Men Injured in the Hanna Mines
Page by Bob Leathers
There is little doubt that many men were injured in the Union Pacific Coal Company mines in the Hanna Basin. It appears from the sheer numbers listed below that workers at Hanna experienced a high rate of Workers' Compensation usage. At times the injured men were belittled by the Company for that use. The attitude of the Company toward some of the injured miners is appalling to those reading this material today.
Hanna Miners (Image from Mike Moffitt)
Out of extreme necessity for dangerous occupations such as underground coal mining, the Wyoming workmen's compensation fund was established on April 1, 1915 to assist workers injured on the job. An amount of $68,817.56 was transferred from the Wyoming general funds to the workmen's compensation fund to make it operational.
Listing all employees injuried in the Hanna coal mines or that had black lung disease would be an impossible task, but some of the injuries are documented below. This is by no means a complete list..
In the early days, the severe lung problems - now called Black Lung Disease - of underground coal miners were not recognized. The Black Lung Benefits Act was not enacted until 1973. The act was a United Sates. federal law which provided monthly payments and medical benefits to coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis - commonly called Black Lung Disease - arising from employment at the nation's coal mines. The law also provided monthly benefits to a miner's dependent survivors if Black Lung caused or hastened the miner's death.
Wyoming Coal Mining Deaths and Injuries from 1869 - 1973
- The Wyoming Mining Death and Accidents report for 1869-1973 was compiled from the Wyoming State Mine Inspector Reports. The report is available at the Wyoming State Library and through the link provided below. The report lists individual miners who were killed or injured in Wyoming mines.
- The report provides the date of the accident, name of individual, age, mine name or location, fatal or nonfatal and most importantly the year the death or accident occurred. This information may be matched with the Mine Inspector Report listed below for that year. The Mine Inspector Report may contain additional information about the death or injury.
MIR - Wyoming Mine Inspector Report
WMA - Wyoming Mining Association 1869 - 1973.
A
Aho, Frank - Injured at Hanna, Feb. 1925 (WMA 1869 - 1973)
Aho, Frank V., Driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Amputation of left foot above the ankle. Period of disability estimated 60 days. Frank and his partner were standing between two tracks in a room splicing a drill cable, when a driver came out of a cross-cut with a loaded car, pulled by a spirited horse at a fair rate of speed. In the excitement that followed, Frank started to safety toward the low side of the room, was knocked down by the tail chain, and the car passed over the left leg, crushing it so severely that it had to be amputated above the ankle. In the future, if each employee cooperates, such serious injuries may be avoided by making repairs to cables and other similar equipment in cross-cuts or other places of safety. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Aho, Matt - Injured at Hanna, Nov. 1916 (WMA)
Ainsworth, A. W. - Injured at Hanna, July 1927 (WMA)
Ainsworth, A. W. - Injured at Hanna, July 1928 (WMA)
Anderson, Ed - Injured at Hanna, June 1918 (WMA)
Anderson, E. A. - Injured at Hanna, Jan. 1920 (WMA)
Anderson, George - Injured at Hanna, 1925 (WMA)
Anderson, Henry - Injured at Hanna, 1928 (WMA)
Annala, Oscar, age 30, Finn, miner, married with 2 children and a wife, injured in Carbon Mine No. 2 on Aug. 6th, 1900. Had been in the employ of the company at that time for 4 years. Had his left leg broken by the fall of a piece of rock. He was sent to the State Hospital and has completely recovered. (1900 MIR)
Annala, Oscar - Timberman- Hanna, No. 4 Mine. Cut on ball of right foot. While timbering he stepped on the blade of an axe and cut his right foot. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1931)
Atwood, Tom, American, age 44, married, machine runner, Section No. 3, Hanna 4-A Mine. Fractured left leg. Tom was cutting the room face and was standing alongside the machine, about three feet away from the portion of the face which had been uncut. A piece of coal, measuring 3’x2’x3” thick, bumped from the face and struck him on the left leg. (UPCCEM, July 1945)
B
Bailey, Bruce - Inside Laborer - Hanna, No. 4 Mine. Lacerated thumb. While sprigging a car, he caught his thumb between spray and wheel. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1931)
Bain, Emmett - American (Colored), age 51, married, Joy helper, Section 8, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of left great toe. Period of disability estimated two to three weeks. Emmett claims that as he was walking out of a room he stepped on a piece of coal, his foot slipping from the coal and breaking his toe. This is a peculiar accident and it seems that it could hardly have happened if his shoes were in good condition. (UPCCEM, July 1938)
Baillie, William D., Lampman, Hanna General Outside. FATAL. Bowel Paralysis.
Mr. Baillie had climbed to the top of a nine-foot step-ladder in the bath house to place a clothes chain over a pulley attached to the ceiling. He lost his balance, grabbed a light fixture, which may have given him an electrical shock, and he fell across either a bench or the chain rail. Mr. Baillie was so seriously injured that he passed away on the sixth day following his injury. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Mr. Baillie had climbed to the top of a nine-foot step-ladder in the bath house to place a clothes chain over a pulley attached to the ceiling. He lost his balance, grabbed a light fixture, which may have given him an electrical shock, and he fell across either a bench or the chain rail. Mr. Baillie was so seriously injured that he passed away on the sixth day following his injury. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Bamber, James - Driver, Hanna No.4 Mine, Section No. 3. Severe bruises of left forearm and shoulder. Period of disability, 19 days. James was riding the front end of an empty car that was being pulled by a horse. As the car neared the Joy loading machine, the horse was speeded up, turned to one side, and the tail chain cut loose from the car. As James stepped off the car, he lost his footing and was struck by the car. Fortunately, he was not run over by the car, which would have caused more serious injuries. Cleaner roadways, and thorough instructions to new men working under unfamiliar surroundings would probably have prevented this accident. (UPCCEM, July 1934)
Bedford, Ernest - Scraper Hoistman - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Lacerated finger. Was moving sheave wheel, when he caught his finger between sheave wheel and lump of coal. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1930)
Boam, Moses - ”Driver - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of the second toe, left foot. While placing a car under a Joy loading machine, a chunk of coal rolled off the car and fell on his foot. The time that Moses will lose on account of this injury is estimated at 3 weeks. Hard toed shoes no doubt, would have prevented this accident. There are 26 bones in each foot and a hard-toed shoe will protect 15 toe bones of the foot. Figure it out for yourself which is the best - a fractured toe or a hard-toed shoe. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1931)
Brindley, Hugh - American, age 52, married, Gas Watchman. Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Ruptured liver. Rooms in this mine are driven on the strike. The coal is 32 feet high and the pitch is about 17 degrees, making a drop of about twelve feet from the bottom of the high side crosscut to the floor of the room below. Brindley was examining old workings and started down one of these crosscuts where there was a long pipe leading down to the bottom of the next room and he had started down this pipe when he noticed some of the rib above him falling. He pushed himself away from the rib and as he slid down the pipe he fell on the loose coal at the bottom and struck his back. (UPCCEM, Aug. 1941)
C
Carnahan, William - American, age 59, married, parting tender, Section No. 1, Hanna No. 4 Mine. FATAL. The scene of this accident was a slope parting on which there are three tracks, the low side being the passing track. The center track is for loads and the one on the high side for empties. The motorman brought in twenty-one empties and put them on the empty track. The parting tender coupled these to four empties which were standing there. The rope rider pulled the trip up and cut off five cars, allowing the motor to get the loaded trip and start off parting with it. After the trip had traveled a short distance, it stopped and Carnahan, who was riding the rear end, thought the motor was stalled and that the trip was to be split. However, after he walked a couple car lengths, he noticed that he had failed to couple the second slope trip ahead and started to flag the motorman back. The empties apparently were not pulled far enough in the clear and Carnahan, who was walking along the high side of the loaded trip as it was being pushed back, was caught between the loads and the empties. (UPCCEM, July 1940)
Case, James W. - Driver - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Contusion of the back. Was coming from the room with two loaded cars and in passing another driver returning to the face with empty cars, his horse became frightened, swung around and caught the driver between the car and the tail chain. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Case, Marvin - Rope Runner, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Crushed and lacerated 4th left finger. Period of disability, 17 days.
