 01/06/75 Beckley , 01/10/75 Maitland , 01/14/75 Nelms #2 , 01/24/75 Itmann #3 01/28/75 Bird #3 , 02/03/75 Keystone #5 02/05/75 Bear Creek #4 , 02/12/75 Beatrice , 02/13/75 Royal #5 02/18/75 Deer Creek #0255 02/20/75 Concord #1 02/25/75 Somerset #60 02/27/75 Mulga State I-F Cause WV WV WV OH PA WV WV WV WV OH WV OH WV WV WV VA PA WV VA WV WV WV AL OH VA WV VA VA WV WV WV WV AL WV VA PA AL AL WV WV OH WV PA WV CO VA WV UT AL PA AL 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 CM c/w CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM ONF CM CM C/W CM CM CM CM CM C/W CM Expl. CM C/W CM CM CM C/W CM C/W CM CM Elec. CM Cut. CM CM CM CM Expl. CM CM Elec. CM CM CM Cut. Elec. CM TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued 37 Date Mine 03/06/75 U.S. Pipe #3 03/08/75 Bear Creek #4 03/10/75 Dutch Creek #2 03/15/75 Mulga 03/15/75 Virginia Pocahontas #3, 03/25/75 Virginia Pocahontas #5, 04/04/75 U.S. Pipe #3 04/28/75 Mulga 04/28/75 McElroy 04/30/75 Osage #3 05/08/75 U.S. Pipe #3 05/09/75 do 05/15/75 #51 Bethlehem 05/23/75 Osage #3 05/30/75 Dutch Creek #2 06/02/75 Cambria Slope #33 06/04/75 Virginia Pocahontas #4. 06/05/75 Virginia Pocahontas #5. 06/06/75 Itmann #3 06/14/75 Osage #3 06/16/75 do 06/19/75 Maple Meadow 06/20/75 Itmann #3 06/20/75 Dehue 07/24/75 Itmann #3 07/29/75 Beatrice 08/01/75 Jewel 18 (Lower Jewel). 08/02/75 Virginia Pocahontas #4. 08/04/75 Virginia Pocahontas #1, 08/05/75 U.S. Pipe #3 08/07/75 Beckley 08/11/75 U.S. Pipe #3 08/20/75 do 09/15/75 Lancashire #20 09/22/75 Beatrice 09/23/75 Dehue 10/13/75 Royal #5 10/15/75 Ireland 10/21/75 Beatrice 10/23/75 #5 (Island Creek) 10/24/75 Beatrice 10/31/75 Bessie 11/12/75 Beckley #1 11/18/75 Dutch Creek #1 11/20/75 Itmann #3 12/05/75 #3 Carbon Fuel 12/12/75 Virginia Pocahontas #4. 12/12/75 Beckley #1 12/15/75 Beatrice 12/16/75 Vesta #5 , 12/16/75 Hamilton #1 , 12/19/75 Olga 12/30/75 U.S. Pipe #4 , State I-F Cause AL CO CO AL VA VA AL AL WV WO AL AL PA WV CO PA VA VA WV WV WV WV WV WV WV VA VA VA VA AL WV AL AL PA VA WV WV WV VA VA VA AL WV CO WV UT VA WV VA PA KY WV AL 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Rock fall 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 2-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Expl, 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 1-0 Expl. 1-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 Expl. 0-0 Rock fall 0-0 OFR 38 TABLE A-2, - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 01/06/76 Lucerne #6 01/08/76 Vesta #5 , 01/14/76 Robinson Run #95 02/06/76 Hamilton #1 , 02/10/76 #4 (Wolf Creek) , 02/17/76 do , 02/18/76 Keystone #1 , 02/20/76 U.S. Pipe #3 02/26/76 Virginia Pocahontas #4 , ^11 11 lib Keystone #1 0VQ2n(> Robinson Run #95 , 03/03/76 Lancashire #20 , 03/06/76 do , 03/09/76 do , 03/09/76 Scotia , 03/09/76 do , 03/11/76 Deer Creek , 03/15/76 Beckley , 03/16/76 Consol #20 , 03/16/76 #1 (Kermit) , 03/17/76 Bishop , 03/18/76 Lucerne #6 , 04/02/76 #3 Carbon Fuel , 04/07/76 Maitland. , 04/15/76 Beech Fork , 04/21/76 #3 Carbon Fuel , 04/23/76 Maple Meadows , 04/23/76 Federal #2 , 04/27/76 Consol #20 , 04/30/76 Jensie , 05/04/76 #108 (Bethlehem) , 05/05/76 #36 (Bishop) , 05/05/76 Maitland , 05/13/76 Beckley , 05/,13/76 Mulga , 05/18/76 #3 (J. Walter) , 05/25/76 #108 (Bethlehem) , 05/26/76 Loveridge 06/01/76 Moss #2 , 06/02/76 Gateway , 06/08/76 Ireland , 06/09/76 Moss #2 , 06/16/76 Beckley #1 , 06/24/76 McElroy , 06/29/76 Lady Dunn #105 , 07/13/76 Moss #2 , 07/14/76 Cambria Slope #33 , 07/21/76 Beckley #1 , 07/24/76 Federal #1 , 07/24/76 Flat Top Water Pumping Shaft. 