A roof fall was discovered on the preshift examination on 9/16/2025 near spad 1740 in the beltline. The area was mine in July 1980 and bolted with 5 fully grouted bolts with straps. The fall was about 5 high and 98 long.
Mine 78Coal
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 132
- Years on record
- 2006–2025
- Latest incident
- Sep 2025
Reportable incidents
132 on file2025 · 6 incidents
Employee was changing fuse on a 60V quick charger. EE unplugged the wrong charger and inserted the fuse without the fuse cap which resulted in EE feeling a shock. Employee claimed later that EE felt a tightness in EE's chest and had abnormal breathing.
Employee strained right shoulder while bending a 6' roof bolt and worked until 8.1.2025 making it a loss time accident.
Employee was bending a 6' roof bolt when EE's pinky finger got pinched between the roof bolt plate and bolt, resulting in needing 3 stitches.
Employee was loading straps onto the roof bolter, when the strap edge grazed EE's left forearm. This resulted in a laceration requiring stitches.
Employee was bending a six foot roof bolt when EE felt a pop in their left shoulder. Not sure of the extent at this time.
2024 · 7 incidents
Employee was placing a roof bolt into the chuck of a twin boom bolter head, when the roof bolt plate cut EE's finger resulting in stitches.
A roof fall above anchorage was found during the preshift examination in the belt entry of O-Mains near survey spad 11514. The roof fall was in the intersection of the belt line in an isolated area where adverse roof was encountered. The area was mined approximately 7 years ago.
Employee was bending a bolt when EE's hand slipped off the bolt causing EE to fall forward. Using EE's arms to brace EE's fall, EE's right forearm struck a roof plate laying in the mud. This caused a laceration.
Employee was reaching for a strap on the bolter when EE slipped and landed on EE's left shoulder.
Employee was bending roof bolts and felt a pull in their shoulder.
Employee was hand loading loose crib blocks into a scoop bucket and felt a sharp pain in neck/back area.
Individuals left forearm was struck while bolting by a piece of rock which fell from the roof. Resulted in a laceration which required 8 stitches.
2023 · 4 incidents
Employee was assisting in lifting equipment doors when EE felt a strain in EE's back which resulted in a loss time incident.
A piece of drawrock fell from the rib striking employee on back and right arm resulting in four stitches to right arm
Employee was bending a roof strap that was broken off, back and forth to get it to snap off, sharp end of strap went thru their glove causing a laceration resulting in eight stitches, no lost time.
While loading cable bolt plates on bolter, employee pinched left little finger between a bundle of plates and bolter resulting in fracture of left little finger.
2022 · 14 incidents
Employee was roof bolting when a loose rock came down striking EE's right hand resulting in sutures.
While roofbolting,the employee knelt down on a rock twisting right knee, employee worked full duty until 02/07/2023 making this a lost time accident.
The H 10 section was moving to a new section, H 11, employee was helping set low drive for new section. While walking stepped in hole twisting left ankle resulting in lost time.
Employee went to get up from being on knees, felt pain in right knee, pain got worse as shift progressed. Employee worked up to Dec. 16th resulting in surgery to right knee meniscus.
EE and another employee were throwing belt structure for belt up. EE's right hand got between two bottom rails causing a fracture of the third metacarpal resulting in lost time.
While roof bolting, the employee said they got dust in their eye. EE rinsed the eye out and had blurred vision. EE then sought medical treatment on 08/27/2022 and was diagnosed with a detached retina. This resulted in a lost time injury.
While crawling a rock got stuck under the employee's knee pad. This caused a cut on the right knee of the employee which then became infected.
While bending bolts, the employee felt pain in right shoulder. The employee worked full duty until 02/06/2023 making this a lost time accident.
While belting up, EE's right middle finger got pinched between two top stands, resulting in six stitches
While installing six foot roof bolt, felt pop in right shoulder after bending bolt with pain resulting in lost time.
While tramming bolter to freshly mined cut to start bolting, rock fell off canopy striking right shoulder, this resulted in a lost time injury.
Getting out of scoop, twisted, felt pop in lower back. This resulted in restricted duty.
Individual was pulling strap off of the roof bolter when it became stuck. Then when it became free it slid across the bolter striking the individual's right arm resulting in a laceration which required sutures.
Individuals hand slid off of the handle while using the belt splice scissors. Which caused the handle to strike the employee on the eye brow causing a laceration. This resulted in stitches.