Marvin was riding trip on “E” Plane dip when he became entangled in a brattice curtain, was pulled off the trip and a car wheel crushed his finger. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, as this accident could easily have been much more serious and even fatal. From the number of accident reports filed on Marvin’s record, it leads the Management to infer that he is a careless workman, so much so, in fact, that his occupation as an underground worker may have to be terminated in order to protect his well-being. (UPCCEM, April 1934)
Marvin was riding trip on “E” Plane dip when he became entangled in a brattice curtain, was pulled off the trip and a car wheel crushed his finger. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, as this accident could easily have been much more serious and even fatal. From the number of accident reports filed on Marvin’s record, it leads the Management to infer that he is a careless workman, so much so, in fact, that his occupation as an underground worker may have to be terminated in order to protect his well-being. (UPCCEM, April 1934)
Case, T. W. - Driver - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Contusions and lacerations on toes of right foot. While attempting to take hold of the halter top on a horse, the horse turned suddenly and stepped on the driver's right foot. (UPCCEM, July 1930)
Cotsifakis, George [Corsifakis] [Coreifakis] - Greek, age 52, married, Joy Trimmer, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of the left cheek bone, 3rd and 4th left ribs, and right thigh. This accident occurred in a pioneer room, and the first thing in the morning George trimmed the top where the Joy was to work. Then the Joy started to operate and he stepped to the high side, apparently to trim the roof there. One of the members of the crew heard the coal fall but thought that it was coal which George was pulling down; but when he turned around, he saw George under the coal. This is the second injury from the same cause to the same class of workman in as many months. Changing roof conditions probably account for the accidents, but it does demonstrate that more attention must be given to this changing condition if this type of accident is to be stopped. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1939)
Crank, Stanley - Rope Rider - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration and contusion of left ankle. While dropping a loaded trip onto a parting, he stepped off on the inner side of curve and allowed the rope to hit his ankle. For an accident to happen in this manner, the injured was apparently sleepy and should not be placed on haulage work. (UPCCEM, July 1931)
Crank, Stanley - American, age 30, married, Joy operator, Section 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. FATAL. The working place was a top-coal room in which approximately twenty feet of coal remained at the face of the room to be loaded. The room is driven on the strike, the seam pitching about seventeen degrees, but the coal is cut so that the bottom is level. The high-side rib has a tendency to overhang but an effort is made to trim this as vertical as possible. About seven feet up from the bottom is a small rock band that is known as the top of the seven-foot seam, some slips cutting across the room being noticeable in the coal. The Joy had been loading on the low side of the room and was moved so that it angled about forty-five degrees toward the high rib, the operator being about ten feet from the high rib. The motor had brought in a trip of cars and two were loaded, and while the third car was being loaded a piece of coal, ten feet long, four feet wide and three feet thick, broke from the high rib off the top of the seven-foot seam, the end of it catching Stanley and causing instant death. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1941)
Cummings, Robert, Driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprained right ankle. Period of disability, 14 days. Robert claims that while he was walking down a manway, he stepped on a piece of coal and sprained his ankle. The only comment that can be made on this accident is to ask Robert to “Watch his step.” (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Cummings, Robert - American, age 48, driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 9. Fracture of right arm at elbow. Period of disability undetermined. Robert was drilling a short hole to set a grip or jack for the thread bar when the drill struck a crevice, jerking the drilling machine out of his hands and entangling his arm in the drilling machine cable. This accident was avoidable. Drillers should place cable so that they would not become entangled in it whenever the machine is jerked out of their hands. (UPCCEM, May 1937)
D
Damas, Mike - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Bruised thigh. Was pulling coal down from top of a pile, when a chunk rolled down and bruised his thigh. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Daveson, J. - Age 24, Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 1 mine. Scalp wound by falling coal. (MIR, 1894)
Dickinson, William - American, age 49, armature winder, Hanna General Outside. Laceration of back right hand and fracture of right thumb. Period of disability estimated four weeks. William was moving an armature from a winding horse to put it in a motor case. He had the armature in a rope sling attached to a set of chain blocks. In lowering the armature to motor case, it slipped out of sling, one end falling to floor, and in attempting to catch the other end, in order to prevent any damage to the windings, his right hand was caught between motor case and side of armature. Probably more care in adjusting rope sling and more precaution exercised in moving the armature would prevent such accidents. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1935)
E
Eckman, Yngve, American, age 22, Driver, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 2. Severe internal injuries. Period of disability estimated 2 months. Yngve was one of two drivers pulling coal from a Joy loading machine. He was standing alongside of his trip of empty cars watching the machine load the first car, when he noticed the other driver’s horse running towards them hitched to two empty cars. In trying to get out of the way of the runaway horse and cars, Yngve ran around the end of his cars and was caught between them and the coal pile (composed mostly of large chunks) as the drawn cars crashed into the standing cars. Unruly horses should be removed from a mine when it is ascertained they cannot be handled with safety. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1935)
Erickson, John - Age 29, Union Pacific Coal Company's Carbon No. 2 mine. Head cut by falling rock. (MIR, 1894)
F
Fagerholm, Gust, Finlander, age 60, widower, Duckbill operator, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Simple fracture of 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones right foot and lacerated shin bone. Gust and his partner were loading out of a fall of coal at the face of the inside air course, when they noticed a loose piece of rib coal on the right-hand side. Gust took a pick and pulled it down, and when he did so, part of the coal broke off, turned over and caught him on the right foot. (UPCCEM, Aug. 1944)
Fouros, Gust, Greek, age 49, single, driller, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. FATAL. The working place was a strike room in pioneer work. Some very pronounced slips, running nearly parallel to the room, are present in this area. Four men, who composed the cutting and drilling crew, came into this room, and the top was tested while the tracklayers were completing the track. The face was cut, the machine pulled back, and the drillers had completed drilling on the right side of the face. They were standing in front of the last hole drilled, sharpening a drill bit, when a large piece of coal broke off from one of the slips in the top. Gust was caught by the fall of coal. (UPCCEM, July 1943)
Freeman, Thomas - American, age 21, inside laborer, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 5. Fracture of two-foot bones of left foot. Period of disability 24 days. While switching cars to a Joy loading machine with a motor, Thomas’ foot slipped and was caught between the wheels of the locomotive and ties of track. This accident was avoidable. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1937)
G
Greenwood, Alex - Rope Runner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Bruise on left hip. Loaded trip on which he was riding, jumped the track, throwing him from the trip and he fell on a rail. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1930)