07/30/76 Braztah #5 , 08/16/76 #36 (Bishop) , 08/23/76 Urline #1 , State I-F Cause PA PA WV KY KY KY WV AL VA WV WV PA PA PA KY KY UT WV WV WV WV PA UT WV WV UT WV WV WV OH WV WV WV WV AL AL WV WV VA PA WV VA WV WV WV VA PA WV WV WV UT WV PA 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 Cut 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 c/w 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 Rock fall 0-0 Elec. 0-15 ? 0-11 1 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 Elec. 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 2-0 C/W 2-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 ONF 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued 39 Date Mine 08/23/76 #58 Pinnacle Creek 08/27/76 Kitt #1 09/13/76 Oak Park #7 09/16/76 do 09/25/76 Beatrice 09/29/76 Maitland 09/30/76 Braztah #5 10/07/76 Maple Meadows 10/08/76 Oak Grove 10/11/76 Braztah #3 10/11/76 #50 Pinnacle Creek 10/20/76 #6 Blue Boy 10/21/76 Braztah #5 11/02/76 Chancy Creek #2 11/03/76 Moss #2 11/06/76 Beckley 11/16/76 Beckley #1 11/30/76 Virginia Pocahontas.... 12/02/76 Maple Meadows 12/06/76 Humphrey #7 12/07/76 Virginia Pocahontas... , 12/07/76 McElroy 12/09/76 Oak Grove 12/13/76 Moss #2 12/16/76 do 12/16/76 Emerald #1 12/18/76 Virginia Pocahontas #5. 12/28/76 Gaston #2 01/03/77 Consol #20 01/06/77 Cambria Slope #33 01/12/77 Braztah #3 03/04/77 Moss #2 02/08/77 Keystone #1 02/14/77 Nelms #2 02/22/77 Virginia Pocahontas #5. 02/23/77 North River #1 03/09/77 Raccoon #3 03/16/77 Meigs #2 03/17/77 #4 (J. Walter) 03/18/77 Braztah #3 03/18/77 Valley Camp #12A 03/23/77 Sunnyside #3 04/08/77 Virginia Pocahontas #4. 04/10/77 Vesta #5 04/11/77 Cambria Slope #33 04/12/77 Beatrice 04/18/77 #2 (Ron) 04/21/77 Virginia Pocahontas #2. 04/27/77 #7 (J. Walter) 04/28/77 Blacksville #2 04/29/77 Virginia Pocahontas.... 04/30/77 Loveridge State I-F Cause "c7w c/w CM CM CM CM LW CM CM LW CM Drill CM CM CM Drill CM CM CM CM CM CM Drill CM CM C/W CM CM CM LW LW CM Elec. CM C/W CM Drill Drill CM LW Elec. CM CM LW CM C/W C/W C/W Elec. C/W CM WV WV OH OH VA WV UT WV AL UT WV WV UT VA VA WV WV VA WV WV VA WV AL VA VA PA VA WV WV PA UT VA WV OH VA AL OH OH AL UT WV UT VA PA PA VA WV VA AL WV VA WV 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 40 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine State I-F Cause 05/05/77 05/06/77 05/11/77 05/16/77 05/18/77 05/23/77 05/26/77 05/30/77 05/31/77 06/06/77 06/07/77 06/09/77 06/22/77 07/07/77 07/15/77 08/25/77 08/26/77 08/26/77 09/19/77 09/21/77 09/21/77 09/23/77 09/27/77 09/30/77 10/11/77 10/11/77 10/26/77 10/27/77 10/28/77 10/31/77 10/31/77 11/02/77 11/07/77 11/08/77 11/09/77 11/09/77 11/14/77 11/21/77 03/29/78 03/29/78 04/04/78 04/12/78 04/13/78 04/17/78 04/20/78 04/25/78 04/26/78 05/03/78 05/05/78 05/06/78 05/10/78 #3 (J. Walter) , Beckley < #3 (J. Walter) , Moss #2 Beckley #1 , Powhattan #6 Virginia Pocahontas #4, National Poca Robinson Run #95 Virginia Pocahontas #4, Braztah #3 #4 (Oakwood Red Ash).., do #2 (P&P) , #1 (Terry Glen) , //12A , Maitland , #236 (Amigo) , Bishop Cambria Slope #33 Maitland , Lick Run Sugarloaf #2 Beech Fork Cumberland do Moss #2 Cumberland Bishop Keystone #2 do Robinson Run #95 Braztah #5 Jensie Keystone #5 Sunnyslde #3 #3 (J. Walter) Lucerne #6 Virginia Pocahontas.... Consol #20 , Beatrice Greenwich Colliery #2.. Cambria Slope #33 , Loveridge Consol #20 do , Oak Grove Consol #20 #4 (J. Walter) #3 (J. Walter) Virginia Pocahontas #5. AL WV AL VA WV OH VA WV WV VA UT VA VA VA KY VA WV WV WV PA WV WV AR WV PA PA VA PA WV WV WV WV UT OH WV UT AL PA VA WV VA PA PA WV WV WV AL WV AL AL VA 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 c/w 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/w 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-4 Smoking 5-0 Smoking 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Expl. 0-0 Expl. 