2021 · 9 incidents
Mine examiner constant crawling, water and mud in section, swelling and pain in knee
Unintentional roof fall in the # 2 entry of B 3 Right section from spad # 12541 to the face. It was approximately 560' long and was caused by poor roof conditions. The fall happened during an idle period of five days and was discovered on a pre-shift exam for the next scheduled shift.
Employee was backing roof bolter out of cut, canopy was too high striking cable bolt head, head broke off striking employee on right forearm resulting in three stitches.
Helping mechanic to take off rub rail on miner,the rub rail fell onto the employees left foot resulting in a fracture and lost time injury.
WHILE INSTALLING 12' CABLE BOLT, CABLE BOLT PLATE SPUN STRIKING RIGHT ARM RSULTING IN 14 STITCHES
Dropped bolter head after installing roof bolt, bolt wrench came out of chuck, bounced off drill head, striking EE in right eye resulting in one stitch in eye lid.
Was throwing belt structure under belt for belt up and felt something pop in left shoulder. With pain, EE worked full duty until 03/19/2021, had surgery 03-22-2021.
We had a roof fall in the B 2 3 left section crosscut 3-2 Left Butt, Approx. four foot coal seam. The dimensions of fall is ""80' long, 18' wide, 10' high"". The fall appears to have occurred as a result of adverse rock associated with a geologic transition.
Was pulling down a large rock with five foot rock bar, rock twisted when it fell hitting left foot
2020 · 7 incidents
Lifting four inch Yelomine pipe off of belt drive with tree attached, resulting in strain/pull upper back. Went off work 12/15/2020.
Was putting strap under bolt, put two foot bolter wrench on to bolt, wrench came off bolt and struck EE above left eye resulting in four stitches.
Cutting steel 1""X6""X10', steel started to fall, moved hand out of way, caught finger on saw blade resulting in five stitches, saw was not on.
Pulling top roller thru belt, felt sharp pain in left shoulder and arm. Employee worked until surgery on 08/17/2020 to repair rotator cuff.
Holding drill steel in roof going to add another steel, steel fell out of roof with steel pinching finger between another steel
Pulling structure rail, caught left little finger between rail and bottom stand, resulting in one stitch.
Loading T-3 channel onto bolter, channel cut left middle finger thru glove, resulting in four stitches
2019 · 7 incidents
Loading roof mats onto bolter one slipped and cut middle finger resulting in five stitches.
MBC operator was picking a rock out of coal chain when it slipped out of the operator's hand and cut left ring finger resulting in fracture and stitches.
While belting up, EE pulled rail apart and smashed middle left finger between another rail resulting in fracture and stitches.
Employee was pulling straps off stack of straps, stack rolled and landed on right hand twisting fingers resulting in fracture of little finger and ring finger right hand.
While removing a rock from the coal chain on a bridge conveyor, the rock fell landing on their right foot causing them to fall and hit their right ear off the side of the bridge, resulting in bruised ankle and stitches in the right ear.
Miner was turning crosscut 3-4, stopped to remove a rock from tail of miner when a piece of coal/rock rolled out from rib between the posts striking right hand causing fracture. Rock size unknown.
2018 · 9 incidents
EE was removing a rock lodged in the dolly, rock slipped smashing EE's left thumb, resulting in six stitches.
Drilling a hole for a rib bolt when glove on left hand caught the drill steel rotating the glove around the steel and lacerating employee's little finger. This resulted in sutures
Was walking along low belt,stepped on a rock or on rail of low belt and twisted left leg resulting in fracture.
Cutting belt for chicken lip, utility knife slipped lacerating left forearm
Ran over six inch cement block with scoop which created a bump and jarred employee's back
While breaking low structure apart ee pulled a rail off of a bottom stand and pinched finger between the rail and a bottom stand behind self.
Pulling strap off top of bolter and strap cut thru glove into left thumb.
While stacking cable with their back toward the rib line, rock material above the coal that was protected with posts fell out striking them in the right arm and right leg resulting in them getting 7 stiches in the right arm.
While cleaning the right side of a cut (taking the pie out of #1 ent.) the rib rolled out striking the operator in the back.
2017 · 6 incidents
Employee was sliding a strap onto the bolter and the edge of the strap cut through their glove and cut their finger requiring them to get stiches
There was a clay vein observed in the intersection that is believed to have contributed to the fall in the affected area of B-Mains (5 Belt).