Green, John B., - American, age 23, married, machine-runner helper, Section No. 3, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Fracture right thigh. Several new rooms have been opened on this plane and some very pronounced slips, angling slightly to the left as they go toward the face of the room, are present. The slips are present in the top of the pioneer rooms and make an angle of about forty-five degrees with the top. The machine runner and John had cut about two-thirds across the face, when a large piece of coal broke off at one of these slips and struck John. He was standing immediately in back of the machine which took part of the blow, preventing a more serious injury. (UPCCEM, June 1943)
Griffith, Joseph L. - American, age 53, married, motorman, Section 2, No. 4 Mine, Hanna. FATAL The crew members were going to take the Joy and the locomotive from the face to the room neck so that they could be moved to another room. The Joy cable was placed on the end of the Joy conveyor with about 15 feet of the cable sticking over the end. This cable was connected to the transfer switch of the locomotive so that the Joy would have power to travel. They decided to stop at the cross-over switch on the parting. The locomotive was in the lead and Griffith was sitting in the cab of the locomotive which was on the end toward the Joy. When they came to the cross-over switch, none of the crew noticed it and they continued to go toward the plane. The pitch of the track changes quickly where the parting tracks turn up the plane. When the locomotive came to this steep pitch in the track, it slid back and Griffith was caught between the end of the Joy conveyor and the locomotive. (UPCCEM, July 1942)
Grooman, Herman - age 35, Finn, miner, married with wife and four children. Was injured in Carbon No. 7 mine on August 11, 1900. Had been in the employ of the company at that time about one year. Had his left leg broken by the fall of a small piece of rock. Was sent to the State Hospital at Rock Springs. (1900 MIR)
H
Hakala, A. - Inside Laborer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Contusion and laceration of thumb. Was jacking a derailed car on track and in pushing the jack from under the car, he caught his thumb between the jack and the car. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1930)
Hemsley, Thomas - English, age 32, driver, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 5. Laceration and bruise of right leg near knee. Period of disability estimated two weeks. Thomas was driving a horse that was pulling three empty pit cars to a Joy loading machine. As they drew near the Joy loader, he attempted to remove the tail chain hook from the car coupling and the horse swerved and he was thrown between the end of a car and Joy loader bumper. Had the horse become frightened, this could have resulted in a much more serious accident. Drivers should place the tail chain hook on car so that it can be easily removed, and know when they are near the loader or pile coal so that they can easily get off the car. This accident was avoidable. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1937)
Higgens, Charles - American, age 45, married, Joy loader helper, Section No. 9, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Wounds of face and thighs, fractured nose and cerebral concussion. Period of disability undetermined. The crew was loading top coal along the entry at a point opposite a high side crosscut. Charles was standing on the rear bumper of the joy, facing the low side and helping to keep the big chunks in the conveyor when a piece of coal about 8 feet long, 3 feet wide and 8 inches thick broke off the high rib, slid down the pile and struck him, knocking him face down into the conveyor. He had taken several pieces of loose rib coal down previous to the accident and they considered the high rib to be in safe condition. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1937)
Hill, John - Finn, age 21, single, tippleman, Hanna No. 4 Tipple, Laceration and fracture of second and third fingers of right hand. Period of disability 32 days. The rope, which was attached to the bail on the loading boom, had come off the sheave and the boom was resting on the lump car. The box car loader operator asked John to help him lift the bail up so they could put the rope on the sheave. When the bail was nearly in an upright position, the sheave fell sideways and caught John’s finger between the sheave and the bail. A little attention could have been given the sheave as the rope was loose, and it was surely apparent that the sheave would fall sideways when in position. This accident was avoidable. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1938)
Hill, William E., - age 59, shot firer, Hanna No. 4-A Mine, employed 1901. Fracture of both bones of right leg, between knee and ankle. Crack in bone of left leg about 4” above ankle. A row of holes was being drilled between crossbars in order that the drillers could be afforded protection of the crossbars. Bill had instructed the drillers to drill all holes possible in order that they could be shot at quitting time. Eighteen holes had been drilled and charged for blasting. After the round had been fired, the drillers found that Bill had failed to connect two rib shots and a lip shot. While connecting the three shots, a piece of coal fell from the lip and struck Bill across the legs. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1946)
Hopley, Brian B., - English, age 46, widower, driller, Section No. 1, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Fracture of left ankle. The crew was near finish of a block of top coal in a room. The drillers had fired two rounds of shots and went back up on the pile. They were sounding the top where they had shot and were trimming it on the low side, when they came across a piece of loose top which they were unable to get down with a pick. Hopley went to the high side to get a bar. As he was picking up the bar, a piece of top coal fell, striking him on the left ankle. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1944)
Houston, George Robert - American, age 29, married, rope rider, Section No. 1, No. 4 Mine, Hanna. Simple fracture right thigh, left linear fracture of the sacrum. George was working as a rope rider on a plane. The track on the plane passed under the entry track. The clearance between the plane tracks and the crossbars holding up the bridge carrying the entry track was six feet. George was bringing up a two-car trip riding the hitchings between the two cars. Just before the trip reached the bridge a large chunk of coal from the first car rolled over and caught against the bridge crossbars, then rolled back. George was caught against the second car. (UPCCEM, June 1942)
Hughes, W. W. - Boss Driver - No. 4 mine. Met with a painful and serious accident on the afternoon of Sept. 8th by having his right arm so badly crushed that amputation was necessary. Billy is one of the old timers, having thirty years with the Union Pacific Coal Company, is held in high esteem by all who know him, and has the sympathy of all in his misfortune. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1925)
Hynen, John - Machine Runner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Bruise and sprain of right knee joint. Was barring a cutting machine over a rough bottom and let the bar fall into cutter chain. The bar was hurled against his leg, injuring knee joint. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1931)
Hughes, William W. - Injured his arm in a mine accident. The arm had to be amputated. (1925)
Hunt, J. M. - Outside Laborer - Hanna. Sprained wrist and ankle. In attempting to take the manhead out of the boiler, he slipped and fell from the top of the boiler breeching to the floor. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
J
Johnson, Wayne - met with a serious accident at the Nugget Mine where he was working. One leg had to be amputated, but the other, though badly crushed, may be saved. He is a patient at the Hanna Hospital, where every care is being given to save his leg. (UPCCEM, May 1939)
Jones, Joseph - American, age 43, married, Unit Foreman, Section No. 5, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Compression fracture of the fourth lumbar vertebra. Second North has three parallel entries which are connected by slants. The bottom entry was in about sixty feet from where the last slant intersects it. The entry at this point is in the 19-foot seam and is about ten feet high. The Joy was stopped in this slant at the intersection while the face was being shot, during which time the crew was greasing the Joy. The crew was getting ready to move the Joy to the face when Mr. Jones came into the entry. One member of the crew was telling him about some trouble they were having greasing the machine and as they were talking, a large piece of coal fell and struck Mr. Jones, knocking him down. (UPCCEM, September 1941)
K
Kelley, Ed - Hanna No. 1 Mine - Knee slightly injured by falling. (1894, MIR)