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued 41 Date Mine 05/18/78 Seaboard #2 , 05/25/78 Loveridge , 05/30/78 Maple Meadows 06/01/78 Emerald #1 , 06/06/78 #3 (J. Walter) 06/07/78 Consol #20 06/12/78 Lucerne #6 06/14/78 Loveridge 06/ 14/78 Cumberland 06/16/78 Lick Rum 06/19/78 Emerald #1 07/10/78 #3 (J. Walter) 07/11/78 Greenwich Colliery #2... 07/12/78 Cambria Slope #33 08/14/78 Lancashire #20 08/16/78 Cumberland 08/22/78 Keystone #2 08/25/78 Maple Meadows 08/29/78 #4 (J. Walter) 09/01/78 #3 (J. Walter) 09/06/78 Oak Grove 09/12/78 #3 (J. Walter) 09/13/78 do 09/18/78 National Pocahontas 09/20/78 #3 (J. Walter) 09/21/78 Beckley 09/28/78 Federal #2 10/11/78 do 10/12/78 Moss #2 10/26/78 National Pocahontas 1 1/03/78 Gateway 11/13/78 Emerald #1 11/15/78 Sewall #1A 11/15/78 Consol #20 11/16/78 Moss #2 11/21/78 Loveridge 11/27/78 Humphrey #7 11/27/78 Thompson Creek 11/28/78 #36 (Bishop) 12/07/78 #4 Vein Slope 12/12/78 Consol #20 12/12/78 do 12/13/78 Cumberland 12/19/78 Mars #2 12/19/78 Moss #2 1/08/79 Beckley 01/10/79 #3 (J. Walter) 01/12/79 Itmann #3 01/18/79 #13 (O&G) 01/22/79 Cumberland 01/23/79 #3 (J. Walter) - State I-F Cause VA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Drill PA 0-0 Drill AL 0-0 Drill WV 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 C/W PA 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Drill PA 0-0 C/W PA 0-0 LW PA 0-0 C/W PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Expl. WV 0-0 CM AL 0-0 Drill AL 0-0 CM AL 0-0 CM AL 0-0 CM AL 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM AL 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Drill WV 0-0 C/W VA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Elec. PA 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM VA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Expl. CO 2-0 CNF WV 0-0 CM PA (A) 3-0 OFR WV 0-0 CM WV 0-0 CM PA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 ? VA 0-0 CM WV 0-0 Drill AL 0-0 Elec. WV 0-0 CM VA 4-0 Expl. PA 0-0 CM AL 0-0 CM 42 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 01/24/79 01/26/79 02/01/19 02/07/79 02/28/79 03/06/79 03/09/79 03/13/79 03/15/79 03/16/79 03/19/79 03/19/79 03/21/79 03/23/79 03/28/79 03/28/79 03/30/79 04/04/79 04/05/79 04/06/79 04/10/79 04/10/79 04/12/79 04/12/79 04/16/79 04/19/79 04/20/79 04/20/79 04/25/79 04/25/79 04/26/79 04/26/79 04/27/79 04/29/79 05/02/79 05/09/79 05/10/79 05/15/79 05/15/79 05/15/79 05/16/79 05/18/79 05/29/79 05/29/79 05/31/79 06/04/79 06/04/79 06/06/79 06/12/79 06/12/79 06/14/79 06/19/79 #3 (J. Walter).... do Braztah #3 #7 (J. Walter).... Loveridge Emerald #1 Itmann )'/3 Braztah #3 #3 (J. Walter).... Moss #2 Loveridge Nebo. King #5 Valley Camp #15-A. Braztah #3... Emerald #1 Valley Camp #3.... Moss #2 King #5 Braztah #3 , #3 (J. Walter).... Braztah #3 , #3 (J. Walter).... Braztah #3 , Keystone #1 Maple Meadows . . . . . Arkwright #1 , Braztah #3 , Cambria Slope #33, Maple Creek #2..., Braztah #3 , Consol #20 , #3 (J. Walter)..., Sunnyside #1 King #5 , Beckley. . • Braztah #3 , Soldier Canyon. . . , Homer City Oak Grove do Maple Meadows..... Braztah #3 Beckley #1 , Homer City Braztah #3 , Oak Grove do Braztah #3 Consol #20 #3 (J. Walter) Braztah #3 State I-F Cause AL AL UT AL WV PA WV UT AL VA WV AL UT WV UT PA WV VA UT UT AL UT AL UT WV WV WV UT PA PA UT WV AL UT UT WV UT UT PA AL AL WV UT WV PA UT AL AL UT WV AL UT 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Expl. 