EE was roof bolting when drill steel broke off in the roof. EE went to get the broken part out of the chuck when the other half fell out of the roof striking pinky finger.
While getting an oil can off of a 60V Johnson 2 man jeep, one of the cans fell striking the tram pedal, which was not panicked out, causing the jeep to move forward pushing the individual into the rib.
EE was getting out of the scoop and fell.
The crew was belting up and EE was on the tight side of the belt when a piece of coal rolled onto EE's back.
2015 · 5 incidents
While using a hand help grinder to prep a hitch pin for welding the cut-off wheel broke then caught causing the tool to kick suddenly striking the employee lacerating his forearm. Stiches were required to close the wound.
Employee Was beating on plugged drill steels and smashed his finger. Stitches were required
Roof fall approx 60' inby survey station 501 on 5 Belt. The fall is approx 20' wide x 30' long 8'-10' high.
As the employee was pulling on a new piece of conveyor belt that had just been threaded through a belt tail he lost his footing on the muddy bottom and as he slipped - strained his left knee. ***Employee did not go off work until 6/10/15***
Some rock had fallen on the top of the continuous mining machine while mining. After the miner was backed out of the cut the victim was pushing rock off the miner with his hand. As one of the piece tipped before falling it caught the ring finger of his right hand and lacerating it. It required several stitches.
2014 · 5 incidents
Roof fall approx 800' outby C21 Butt in belt entry 3# the fall was 60' long 18' wide 7' high
While the victim was loading roof straps onto the roof bolter, the straps slid off the machine lacerating his right thigh.
The employee was cutting the metal banding off of a bundle of roof mats when one of the bands sprung back lacerating his right forearm. The wound required 7 stitches to close.
Cable bolt steels became stuck in the chuck of the roof bolter. The employee wiggled the steels which were under tension in an attempt to loosen them. Finally the steels sprung free striking the victim in the mouth lacerating his lip which then required several stitches.
While jacking the belt together with a chain come along and belt grab, the come along let loose causing the handle to swing around striking the victim above the right eye. The brow area was lacerated and required five stitches to close the wound.
2013 · 3 incidents
Roof fall approx 500' out by #3 belt drive in the #6 intake entry. Intersection 30'long, 20'wide, 6'-8'high.
Fall was in the intersection of #0 Entry at Sta #4930 (100' inby). Area was bolted with 6' full grouted supertwist bolts 3/4"" and 12' cable bolts.
The EE was removing a cement block from a wall to establish a vent to the return. The block above the one he had removed fell striking his left hand and lacerating his index finger.
2012 · 7 incidents
While pushing a bolt up into the roof it began to bend over. The victim then attempted to drop the bolter head down. Instead of activating the down pressure he mistakenly hit the rotation causing the wrench to swing out of center and strike him.
While bending roof bolts off the bolter, the victim lost his grip on the bolt and it sprung back and cut his lower lip on the roof plate requiring five stitches.
While pulling drill steels out of the roof after drilling a hole - one of the steels struck him below the right eye
The employee was exiting the operator's compartment of the scoop tractor
A roof fall occurred in the last open x-cut in #0 Entry in the G-Butt working section MMU 002-0. 6' fully grouted Super twists bolts were being used. 5 bolts out of two rows were pulled out of rock and approx. 6' of unsupported roof fell this was at the face of #0 entry.
After drilling a hole and as the drill steels were being drawn from the roof the steels stuck for a moment then releases unexpectedly striking the victim and lacerating his hand.
System cables were being pulled around a corner as part of a section move. Two corner support timbers set earlier were dislodged and fell to the ground mixing with some low belt structure. The victim stopped the process and attempted to clear the area out when piece of the rib rolled out on him.
2011 · 11 incidents
While installing a roof bolt, a piece of rock fell striking his right hand and injuring his finger.
The victim reported on 12-5-11 that he had been hospitalized for the treatment of an infection from 12-3-11 thru 12-4-11 (weekend). The infection was an apparent result of a self inflicted cut the employee sustained when he attempted to open a bucket of roof bits using a belt knife. His initial assessment of the cut was that it was not serious.
The victim operating the helper side on a twin boom bolter was drilling a hole for a corner bolt. When he reached for his drill steels a rock measuring 8"" x 1' x 2"" thick fell from the roof and struck his finger.