Kerr, Eugene - Inside Laborer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprained back. Injured claims to have sprained his back while lifting a car onto the track. Men that are continually spraining their backs will have to be given a permanent vacation in order that their backs will strengthen. (UPCCEM, July 1931)
Kitching, James - English, age 37, married, machine-man, Section No. 3, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration left heel. The working place was a plane being driven up the pitch and holed through to a crossover from “L” Plane Slope. The men were making their second cut past this crossover. The place was being cut from right to left. The floor of the plane at the back end of the machine was about two feet lower than the floor of the crossover. As the machine neared the left rib, a jack was put in between the rib and the machine to make the end of the cutter bar go to the left. Kitching was standing at the left rear corner of the machine with his foot against the rib. The machine either kicked or the jack slipped and the machine swung over, the sheave on the corner of the machine catching his heel against the rib. (UPCCEM, May 1942)
Kivi, John - Hanna No. 4 Mine - Contusion of instep, left foot. (1932)
Klassen, Albin - Miner - Hanna No 4 Mine. Broken leg. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1936)
Klaseen, J. A. - American, age 42, tippleman, Hanna Outside. Fracture of right leg. Period of disability estimated two months. Albin was coupling the main slope rope onto an empty trip of pit cars when another car was allowed to run off the dump kick back which bumped into two empty cars, and all three rolled down the track and caught his leg between car bumpers. This accident was avoidable. The car should not have been kicked out of the dump and the other two cars should have been blocked and brakes set before a man goes between them to couple up a rope. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1936)
Koivisto, Matt - Driller - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration of left little toe and foot. While working at the face of a room a piece of coal fell from the face and struck his leg and foot. Matt is a miner of many years’ experience and should know the dangers of face coal. It should be remembered by all face men that 51.5% of all men killed in the coal mines of the United States are killed by falls of face, rib, top coal and roof. Why take any chances and get injured? It is estimated that Matt will be off work from 4 to 6 weeks. (UPCCEM Oct. 1931)
Konishi, Frank - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Fracture of right great toe. Period of disability 11 days. While shoveling coal into a car, a piece of coal rolled down the pile and struck his foot. This accident could have been avoided in two ways. First, coal piles should be kept trimmed so that the hazard of rolling coal, which causes men to receive so many slight and serious injuries, is eliminated, and second, all underground men should wear hard-toed shoes. (UPCCEM, May 1932)
Konishi, Frank - Japanese, age 52, sprinkler and track cleaner, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 7. FATAL. Marks the third fatality happening in the mines in 1935. Frank Konishi, a good honest worker, was cleaning track along a rope haulage way that was on a curve stretch of track extending from a panel slope to an entry parting. He had been warned numerous times during the day by both Unit Foreman, motorman and rope rider to look out for moving trips. He apparently failed to hear or see a trip of six loaded cars being lowered onto a parting and two of the cars ran over his body, killing him instantly. All accidents resulting in fatalities are most deplorable for in most instances they are avoidable, this one being no exception. It takes proper training of each individual worker to prevent such occurrences as this one, and each man must be made to understand that chance taking is absolutely prohibited. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1935)
Kosai, S. - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Lacerated scalp. Period of disability 10 days. Kosai was shoveling coal into a chute when a small piece of rock fell approximately 24 feet and struck him on the head. A “Skullgard” would have avoided this injury. All men working in this section are now wearing “Skullgards”. (UPCCEM Dec. 1931)
Kovisto, Matt - Miner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration of scalp and bruises to body and shoulders. Period of disability 8 days. While loading on a parting, a bump occurred dislodging a lump of coal from the roof that had previously been examined and trimmed and was apparently in good condition. The coal struck Matt on the head and body, causing a slight scalp laceration and bruises to the back and shoulders. This accident has caused Matt to be a great believer in wearing the “Skullgard” for all underground employees, as his hat was broken in many pieces. The “Skullgard” undoubtedly prevented him from having a fractured skull and it probably prevented him from being killed. The stiff neck and back was what kept Matt from returning to work the next day. This is the fourth time Matt has been injured, but this accident was unavoidable. (UPCCEM, April 1932)
Kovisto, Matt - Timberman - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Blood clot formed on lower part of back. Period of disability 11 days. While tamping a shot in the face or breast of a rock tunnel a piece of slate fell from the roof and struck Matt on the shoulders and lower part of the back, causing a hematoma or blood clot to form. The clot had to be opened and drained causing Matt to lose 11 days of work. This was an avoidable injury. The workmen knew the rock was bad, in fact they had previously tried to bar it down, but on failing they figured it would stay up until after the shots were fired and then it would either fall from the concussion of the shots, or be easily barred down when the back and walls were trimmed before loading operations commenced. However, they failed to try barring down the rock before tamping the shots. Result---an injured workman. Matt has been injured on numerous occasions and he should know by this time that it is very poor policy to take chances as he usually loses. Let us all work together and avoid these unnecessary accidents. UPCCEM, Nov. 1932)
Kroger, Pete - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Contusion and laceration of right leg. Period of disability 10 days. Peter had shot down some loose top coal and was about to trim down the edge or lip of top coal, when a piece of coal fell and struck his leg. This accident may have been avoided but Peter was trying to make his place safe to work in, and was probably using his best judgement in trimming the lip. This is the first time he has been injured. (UPCCEM, April 1932)
Kroger, Pete, - Finnish, age 59, married, trimmer, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Transverse fracture lower third left scapula. The drillers had drilled and shot a round of shots and Kroger and one of the drillers went back up the pile immediately after shooting. Kroger was examining the place and a piece of cap rock which had been loosened by the shots came down and struck him, and he fell down the pile. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1944)
Kumpala, Eli - Joy Operator - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Lacerated thumb and bruised 1st and 2nd fingers of right hand. Period of disability, 13 days. While operating a Joy loading machine a small piece of top coal fell and struck his right hand which was resting on a control valve that manipulates the machine. Accidents similar to this can be avoided if, at waiting intervals, the crew will sound the top and take down the loose pieces. Leather gloves will also help reduce the severity of hand injuries. (UPCCEM, June 1932)
Kumpala, Eli - Finn, age 52, Joy Loader Operator, Hanna. Fracture of third and fourth metatarsal (foot bones) of right foot. Period of disability - estimated 4 weeks. Eli was preparing to place the wheels on a Joy Machine and had run the machine upon the loading blocks when the caterpillar chain kicked out one of the loading blocks onto his foot. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1934)
Kuntalla, Matt - age 21, Hanna No. 1 Mine - Compound fracture. Leg caught between a prop and car in room. (1894 MIR)
L
Lahti, Mike, - Finn, age 47, Machine runner’s helper, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 2. Fracture of left thumb. Period of disability, estimated 6 weeks. Mike was helping to operate a shearing and undercutting mining machine. They had just finished shearing the face of a slope entry and were pulling the machine out of the shearing cut when he noticed the machine rope was piling up too much in one place on the rope drum. He immediately took a short jack-pipe and was prying the rope over the drum. The sudden jerk of the rope caused by the slack in it when it slid over on the drum, struck the jack-pipe with such force that the end of the pipe hit Mike’s thumb, fracturing it. More precaution will have to be exercised by the machine-runners if they are to avoid accidents of this nature. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1935)