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 C/W 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM. 0-0 LW 0-0 LW 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 LW 43 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine 06/25/79 01/02/19 07/11/79 07/11/79 07/18/79 07/19/79 07/20/79 07/30/79 08/02/79 08/03/79 08/09/79 08/10/79 08/16/79 08/20/79 08/21/79 08/29/79 08/31/79 09/18/79 09/19/79 09/19/79 09/25/79 09/26/79 10/08/79 10/08/79 10/09/79 10/10/79 10/11/79 10/11/79 10/12/79 10/15/79 10/24/79 10/25/79 10/26/79 10/30/79 10/30/79 11/05/79 11/13/79 11/14/79 11/14/79 11/19/79 11/18/79 11/28/79 11/28/79 11/30/79 12/06/79 12/06/79 12/19/79 12/19/79 12/26/79 12/28/79 12/31/79 State I-F Cause Federal #2 King #5 Oak Grove King #5 Chancy Creek #2..., Cambria Slope #33. . Braztah #3.. Homer City #5 (J. Walter) Braztah #3 Lucerne #6 Dutch Creek #2 Itmann #2 #50 Pinnacle Creek. King #4 .do. #4 (J. Walter).. Emerald #1 Itmann #3 Beckley #1 do Maple Creek #2., Maple Creek #2.. Emerald #1 , Loveridge Emerald #1 do #3 (J. Walter).. Emerald #1 do Humphrey #7...., Deer Creek , Emerald #1 , do #3 (J. Walter).. #7 (J. Walter).. King #5 Emerald #1 , do Itmann #3 , Consol #20 , Oak Grove Loveridge , Federal #2 , Hawks Nest East. King #5 , Homer City , Humphrey #7...., East Gulf , #7 (J. Walter)., Vesta #5 , WV UT AL UT VA PA UT PA AL UT PA CO WV WV UT UT AL PA WV WV WV PA PA PA WV PA PA AL PA PA WV UT PA PA AL AL UT PA PA WV WV AL WV WV CO UT PA WV WV AL PA 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 c/w CM CM CM CM LW CM CM c/w CM CM CM CM CM CM CM Drill C/W CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM Expl. CM CM CM Drill CM CM CM CM CM Drill CM CM CM CM Drill Drill 44 TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued Date Mine State I-F Cause 01/04/80 Bessie 01/15/80 #3 (J. Walter) , 01/16/80 do 01/21/80 do 01/22/80 York Canyon 01/22/80 do 01/24/80 Price River #3 , 01/29/80 Beckley 01/29/80 #3 (J. Walter) , 01/29/80 #7 (J. Walter) 02/02/80 do , 02/03/80 do 02/05/80 Emerald #1 , 02/05/80 Federal #2 , 02/07/80 #33 (Bishop) 02/08/80 North River #1 , 02/13/80 Maple Creek #2 , 02/19/80 Bessie 02/22/80 Osage #3 , 02/27/80 Thompson Creek #1...., 02/28/80 #5 (J. Walter) , 02/29/80 Price River #3 , 03/03/80 #5 (J. Walter) 03/04/80 #7 (J. Walter) , 03/05/80 Greenwich Colliery #2. 03/05/80 #3 (J. Walter) 03/07/80 Oak Grove 03/17/80 Bonny 03/17/80 #3 (J. Walter) 03/19/80 Beckley #1 03/19/80 do 03/19/80 #7 (J. Walter) 03/20/80 #3 (J. Walter) 03/20/80 Dehue 03/21/80 Beckley 03/21/80 in (J. Walter) 03/24/80 Bessie 03/25/80 Greenwich Colliery.... 03/27/80 Greenwich Colliery #2. 03/28/80 Keystone #2 , 04/07/80 #7 (J. Walter) , 04/08/80 Price River #3 , 04/09/80 Thompson Creek #1...., 04/11/80 #36 (Bishop) , 04/14/80 #7 (J. Walter) , 04/22/80 Mulga 04/24/80 #7 (J. Walter) 04/26/80 Emerald #1 , 04/28/80 Price River #3 , 04/28/80 #3 (J. Walter) , 04/29/80 Bonny , 05/01/80 #3 (J. Walter) AL AL AL AL NM NM UT WV AL AL AL AL PA WV WV AL PA AL WV CO AL UT AL AL PA AL AL WV AL WV WV AL AL WV WV AL AL PA PA WV AL UT CO WV AL AL AL PA UT AL WV AL 0-0 Expl. 