A bundle of roof bolt plates fell on the victim's left hand causing a deep laceration of the middle finger and its tendon.
A roof fall occurred during the midnight shift in the F-Butt Room set # 5 thru 10 in the #10 room 1 x-cut inby station #3714. The fall measured 4 1/2' high, 20' wide, 25' long and was support with 4' fully grouted rods. No ventilation was impaired and no escapeway was blocked.
While backing up the haulage system the wash down hose on the MBC employee was operating fell off the machine and was ran over by the Cat causing the hose to rupture striking him in the face with water spray. He jumped from the operator's compartment and was pinned to the coal rib by the MBC.
The employee was installing the outside bolt when a piece of rock fell from between the atrs and the rib striking the employee on the rt. forearm resulting in a laceration. Several stitches.
The EE knelt on a roof plate that was on a roof bolt lying loose on the bottom. The sharp corner of the plate cut his knee,and requiring several stitches.
While drilling the roof, the victim had his hand on the drill steel to steady it. At some point his glove was caught in the rotation action pulling his hand in to the rotation, causing the tendon injury and possible breakage to the 5th finger of his left hand.
A roof fall was discovered during an idle shift along the D-Main Travel way 1xcut outby sta #2376. The fall measured approx. 8-10' high, 20' wide, 25' long. The area was bolted with 4' fully grouted resin bolts.
2010 · 4 incidents
A roof fall occurred in the D-mains travel way #5 entry (extra intake). The fall measured 20'wide, 40'long, 5'high and supports with 4' fully grouted resin bolts.
While the victim was cleaning rock from the conveyor of the MBC that had been parked he pinched his left pointer finger between the rock he was throwing and the mine roof causing his finger to be fractured/lacerated.
A roof fall was discovered in the Abandoned Room #8 of the C-2-2 Butt 1 x-cut inby Station #1798. The fall was 150' long, 20' wide and 7' high. The area was bolted with 4' fully grouted rods. The roof appeared to be poorly structured.
A roof fall was discovered in the abandoned Room #10 of C-2-2 Butt. 1 x-cut inby station #1841. The area was bolted with 4' fully grouted bolts. The area appeared to be poorly structured roof.
2009 · 10 incidents
EE was waiting for the haulage unit to back-up so he could secure the bolter cable to the mine roof. EE thought the MBC unit had backed up past him when he stepped forward to begin hanging cable the operator moved to adjust the MBC trapping EE's left foot under the cat.
An extension to a previously reported roof fall dated 7/09/09 in the abandoned C-1 Butt area from the #3 entry approx. 30 ft toward the #2 entry. The fall was 6'-10' high. The area was located approx. 300' outby the face of C-1 Butt & was bolted with 6' fully grouted 3/4"" dia. bolts. The area was cribbed & dangered off.
While attempting to spot bolt a triangular shaped ledge on the corner of the first cut of a block a piece of the ledge came loose and slid down the drill steel. As the victim attempted to free his steel from the piece of rock the remainder of the ledge fell lacerating his left hand.
The operator pulled into the face with the bolter. The victim (helper) was positioned along side the machine. Before the ATRS was against the roof, a piece of rock from the face area fell and came back 2 rows between existing bolts and struck the victim. Although incomplete initial information indicates trauma to the lumbar region of the back.
Poorly structured roof resulting in a roof fall approx. 100' occured in the #38 & #39 rooms of the abandoned 1 section. Fall was approx. 6' high.
A section of low belt structure had become partially trapped when the scoop had been parked in the belt line under construction. As the victim attempted to free the structure from under the scoop bucket by wiggling it back & forth, he hit his left hand between the structure & the scoop bucket, fracturing his 5th finger.
The employee was transferring roof bolts from a supply car onto a Fletcher twin-boom bolter. The metal banding securing the bolts had been previously cut and folded back under the bundle. As the victim removed some of the bolts a band dislodged and sprang forward lacerating his right middle finger. 4 stitches were required.
A roof fall was found in the abandoned C-1 butt in the intersection of the #3 entry approximately 300' outby the face. The fall was 60' long x 6'-10' high. Area was bolted with 6' fully grouted 3/4"" bolts. Area was dangered off and timbered.
While drilling a hole in sandstone roof, the victim had advanced the hole depth the length of the first steel. At a point where the second steel was being added and up pressure on the boom was being applied. The second steel kicked out, striking the victim on the face, resulting in a five stitch laceration.