Lee, Richard, - American, age 44, widower, tippleman, Section No. 1, Hanna Outside. Bruised left ankle and abrasions of the right leg and thigh. The motorman had brought out a set of timber and rail trucks and was going to switch them to the timber tracks. Two cars outside of the repair stop were coupled onto the timber trucks and timber trucks connected to the motor with a chain. The motor was on the high side track and the switch was thrown to pull the trucks and empties onto the low side. When the cars reached the point where they would run, Lee, who was on the front end of the timber truck, was going to pull the chain off, when the trucks jumped the track. Lee fell in front of them, the trucks passing over both legs. (UPCCEM, Mar. 1945)
Leino, John - Miner - No. 4 Mine. Contusion of calf of right leg. Period of disability 17 days. While drilling, a piece of coal fell and struck his right leg. This accident was probably avoidable had John properly sounded and trimmed his working place before starting to drill. (UPCCEM, May 1932)
Luoma, John - Laborer - Hanna, General Outside. Lacerated knee cap. Injured claims to have been lifting a piece of rock off box car loader and struck his knee on side of conveyor pan. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1931)
Luoto, Leonard, - Machine Runner, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Bruise and abrasions of left lumbar region. Period of disability, 19 days. While cutting a cross-cut, a piece of rib coal fell on Leonard, causing abrasions and bruises to his back and hips. From the number of injuries caused by falling rib coal in this particular section of No. 4 Mine, it is apparent that both supervisors and workmen must give this hazard more attention, and be continually on the look-out for loose rib coal. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Lucas, Joe, - English, age 60, driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 3. Infection of right leg; period of disability estimated ten days. Joe, in climbing over large chunks of coal, got a slight abrasion on his right leg. He failed to report his injury or secure medical attention until after the wound had become infected, a matter of six days later. The above manner of delaying to report a small injury (no matter how trivial) and to get first aid rendered and afterwards medical attention, oftentimes is inviting your own death warrant. This should not be classified as an accident but as gross carelessness. (UPCEEM, Apr. 1935)
Luoto, Leonard, - Driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine. FATAL - Crushed chest. Leonard, along with three other drillers, was drilling top coal in the lower workings of Hanna No. 4 Mine. They had drilled and fired one round of holes, trimmed the top, set up the drilling grips and were drilling another round, two men working on the outer lip, while Leonard and his “buddy’ were working on the inner lip. A bump occurred jarring a larger piece of coal off the outer lip which struck Leonard injuring him so severely that he expired a few hours later at the local hospital. With an improved method of shooting the top coal in these rooms, the hazards connected with drilling operations should be lessened to some extent. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1933)
Lythgoe, Jor - Age 37, Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine. Face cut by falling coal. (MIR, 1894)
M
Maki, Herman W. - Finnish, age 49, married, driller, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. FATAL The working place was a room in which the top coal was being shot down. At this particular point the tops and semi-tops were being taken all at once. The coal was being shot down in two benches, and a round of holes had been drilled and shot in the lower bench. The lip was trimmed and the men were making preparation to drill some holes in the upper bench. There was a slight overhang of this upper bench on the low rib, and Maki stamped a hole in this overhang and then moved slightly to the high side to size up the amount of coal to be shot down, possibly to determine the length and direction of the hole to be drilled. As he did so, a piece broke off the lip and struck him, causing instant death. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1942)
Maki, Isaac - Track Layer, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration of third right finger. Period of disability, 13 days.
Isaac was moving several rails with a locomotive and car. One of the rails turned over on the car and caught his finger between the locomotive brake-wheel and rail. This is a very poor method of moving rails, and the Mine Management is to be censured for allowing a workman to move rails in this manner. (UPCCEM, Apr. 1934)
Isaac was moving several rails with a locomotive and car. One of the rails turned over on the car and caught his finger between the locomotive brake-wheel and rail. This is a very poor method of moving rails, and the Mine Management is to be censured for allowing a workman to move rails in this manner. (UPCCEM, Apr. 1934)
Makinen, Rudolph - American, age 29, married, rope rider, Section No. 8, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Badly bruised right lower chest and fracture of left transverse processes of first and second lumbar vertebrae. Period of disability estimated three to four weeks. Rudolph was riding the rope car on an empty trip going down the plane. The first car derailed and ran into the rib, stopping the trip suddenly and he was forced between the car and the rib. (UPCCEM, July 1938)
Matson, John - Track layer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprained back. Injured claims to have been carrying track frog and sprained his back. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Marinaro, Joe - Laborer - Hanna, General Oustide. Fracture of 5th and 6th ribs on right side. Was shoveling snow off railroad tracks during a severe blizzard and was struck with railroad car that was being lowered from tipple. Car droppers and track cleaners should be ever alert during a storm. (UPCCEM, June 1931)
Matsumoto T. - Miner - Lacerated scalp and bruised chest and back. Was trimming face of rooms when coal fell striking him on the head, chest and back. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1930)
Mattila, John - Driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Burns of back. Period of disability, 17 days. John was preparing to take a shower in the bath house, and while standing under a spray a full head of hot water was released, which burned his back. This accident was no fault of John’s. It was due to faulty hot water heating equipment, and measures are being taken so that a like injury will not happen in the future. (UPCCEM, Apr. 1934)
McAllister, Joe - American, age 26, married, motorman, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Bruised right leg just below knee. The working place was a pioneer room. The face had been shot down and the rails of the track extended under the loose coal. The Joy started loading and one of the picks of the gathering head caught one of these rails, springing it to one side and when the rail was released it flew out, striking Joe on the leg. This was an extension rail and apparently did not have a tie near the end, which made it fly out of place more easily. (UPCCEM, May 1940)
McAtee, Edward - Laborer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Injured knee. Was walking down a plane when he slipped, wrenching and spraining the muscles of the right knee. (UPCCEM, Mar. 1931)
McAtee, Edward - Inside Laborer - Hanna No.4 Mine. Contusion and laceration second and third fingers, left hand. Period of disability, 9 days; work days lost, 64. While rerailing the rock dust truck, the cable fell on the track and in trying to remove it, he caught his fingers under the truck wheel. The injured must be commended for trying to remove cable before it was ruined by a car wheel, but at the same time he should have planned his work so that he would not have been injured. (UPCCEM Jan. 1932)
Meekin, James - Driller - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Severe contusion, and ruptured blood vessels in calf of right leg. Period of disability estimated 35 days. While drilling, a piece of top coal fell, striking his right leg. No doubt this accident was also avoidable had the injured workman used more precaution. Two men being injured in the same room, and only three days apart, should also hasten the supervising forces of the mine to use more supervision in the places where accidents are liable to happen from the dangerous hazard of falling roof or coal. (UPCCEM, June 1932)