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 2-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 c/w 0-0 c/w 0-0 c/w 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 2-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 Drill 0-0 C/w 0-0 C/W 0-0 LW 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Cut. 1-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 LW 0-0 Drill 0-0 LW TABLE A-2. - Ignitions and explosions, 1969-80 — Continued 45 Date Mine 05/09/80 #3 (J. Walter) 05/19/80 #7 (J. Walter) 05/29/80 Price River #3 06/04/80 King #5 06/05/80 Eagle #2 06/07/80 Beckley #2 06/10/80 #3 (J. Walter) 06/16/80 do 06/17/80 do 06/23/80 Beckley #1 06/24/80 Dents Run 06/25/80 Cumberland 07/14/80 Beckley #2 07/15/80 #5 (J. Walter) 07/21/80 #7 (J. Walter) 07/29/80 Osage #3 07/31/80 #3 (J. Walter) 08/07/80 do 08/19/80 Cambria Slope #33 08/20/80 Emerald #1 08/21/80 Arkwright #1 08/21/80 Price River #3 08/22/80 do 09/03/80 do 09/05/80 #3 (J. Walter) 09/08/80 North River #1 09/20/80 #4 (J. Walter) 10/01/80 #3 (J. Walter) 10/08/80 Beckley #1 10/08/80 #4 (J. Walter) 10/16/80 Beckley #2 11/03/80 #50 Pinnacle Creek 11/06/80 #3 (J. Walter) 11/10/80 Beckley #2 11/14/80 #5 (J. Walter) 11/14/80 #3 (J. Walter) 11/14/80 #4 (J. Walter) 11/17/80 #50 Pinnacle Creek 11/18/80 Price River #5 11/26/80 L. S. Wood #3 12/03/80 #4 (J. Walter) 12/08/80 Dutch Creek #2 12/15/80 Bessie 12/17/80 Dents Run 12/22/80 #4 (J. Walter) 12/19/80 Beckley #2 12/31/80 Emerald #1 State I-F Cause AL AL UT UT XL WV AL AL AL WV WV PA WV AL AL WV AL AL PA PA WV UT UT UT AL AL AL AL WV AL WV WV AL WV AL AL AL WV UT CO AL CO AL WV AL WV PA 0-0 LW 0-0 Drill 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 LW 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 1-0 C/W 0-0 LW 0-0 CM 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Drill 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 Elec. 0-0 Drill 0-0 CM 0-0 Cut. 0-0 C/W 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 0-0 CM 46 TABLE A-3. - Ignitions and explosions classified by cause, 1959-68 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter 4 3 1 3 3 8 1 5X 2 1 2 15X 2 1 16 6 1 1 21 1 11 3 1 15 2 3X 16 1 Longwall Drill Rock fall Other — Total 8 6 9 10 18 24 22 15 20X 17 Nonf rictional: Electrical 8 1 1 1 4 7 1 1 3 8X 2 3 1 5X 9X 3 3 1 IIX 3 1 1 1 3 10 3 2 2 1 10 1 3 2 1 9X 3X 2 1 7X 3 4X IX 2 Explosive. ••••••••*•*•• 3 Cutting and/or welding. 2 2 Defective flame safety lamp Other 1 1 15 12 18 16 1 20 1 18 17 14 13X 11 Not classified 1 Grand total 23 18 27 26 38 42 39 29 32 29 TABLE A-4. - Summary of injuries by cause, 1959-68 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter 1 3 18 2 2 14X 1 11 1 17 17 4 27 2X 16 Longwall Drill - Rock fall Other — Total 1 3 18 4 15 12 17 21 29X 16 Nonf rictional: Electrical 7 1 2 3 2 3 8 2 3 3 2 9 3 6 15X 3 2 2 3 6 8 3 4 13 3 3 lOX 5X 4 1 16 4 5X 2X 2 Exolosive. ••••••••••••• 5 Cutting and/or welding. Smoking Defective flame safety lamp Other 1 4 3 Total 13 5 18 18 25 21 19 16 25 15 Not classified Grand total 14 8 36 22 39 33 36 37 52 31 TABLE A-5. - Summary of fatalities by cause, 1959-68 47 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter. ••■• ••••• - - 1 37X 2 9X - - - 2 1 Lonffwall. ••«•■«■«■««■«• _ Drill _ Rock fall _ Other - Total. '. ... - - 1 39X 9X - - - 2 1 Nonfrictional: Electrical 9 1 2 2 24X 1 23X 50X 35X 1 3 3 7 14 5 10 lOX 4X Exnlosive. ............. 