The MBC dolly had been loaded into the scoop bucket to facilitate the haulage system relocation for the section move. As the tramming operation began, the dolly shifted in the scoop bucket pinching the victim's index finger of his right hand which he had placed on the bucket of the scoop resulting in a laceration/crush/fracture of the right finger.
2008 · 9 incidents
Injured was drilling hole in roof stopped to install additional drill steel, when drill steel installed in roof fell out striking man on left hand causing a laceration between thumb and pointac finger. He received six stitches no time lost.
Man was moving box of resin off the roof bolter. He twisted and turned and his right knee gave out.
A roof fall occurred in the C-1 butt section approx 100' from the face of C-1 butt, not being mined. The roof fall was 16' to 18' in width, 25' in length and 4 1/2' in height. Area was bolted with 4' resin bolts. No one was working in area. Mining was being done in return rooms. No ventilation or escapeways were affected.
Man was removing rock from the tail of continuous miner when he caught right ring finger between rock and miner's tail frame crushing finger from tip to first knuckle.
Because of the bad roof conditions, roof mats were being installed, using a twin-boom bolter. The victim installed a rib bolt, then drilled the outside hole for the roof mat. A piece of rock approx 2' square and 3-4""thick fell out of the roof, striking EE with a glancing blow to head, shoulder, ankle and onto foot, causing contusion and laceration, six stiches.
It was the end of the shift and the victim was rock dusting and hanging canvas in the face areas. A roof mat/steel strap that had been previously installed was torn and protruding from the roof somewhat. The victim did not see the strap and came in contact with it lacerating his face below his left eye. The cut required eleven stitches to close.
The victim was in the process of drilling a hole in the roof to install a roof bolt. After starting the drill steel into the roof and as he applied up pressure with the boom, he rested his left hand on the boom. A piece of rock broke loose from the roof and fell, striking him on the hand. Resulted in a crush injury to his hand and index finger. There were no broken bones.
After drilling a hole, the victim using the two fingers of his right hand, began guiding the two sections of an instal-2 roof bolt as he raised the boom of the roof bolter toward the roof. At some point the top section of the bolt caught somehow causing the joint of the two sections to buckle sideways pinching his pointer finger, breaking and lacerating it.
Roof bolter was being positioned to install 4' resin bolts & mats. As the machine approached to final 2 rows of bolts previously installed so as to begin bolting the new cut, a piece of rock fell from between the bolts striking the victim on the back. Rock Appx 12"" w, 3' long. ATRS & post jacks not yet deployed as the roof bolter had not yet reached it's beginning position.
2007 · 8 incidents
While in the process of retrieving belt structure from the last room set up the victim pinched his right pointer finger between the roof and the structure piece as he attempted to load it onto a skid for transport. The resulting laceration required 15 stitches to repair. ""no lost time""
While crossing a narrow bridge on his johnson cart, a hoe being carried on the cart caught on the structure of the bridge. The handle of the how flipped striking the victim on his right hand positioned on the cart's steering wheel causing a fracture to the 4th & 5th metacarpal of the right hand.
The victim was bending a piece of sheet steel measuring 4' x 10"" X 3/16"" which had been placed in a vise. At some point during the operation the piece of steel worked loose and the sprung free from the vise striking the victim lacerating his forhead.
Bolter operators were loading 13' Long metal straps(used for roof support). While turning to load more straps on the bolter the victim's arm hit the corner of the other straps being loaded lacerating the victim's left arm in the elbow area.
Victim was crossing the low belt after it had been shut off and locked out. As he was crossing the belt he tripped and fell lacerating his right knee on the belt structure.
While loosening a bolt the wrench slipped causing an abrupt jerk to the victim's left arm after which he had to catch himself from falling.
The victim was holding a steel rod (1.5"" diameter) while it was being struck with a sledge hammer to penetrate a cinder block wall. At some point he was struck with a glancing blow from the hammer when it ricocheted off the steel rod.
The victim had lifted a scoop wheel/tire with a cable style come-along. Upon lowering the tire the victim's left ring & little fingers were pinched between the cable and pully on the hook end lacerating both fingers & seriously injuring the left little finger.
2006 · 1 incident
Victim was helping move steel I-beams. After lifting the beam, the victim's right pointer and index fingers became pinched under the beam when it was lowered into place.