Meekin, James - English, Age 52, Joy Operator’s Helper, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 2. Incomplete fracture of left leg. Period of disability, 3 weeks. James was helping his partner trim some top in the face of a Joy shovel room. His partner left the face to begin operating the shovel, and about the same time a piece of coal fell out of a wet slip extending along the roof and rib, striking James and knocking him down. He did not think he was injured, and continued to work, finishing the shift, but on later examination his injuries were found to be more complicated. Probably more precaution and closer examination of these slips might have avoided this accident. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1934)
Meekin, Thomas J. - Inside Laborer - Hanna, No. 4 Mine. Bruised left ankle. While working in a room, a piece of coal fell from the low rib and struck him on the foot. Accidents from falling rib coal may be avoided if it is watched closely and when found to be loose, it should be taken down. (UPCCEM Aug. 1931)
Mellor, Charles A. - Driver - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Laceration of the ankle. Injured was riding front end of a car when the car jumped the tracks; causing injury when his ankle was squeezed between the rails and car bumper. (UPCCEM, June 1930)
Mellor, Joe - American, age 19, single, slate picker, Hanna No. 4 Tipple. Superficial “V” shaped lacerationon right forearm with some infection. Period of disability 16 days. Joe was picking rock and tramp iron out of the coal on the belt leading to the magnetic pulley. He noticed a piece of tramp iron on the belt and tried to take it off. The pull of the magnet held the iron on the belt, and his arm was pulled against the belt, cutting his arm. If Joe had been standing in the place provided for him it would have been impossible to get his arm caught as he states. The place provided to pick rock is properly guarded and well lighted. Guards are put there for your protection. A safe worker will use them. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1938)
Milne, David - Joy Loader-man - No. 4 Mine. Hanna. Sprained knee. While pulling on the conveyor of a Joy loading machine, he twisted his knee. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1930)
N
Nerot, Anton - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Fracture of left leg above ankle. Period of disability, estimated 6 weeks. Anton was shoveling coal when some caprock fell on top of the coal pile about forty feet up the pitch from where he was standing. A piece of the rock rolled down the pile and struck his left leg, causing a fracture. This accident is one difficult to anticipate. (UPCCEM, May 1934)
Norris, Robert - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Extravasation of blood of right knee. While shoveling coal in the chute, a small piece of rock fell struck his right knee. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1930)
O
Ober, George - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine - met with a painful accident in No. 2 mine when his leg was caught between two car, crushing It and breaking the ankle. He is confined in Hanna hospital.
Ojala, Gust - Miner - Hanna No.2 Mine. Sprained back. Injured claims to have sprained his back while lifting some rails. This injury has caused Gust to be unable to report to work for 19 days. (UPCCEM November 1931)
Okomato, M. - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Bruise and contusion of right foot. Period of disability 18 days. While shoveling coal into the coal chute a piece of top coal fell and struck his right foot. Under the mining conditions at Hanna No. 2 Mine, this type of injury is most likely to occur but with closer inspection by the miner they can be overcome to a much larger extent. (UPCCEM, July 1932)
Owens, Sylvester - Colored, age 22, rope rider, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 4. Fracture of right big toe. Period of disability estimated three weeks. Sylvester was loading a rail when it slipped out of his hands and fell on his feet. Such accidents can be easily avoided if all workmen loading material will work together and see that a job is done in the best manner possible. Such an accident should not occur on a properly supervised job. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1937)
P
Pasanen, Andrew - Driller - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Dislocation of right shoulder. Period of disability estimated 30 days. While drilling, the bit struck a crevice causing the drilling machine to wheel and strike his shoulder. The majority of drill accidents can be eliminated if the driller will take proper precautions while operating a drill. This is the third time Andrew has been injured. (UPCCEM Feb. 1932)
Pasonen, Andrew - Finn, age 53, married, driller, Section No. 10, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of second toe, right foot. Period of disability estimated three weeks. Andrew and his partner had just shot a high side crosscut in a room. After they finished shooting they started to trim down the loose top. Andrew was working on the high side of the crosscut and as he was pulling down some coal, another piece fell fell and hit his foot. The high side crosscuts are driven from the top of the high rib and nearly all of the trimming necessary is done overhead. This requires careful work and men doing it must be alert at all times. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1938)
Penny, J. W. - Weighman, Hanna No. 2 Tipple - Fracture of skull. Period of disability not known. John Penny was rerailing an empty car with a hand-operated winch, and, due to the car rerailing suddenly and gaining momentum quickly, it gave the rope a sudden jerk, causing the winch handle to revolve rapidly, striking Jack on the head. This is the first time that an accident of this nature has caused an injury to any of the tipple crews. It was unforeseen, yet in the future it is hoped they can be avoided by the use of protective head gear. The only comment is, that the Safety Engineer should have recommended protective hats before the injury occurred. (UPCCEM, May 1933)
Peterson, H. - Inside Laborer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprained back. While loading conveyor pans on a truck, he slipped and wrenched his back. (UPCCEM, Apr. 1931)
Pearce, Charles V. - American, age 33, married, loader head man, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fractured rib, body bruises, and slight sprain of both feet. Two planes were being driven up hill, parallel to the main slope and about two hundred feet from it. In order to ventilate these planes, it is necessary to have a curtain at the end of the slope parting. The motor is on the inside end of the trip, and when the two loader head men, one man running the motor and the other acting as nipper, are switching, it is not possible for the motorman to see the nipper. In this particular case, there were three loads next to the motor and one empty car on the front end of the trip. The men were going to put the empty car on the high-side track and the loaded cars on the low-side track, so that the cars could be taken by the slope trip. After the empty car was switched, the motorman started to push the loads on the low-side track. The trip had gone only a short distance when the motorman noticed that the nipper was missing, so he stopped the trip and went to look for him and found him under the trip, between the first and second cars. (UPCCEM, April 1943)
Poulas, John - Miner, Hanna No. 2 Mine. Fracture of collar bone, and shoulder blade. Period of disability undetermined. While John was drilling, a small piece of boney or shale fell from the roof and struck him on top of the shoulder, fracturing his collar bone and shoulder blade. It is extremely difficult to prevent accidents of this nature in Hanna No. 2 Mine, due to the height of the roof, which is all of 26 feet from the bottom, and sometimes more. (UPCCEM, July 1933)
R
Rice, Henry C., - age 37, married, Joy operator, Hanna No. 4-A Mine, employed August, 1943. FATAL. Approximately fifteen cars of top coal remained to be loaded in the room before moving out. As the top coal was being loaded, the high side rib was exposed and considered dangerous. As the last car was loaded, the nipper signaled the motorman out and saw Henry starting out with the Joy loader when a portion of the high rib turned over, covering him beneath the loose coal. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1945)
Rimmer, John - Joy Loaderman - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of third finger, left hand. Was helping push a chunk of coal up the Joy conveyor flight and caught his finger between two chunks of coal. Another avoidable accident. (UPCCEM, July 1931)
Rimmer, John, Joy Helper, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture to the point of right shoulder. Period of disability, 18 days.