9 Cutting and/or welding. 2 Defective flame safety lamp .................. Other — 10 4 26 50X 36X 6 26 10 10 11 Not classified 78 Grand total 10 4 27 52 36 6 26 10 12 90 TABLE A-6. - Ignitions and explosions classified by cause, 1969-80 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter 19 4 37 1 31 3 1 20 1 1 2 22 1 44 1 49 1 2 2 1 58 1 4 3 1 36 7 3 37 2 8 1 74 13 10 61 2 Loncfwall .............. 11 Drill 7 Rock fall Other — Total 23 38 35 24 23 45 55 67 46 48 97 81 Nonfrictional: Electrical. 5 2 1 1 1 7 4X 2 2 1 IX IX 1 1 2X 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 1 7 1 5 4 3 3 8 2 3 2 8 2 1 2 5 1 3 3 6 1 Explosive. .•••...••... 1 Cutting and/or welding Smoking ............... 16 Defective flame safety lamp ................. Other — Total 10 16 4 5 6 11 1 12 13 2 15 9 12 18 Not classified Grand total 33 54 39 29 29 57 67 82 62 58 109 99 48 TABLE A-7. - Summary of injuries by cause, 1969-80 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter 9 13 6 1 4 2 1 1 2 4 4 7 - 1 3 2 6 Longwall Drill - Rock fall Other — Total 9 13 7 7 3 4 4 7 - 4 2 6 Nonf rictional: Electrical 14 4 2 1 2 5X 2 2 4 3X 3 2 2 19 - 2 2 2 1 5 2 7 Exolosive* •••••••••••• Cutting and/or welding Smoking Defective flame safety lamp 1 Total 21 15 5 21 2 2 2 6 2 7 1 Not classified 30 28 12 28 3 6 6 9 6 6 9 1 TABLE A-8. - Summary of fatalities by cause, 1969-80 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Frictional: Continuous miner Cutter - 1 - - - - - - - - - - Loncwall. ••••••>••>•>• Drill Rock fall Other — Total * - 1 - - - - - - - - - , Nonf rictional: Electrical 1 1 38 1 - 5 2 ; ; 1 4 - - Explosive. •••<•••••••• _ Cutting and/or welding Smoking Defective flame safety lanq) Other - Total 1 40 5 2 1 26 4 ^ Not classified . Grand total 1 41 - 5 2 - - 27 4 - - - TABLE A-9. - Frictional and/or methane Ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79 49 Date Mine Location Nature of ignition 1959 Fatal or injured 07/24 08/12 Dekoven raw coal tunnel. Champion #1 fine coal dryer. Dekoven, KY. McDonald, PA.. Methane from raw coal in hopper ig- nited by filament of broken light bulb. Broken hydraulic line fed vaporized hydraulic fluid into high tempera- ture of dryer. 2 F I F 1 I 1960 02/01 Central coal Stirrate, VW.. Dust in suspension at loading ramp F preparation ignited by flame from oil drum 1 I plant. heater. 1961 08/02 Joanne coal thermal dryer. Rachel, WV.... Sparks from dryer furnace or fric- tional heat from iron in screw conveyor ignited methane. F 1 I 1962 02/05 Federal #1 Grant Town, WV Thermal dryer overheated for lack F thermal dryer. of water; ignited methane. I 03/08 •••••do********* • ••••GO* •••••• Excessive heat ignited coal dust in furnace, cyclone, or connecting duct work. F 1 I 03/19 •••••OOa •••••••• • • • • vGO^ •••••• do F I 03/23 • • • • • GO ••■•■•••• • • • • • GO ••••••• do F I 03/28 Nelms #2 coal Hopedale, OH.. Methane-coal dust ignited while F storage silo. cutting hole in discharge chute atop silo. 1 I 05/07 Federal #1 Grant Town, WV Dust in suspension in dry coal con- F thermal dryer. veyor ignited by sparks from fire in combustion chamber. I 10/26 No. 6 thermal Winifrede, WV. Hot clinkers ignited dried coal F dryer. near furnace door; coal dust igni- tion followed. 