Mining Incidents

ORCHARD BRANCH OWL MINECoal

Cumberland, Harlan County, KY · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1519860
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
11
Years on record
2023–2026
Latest incident
Apr 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

11 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was setting conveyor tail piece and was placing a crib block under the leg of the tail piece when the tail piece shifted and pinched the employees left thumb. The injury required 3 stitches to close wound.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was traveling down decline from the portals to the shop area of the underground mine when a mechanical failure occurred in the rear end of the battery personnel carrier EE was operating, which caused excessive speed before overturning the battery powered personnel carrier.

2025 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was moving a piece of rock from a shuttle car. Employee was swinging the rock when their hand made contact with the canopy of the shuttle car causing the rock to cut their hand just below right hand. 5 stitches to close the wound.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was installing rib bolts and placed hand on canopy while raising and crushed EE's left pinky between the canopy and a cable bolt head. This injury resulted in stitches and compound fracture of the tip of EE's finger.

2024 · 6 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee was bolting top and was attempting get drill still out of hole and a piece of sharp rock fell from around the drill hole and cut their forearm. Employee received 4 stitches to close wound.

Struck by falling object

Employee was installing rib bolt, was inserting glue into hole when a piece of sharp draw rock fell from mine roof striking employee's left hand causing a laceration and fracture.

Struck by falling object

EE was loading supplies on a roof bolting machine, when a piece of rock fell from the rib (44inches long, 8 inches wide and 6 inches thick) striking EE on the right leg resulting in a laceration and 3 fractures to the lower leg (below EE's knee).

Fall onto or against objects

Employee stated that they slipped on slick mine floor while working on belt structure and stuck the tip of a pick hammer into their leg. The injury required 2 stitches to close wound.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated that while exiting employee's vehicle in the mine parking lot employee twisted an ankle.

Struck against stationary object

Was adding oil to bolt machine, slipped on knees and arm hit straps, cutting EE's arm.

2023 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

While dumping SC a rock in road hit side of SC & cut ring finger off.