John was working in a cross-cut when a piece of rib coal fell, striking the point of his shoulder. Accidents of this type are not easily avoided in the lower workings of No. 4 Mine, if the place happens to bump. However, everyone must be on the “lookout” for loose rib coal, and take measures to remove this hazard as much as possible. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
John was working in a cross-cut when a piece of rib coal fell, striking the point of his shoulder. Accidents of this type are not easily avoided in the lower workings of No. 4 Mine, if the place happens to bump. However, everyone must be on the “lookout” for loose rib coal, and take measures to remove this hazard as much as possible. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1933)
Robinson, Roy - Rope Rider - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Torn perineal ligaments. In jumping off a moving trip his trousers caught on the coupling pin causing him to be dragged. Loose clothing should not be worn while working around moving machinery and more especially by haulage men. All foremen should see that this rule is enforced. (UPCCEM, July 1931)
Rodda, Howard - American, age 27, married, faceman, Section No. 10, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Oblique fracture of distal portion left fibula. Mr. Rodda was working in a plane being driven uphill. The face had been shot down and the Duckbill had been run through the right side of the coal pile once. Mr. Rodda was between the ratchet pan and the right rib, shoveling coal which the Duckbill could not reach. A piece of coal broke off a slip in the right rib and knocked Mr. Rodda against the pan line, which was running. He called to his partner, who was on the coal pile, and who pulled the slab of coal off his leg. It is just as important to sound the ribs of a working place when you are working near them as it is to sound the top. (UPCCEM, June 1939)
Row, William E., - age 32, married, nipper, Hanna No. 4-A Mine, employed June, 1945. Amputation of first and third fingers of right hand. William was riding out on a loaded trip from the room face. He was seated on the motor with his hand upon a large lump of coal. As he came to a low spot in the room, his hand was caught between the roof and the piece of coal. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1945)
Royce, Andrew - American, age 37, married, faceman, Section No. 4, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Corneal ulcer, left eye. Period of disability 22 days. Andrew claimed that on or about July 29, dust flew in his eye, causing corneal ulcer. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1938)
S
Salmi, Arvi - Timberman - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Lacerated finger and infection. Was carrying a timber in the air course when he slipped and fell, catching his finger between prop and rock. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1930)
Salo, Oscar - Finn, age 57, machine runner and driller Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 9. Fracture of left leg. Period of disability estimated two months. Oscar was helping drill the face of a room, standing between drill post and face when a piece of face coal sloughed off and pinned his leg against the drill post. The accident could probably have been avoided if the workman had been more alert and active. (UPCCEM, December 1936)
Santo, S. - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Lacerated toe, right foot. A piece of rock fell and injured the great toe. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Sevenikar, Mike - Machine Runner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Amputation of left big toe. Period of disability not known. While Mike was helping to pull down a loose piece of rock with a bar, the rock fell unexpectedly, causing him to lose his balance. In trying to regain it, he stepped in the path of the falling rock, receiving a laceration and fracture of the big toe that became infected. Mike was doing the correct thing in barring down the rock as his action undoubtedly kept himself or some other workman from being killed by falling rock. Too bad he lost his balance as it caused him the loss of a toe. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1933)
Sevenikar, Mike - Austrian, age 40, machine runner and ratchet man, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 4. Fracture and laceration of left thumb. Period of disability 28 days. Mike was operating the ratchet on a Duckbill when the brake blocks loosened, causing the two handles to come together and strike his thumb. Ratchets in bad order should be reported and repaired before attempting to use them. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1935.)
Sherman, John - Driller - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fractured rib, right side. While drilling with a power drill, the bit struck a crevice in the coal, causing the machine to swing and strike the injured one in the ribs. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Sherratt, I. - Mechanical Loader helper, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprained back. Period of disability, 13 days. Isaiah claims that while he was lifting an empty car onto the track, he strained his back, and alleges he injured himself on February 6th, but did not report the injury until February 13. He evidently is not familiar with his rule book which states very clearly when an accident should be reported. (UPCCEM, Apr. 1933)
Shyne, Nick, - American, age 35, married, machine man’s helper, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Partial amputation of index finger of right hand. The working place was a crosscut being driven up from a room to the back entry above it. It had holed through to the back entry. The floor of the crosscut was lower than that of the entry. When they started to cut the high side of the back entry to go on through the chain pillar, it was necessary to put a rail across this space for the back end of the machine to slide on. After the machine had been sumped and the jack pipe set to cut across the face, Nick was getting down from the floor of the back entry to the floor of the crosscut and had his hand on the rail that supported the machine. A piece of coal fell and struck the index finger of his right hand. (UPCCEM, Sept. 1943)
Sprowl, John - Age 36, Union Pacific Coal Company's Carbon No. 2 mine. Face cut by falling coal. (MIR, 1894)
Staravakakis, George, - Greek, age 37, Driller, Hanna No. 4 Mine, Section No. 1. Simple fracture of left leg.Period of disability, estimated 7 weeks. George, along with other co-workers, was shooting top coal. They had placed their shooting cable and battery in another room. George was standing near the low rib in a place not over six feet in height. When the round of shots was fired, a chunk of coal about 300 pounds in weight fell off the low rib, rolling onto his leg and foot. This section of the mine is working under considerable cover and there are always the ever-present hazards of bursting rib coal. Men have to be particularly alert and active to avoid such injuries. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1935)
Sudbury, John W., - American, age 32, married, machine man, Section No. 1, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fractured left leg. Sudbury, who was the machine-runner in this place, was shoveling alongside the pan line, when a piece of coal bumped off the right side rib and fell towards the pan line. He saw it falling and tried to jump out of the way, but his left leg was caught between the edge of the ratchet pan and chunk of coal. (UPCCEM, May, 1944)
T
Takala, Mike - Finlander, age 43, married, driller, Section 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Amputation of left thumb. Mike and another driller were drilling a high-side crosscut. One hole had shot through and they were going to drill several others in order to open the crosscut. This drill had a small breast plate on the back of it and the drill cable had been taped over the back of the machine. They drilled into some loose coal, the auger stuck, and the drill turned around. Mike had hold of this breast plate with his left hand and, as the drill turned around, his thumb was pulled down between the breast plate and the drilling machine. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1943)
Tanafield, Frank - Laborer - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Contusion of right thigh. Was feeding horses when one of them kicked him on the right thigh. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1930)
Tanaka, T. - Miner, Hanna No. 2 Mine. Laceration of scalp, abrasion of neck and left leg. Period of disability---undetermined. Tanaka was injured when a piece of a fossilized tree-trunk fell from the roof of an adjoining room and struck him while he was shoveling coal out of a crosscut. To some extent this accident could have been prevented. Tanaka misjudged the pitch of the coal seam, and the height of the roof makes it exceedingly difficult to inspect the roof. Again, the protection but proved its value, probably saving Tanaka’s life. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1933)
Tateyama, Y. - Miner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Sprain and slight laceration to right ankle. A small piece of coal fell from roof and struck him on the foot. (UPCCEM, May 1931)
Taylor, Bert - Joy Helper - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Injured chest. In attempting to remove the Joy cable off the track in order to prevent it from being run over by the cars, he was struck by the empty cars and his chest injured. (UPCCEM, Mar. 1931)
Trahalis, John - Miner, Hanna No. 2 Mine. Laceration of right ear, forehead, brow and wrenched right leg. Period of disability, 18 days. John was standing on a ladder preparing to drill a hole, when a piece of rock fell, striking the ladder and causing both to fall to the floor. While the roof is very high at Hanna, means are provided whereby men may test the roof fairly well. Surely more care and attention would have prevented this accident. UPCCEM, Apr. 1934)
U
Unkin, John - aged 23, married, employed as a miner at Hanna mine No. 1, was injured Agust 23, 1897, by being caught in the coils of a rope which he was using to lower a car in his room. His foot was crushed making amputation necessary. (1897 MIR)
V
Varvandakis, Tony - Nipper - Severe lacerations of three fingers, left hand causing amputation of two fingers. Injured claims to have been sprigging a loaded trip and caught his hand in the wheel of the car. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
W
Wakkuri, John - American, age 25, single, machine runner’s helper, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Amputation of four fingers of right hand. The working place was a room which was being driven on the strike and the floor of the room had been cut level. John and his partner were preparing to cut the place and were unloading the machine from the truck. The machine lacked about two feet of being off the truck when it became necessary to change the jack pipe. After the position of the jack pipe had been changed, the machine man was holding it in place. John was at the controller and was holding the lead rope while it was tightening. As the rope tightened, John, who was apparently thinking of something else, failed to move his hand, and the rope pulled his right hand about two-thirds around the rear sheave wheel. It was necessary to amputate the fingers shortly after the injury occurred. Upon examination, the rope was found to be in good condition.