4 I 11/01 Kopperston Kopperston, WV Dust in suspension blown into fire F thermal dryer. in bottom of combustion chamber. I 12/05 Red Wing prepa- Axial, CO Frictional heat from teeth of F ration plant. sprocket sheaving off ignited dust in suspension. I 50 TABLE A-9. - Frictional and/or methane ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79 — Continued I Date Nature of ignition Fatal or injured 1963 10/11 Moss #3 prepara- tion plant. South Clinch- field, VA. Coal dust swept from top of furnace ignited by hot stack emitting sparks. F I 03/18 08/08 1964 02/03 Compass #3 ther- Dola, WV Dust in suspension ignited by hot F mal dryer. flyash induced into dryer by ex- haust fan. I 03/15 Maidon #3 ther- Newton and Flame from furnace blown through F mal dryer. Poland Mines, PA. coal feed conveyor. I 06/17 Saxsewell ther- Richwood, WV.. Dust ignited by smoldering coal in 1 F mal dryer. dryer. 3 I 11/11 Mine #22 thermal Deane, KY Dust in dryer ignited by hot mate- F dryer. rial conveyed by the louvre pans. I 12/31 Thermal dryer. . . Corbin, KY.... Attempted to relight furnace in an explosive mixture of propane and coal dust. F 4 I 1965 King preparation plant. Moss #3 prepara- tion plant. Hiawatha. UT.. South Clinch- field, VA. Coal dust dispersed during cleanup operations ignited by welder. Coal dust in suspension ignited during a severe wind storm by a "blow back" from furnace. F 1 I F I 1966 09/16 No. lA Strip.. Shinnston, WV. Natural gas pipeline ruptured and ignited during blasting operations. 1 F I 1968 01/22 Loveridge ther- Fairview, WV.. Hot coals, discharged from cyclone F mal dryer. dust collector, ignited fine coal dust. 2 I 05/17 Nos. 7 and 8 Standardville, Coal chute fell after being cut by F preparation UT. torch, resulting in dust ignited 1 plant. by torch. 08/15 Orient #5 raw Benton, XL.... Making repairs to belt feeder, 4 F coal tunnel. methane-air mixture ignited by torch. I 10/31 Thermal dryer. . » Biggs, KY Dust ignited by burning coal parti- cles in dryer. F 1 I TABLE A-9. - Frictional and/or methane ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79 — Continued 51 Date Mine Location Nature of ignition Fatal or injured 1969 02/06 05/14 07/29 Robinson Run #95 thermal dryer. Federal #2 pump- house building. Consol y/9 sur- face building. Lumberport, WV Micacle Run, WV. Farmington, WJ Dust ignited when fan pulled hot material into exhaust dusts and cyclones. Gas from borehole collected in building and ignited by electrical arc. Gas from sealed shaft leaked into building and ignited by electrical arc. F I F I F I 1970 02/06 02/14 Guyan #1 prepa- ration plant. Humphrey #7 preparation plant. Amherstdale, WV. Maidsville, WV Lighted torch placed on acetylene tank, flame heated oxygen cylinder and it exploded. Coal dust ignited by torch. 1 F 2 I F 1 I 1971 04/20 Jenkinj ones Jenkinj ones, Dust ignited by smoldering coal or F thermal dryer. WV. sparks present in cyclones or duct work. 4 I 07/12 Inland prepara- Jefferson Coal dust in froth tank ignited by F tion plant. County, XL. torch. 1 I 1974 06/08 Splashdam #2 Strip. Haysi, VA Lightning set off one hole of blast F 1 X 08/14 Smith & Rogos Brandy Camp, Oil on inner surface of oxygen reg- 1 F Strip. PA. ulator ignited when oxygen valve was opened. X 10/19 Captain Shop. . . . Cutler, XL.... Explosive vapors from inner liner and underlying materials of truck tire ignited while welding rim. 1 F X 10/30 Bee Hive surface Drang eville. Overlying soil and rock caused roof F gallery belt UT. to collapse; broken light bulb I structure. ignited dust. 1975 09/22 McKinley prepa- ration plant. Cut off exhaust hood; when it fell it resulted in dust cloud being ignited by torch. F 2 X 52 TABLE A-9. - Frictional and/or methane ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79 — Continued Date Mine Location Nature of ignition Fatal or injured 1976 07/12 10/12 11/09 11/11 No, 131 prepara- tion plant. .do, Wharton #4 Shop. Preparation Plant #1. Van, WV. .do, Wharton, WV... Mavisdale, VA. Oxygen regulator exploded, probably due to back charge of acetylene or other combustibles. Pump running "on air;" steam pres- sure caused pump to burst. Oxygen regulator exploded, probably due to back charge of acetylene. Methane accumulation in wellhouse ignited by electrical arc. F I F I F 1 I F 1 I 1977 01/18 Bottom Creek #2 pumphou-se. Keystone, WV.. Methane liberated at top of well; ignited by smoking. F 6 I 03/01 Welch #1 Shop... Welch, OK Horseplay; homemade bomb exploded in victim's hand. F 1 I 05/05 Revloc Mine #32 Shaft. Revloc, PA.... Torch slag ignited methane in shaft; victim struck by dislodged I-beam. 1 F I 06/01 Robinson Run #95 Lumberport, WV Methane from borehole ignited by electric arc from impact wrench. F 1 I 06/10 Lancashire #25 clean coal storage silo. Baker ton, PA.. Torch used to enlarge chute opening while coal was discharging into silo; dust ignited. F 3 I 07/29 Florence #2 Huff, PA Welding at borehole being drilled igniting methane. F I 09/29 Jenkinj ones thermal dryer. Jenkinj ones, WV. High temperature in drying com- partment ignited coal dust in suspension. F I 10/31 • • ■ • •GO* •••••••• • • • • •do* •••••• Explosive mixture of oil and coal ignited, throwing coal dust into suspension. F I 12/04 No. 51 prepara- tion plant. Ellsworth, PA. Boiler exploded owing to deteriora- tion of supporting stays between firebox and wrapper sheet. F I 12/06 Revloc Mine #33. Revloc, PA.... Short in shielded 2,300-volt cable to submersible pump ignited meth- ane at borehole. F I 53 TABLE A-9. - Frictional and/or methane ignitions in surface facilities, 1959-79— Continued Date Mine Location Nature of ignition Fatal or injured 1978 05/12 No. 50 clean Pineville, WV. Hot or burning material from ther- F coal silo. mal dryer discharged into silo; dust in suspension ignited. I 06/13 Jenkinj ones Jenkinj ones , Fine coal spilled or bedplates F thermal dryer. WV. ignited by spark from combustion chamber during startup. I 06/22 Absaloka Hardin, MT.... Propane torch left in tub of drag- line; torch went out and propane gas accumulation was ignited by another torch. F 1 I 07/31 Black Mesa #1 Keyenta, AZ . . . Truckload of coal inadvertently F storage bin. dumped into bin while working with torch. 2 I 09/17 Itmann #3 fan Itmann, WV.... Gas in shaft ignited by slag from F shaft. cutting operations. I 1979 01/02 Black Thunder Gillette, WY. . Hot coals from fire in storage F preparation shed ignited dust within loadout I plant. facilities. 02/19 Jenkinj ones Jenkinj ones , Atomized fuel oil being fed into F thermal dryer. WV. furnace ignited by heat from burner. I 03/29 Valley Camp #41 Shrews burg, WV Batteries charged with covers F battery- closed; hydrogen gas ignited by I charging unknown source. station. ♦U.S. GOVERNTffiNT PRINTING OFFICE : 1983 0-396-320/442 fD i ^ .- V'O' .• IK iW*' / V I®*- /% ''"^w) JK 'WSs Ik "- ro**\0'^ /\'*^*y^ '\.**.,,-*\0'' "V'**^*/?,"^^ '\**"^-**f°'' \,*''^\l.'^^ % "':^\. /.l^I'>o ,^-^*\*i.^/\ 0°^.-^^%°- J^^-Jr!/^^ \ Z-^^^^' °- -'-^ \y ■4' ** .-iJ^,'. **-./ :X-^ %,** .•• j»^^ k'- o c-?^" »* \./^ '• "^oV^ .^j^^'- "^^0^ /"^M". 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