Mining machines can be operated safely but it requires the undivided attention of the workman. (UPCCEM, July 1940)
Mining machines can be operated safely but it requires the undivided attention of the workman. (UPCCEM, July 1940)
Wakkuri, Matt - Finn, age 50, married, driller and shot firer, Section No.4, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Bruise on calf of right leg and abrasion above elbow of right arm. Period of disability 22 days. Matt and his partner were working in an entry. They had drilled seven holes and were shooting them. The blasting cable which they were using was short. When they fired the last hole, which was the top rib hole, a piece of coal flew and struck Matt on the calf of the leg. Shooting with a blasting cable which is too short is very dangerous and several men have been injured in the past from this practice. This was certainly an avoidable accident. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1938)
Walsh, Tom - Miner - Hanna No. 2 Mine. Lacerated finger, right hand. Was chunking coal and caught finger between two chunks of coal. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1930)
Walti, Victor - Age 16, Union Pacific Coal Company Carbon Mine No. 2 - Leg fractured by car of coal running on him. (MIR, 1894)
Warburton, George - Joy Loader Operator - Hanna No. 4 Mine - Laceration and bruise of left thumb. Period of disability 10 days and lost 4 days of work. In pulling a drilling machine from a drilled hole, he caught his thumb between the thread bar and drill stand. This was an avoidable accident. More precaution can be used by the drillers. (UPCCEM, December 1931)
Warburton, George - Mechanical Loader Helper, Hanna No. 4 Mine - Slight fracture of right side of pelvis. Period of disability estimated 42 days. While trimming a lip of top coal a piece fell, striking his hip. In Joy Loading rooms where the top coal has just been shot down, it is somewhat difficult to properly trim a lip. It is fortunate that George was not more seriously injured, and it is hoped that, in the future, more precaution is used in order to prevent a very serious injury. (UPCCEM, Mar. 1933)
Westberg, Victor - Swedish, age 41, married, Faceman, Section No. 3, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture and dislocation of 3rd and 4th ribs at sternal junction, right side, compression fracture of first lumbar vertebra, fracture of os calcis, right foot. This unit was driving a plane up from No. 6 Room of the previous outside plane, and the room necks were being turned as the plane was being driven. No. 3 Room neck had been turned, and the plane itself was one cut ahead of this room neck. There was some coal in the face of the plane and the right-hand side of this was cleaned. The Duckbill was then moved to the right corner of the plane, between the plane and the room neck where there was still some loose coal. Victor was shoveling on the right side of the ratchet. A piece of this corner, 6½ feet long, 4 feet wide, and 10 inches thick, fell, and when it turned over it caught Westberg, who was just straightening up from shoveling, and it pinned him down. Frequent sounding of rib and roof, and taking down all loose material found, or securing it, is the only way to prevent this kind of injury. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1941)
Wilson, Percy - American, age 20, single, nipper on motor, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture of right leg. The Joy crew was moving a 5 B.U. Joy into a room. There were two empty cars, the motor and then another empty car. The Joy was attached to the empty car with a six-foot rope and was being pulled to the face by the motor trip. The nipper was walking with the Joy operator at the side of the Joy loader. The motorman wanted the nipper to go ahead of the trip to see that he did not push the front empties off the end of the track and he called to the nipper, “Get on in here.” The nipper apparently misunderstood him or became confused and stepped onto the back bumper of the one empty car. The motorman was looking for the nipper to come forward and stopped his trip to see where he was. When the trip stopped, the Joy ran forward and caught Wilson’s leg between the gathering head of the Joy and the car. It is important that every man know what is expected of him and no one should be allowed to ride the bumper between a car pulling a Joy loader. (UPCCEM, June 1941)
While, Job - American, age 43, rope rider, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Fracture and laceration of all toes of right foot with amputation of three middle toes. Period of disability estimated four weeks. Job was rope rider on main slope hoisting rope. He was riding a loaded trip from a lower level to another entry above, and as he attempted to step off the moving trip at the top entry, he stepped on a piece of loose coal, lost his balance and swung around causing him to fall and several cars of loaded trip passed over toes of right foot. Clean haulage roads with tight cars, enabling the mine management to maintain clean track, are essential to prevent such accidents. Rope riders should also exercise more precaution in alighting from a moving trip. (UPCCEM, Dec. 1935)
While, John - Miner - No. 2 Mine. John had the misfortune of severely injuring his foot while at work in the No. 2 Mine. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1930)
While, John - Miner - Hanna No.2 Mine. Amputation of right thumb. Period of disability not known. John was loading coal with his two partners and while he was lifting a chunk of coal onto a car, a piece of rock scale fell from the roof, twenty-four feet in height, striking his thumb, lacerating and fracturing it so severely that it had to be amputated. Extreme precaution is used at Hanna in handling roof scale, but even with all the care taken, injuries of this nature happen occasionally. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1933)
Woody, Homer J., American, age 41, married, driller, Section No. 2, Hanna No. 4-A Mine. Fracture of first right rib near shoulder blade. Woody was working with three other men on a cutting and drilling crew. The face had been cut and the machine man and his helper were moving the machine into a crosscut. Woody and his partner were drilling in the face, and while drilling one of the top holes, the drill stuck, turned over and struck Woody on the right side. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1943)
Wright, Robert - Machine Runner - Hanna No. 4 Mine. Was taking off machine chain, the cable on the machine blew up, burning his arm. (UPCCEM, Nov. 1930)
Wright, Robert - Machine Runner - Hanna, No. 6 Mine. Fractured pelvis. Was pulling a cutting machine back from the undercut of the slope and was getting ready to rotate the cutter bar to make a shearing cut in the face when the chain slipped off the traveling sprocket, allowing the machine to run down the slope. This caused the rear end of the machine to jump the track and squeeze the operator between the machine and the rib. This accident could have been more serious. While apparently no person is to blame, it was demonstrated that the operator could unconsciously work the wrong operating levers that would cause the machine to run down to the face. Provisions have been made to prevent an accident of this kind happening again. (UPCCEM Aug. 1931)