Mining Incidents

RUSTIC RIDGE #1 MINECoal

LCT ENERGY LP · Underground
Controlled by JAZ Ventures LP
Donegal, PA, Westmoreland County, PA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3610089
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
53
Years on record
2019–2026
Latest incident
Mar 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

53 on file

2026 · 3 incidents

Rubbed or abraded

Employee was attempting to manually remove a downed piece of immediate roof rock (approx. 4"" thick by 4' long), that was obstructing an outby travel way. Their hand slipped while doing so, which caused an approx. 2"" laceration on the distal end of their left middle finger.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was moving miner cable by hand and while doing so, they felt a strain in upper back area.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee exited a scoop outby, lost footing and twisted their left knee. The employee continued to perform their regular work duties until 2/6/2026, at which point employee is going to be off work due to medical procedures.

2025 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was discovered in the F Butt #1 worked out area. The fall appears to have started in the #3 (belt) entry and traveled through the x-cuts left and right to the #2 and #4 entries, measuring approximately 20' wide, 80' long, and an undetermined height. The exact cause of the fall is unknown.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was loading a roof bolter with straps, tripped and cut right index finger, approx. 1 inch long. Employee received four stitches.

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

Employee was helping the miner operator clean rocks off of the continuous miner. While doing so a rock slid down and pinched EE's thumb between the continuous miner and the rock.

2024 · 9 incidents

Struck by falling object

Bolter Operator was bolting in the G5 continuous mining section, when a piece of the immediate roof fell. The piece of roof rock initially landed on Operator's canopy, which then slid down and struck Operator on the back of the right hand, from which Operator received a fracture in said hand.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was roof bolting in the B9 Shuttle Car section on the helper side. While inserting a roof bolt into a roof strap, the strap shifted, caught EE's arm, and caused an approximately 4 inch laceration from which EE received seven stitches.

Struck by falling object

Employee was bolting on the helper side in the G 9 haulage section. Upon completing the drill hole, EE's steels fell from the roof and struck EE on the back of the right hand, causing a contusion.

Struck by falling object

Employee was attempting to set a post outby along B Mains intake travel way. While doing so, EE was struck on their left foot by a loose piece of the rib, which resulted in a fractured toe and a contusion on EE's ankle.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working outby. While cutting a piece of belt EE's hand slipped and EE cut self in the left thigh causing a small laceration. EE received 3 stitches.

Struck by falling object

Employee was bolting in the B4 continuous mining section and was struck by a piece of cap-rock on EE's ankle, causing a sprain.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was one crosscut outby the active faces of the B4 Section. While walking back to the faces the employee tripped and fell causing superficial lacerations on right cheek and an abrasion on the right side of their neck.

Struck by falling object

The employee was bolting in the #5 entry of the B Right 2 continuous mining section. While preparing to start a drill hole, EE's steel contacted the roof. A piece of immediate roof (approx. 3"" thick by 12"" wide by 27"" long) fell down and struck EE on the forearm causing a contusion.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was walking in the #3 entry of the G3 haulage section (MMU-001) and lost footing, which resulted in them rolling their left ankle.

2023 · 8 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A Roof Fall occurred three crosscuts outby the G 1 active section. It was in #5 entry in the intake common, spad# 4482. It was approx. 40 ft. by 25 ft. in area and fell approx. 8 ft. above the coal seam.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was assisting with the removal of rock from a continuous mining machine. While doing so EE cut left middle finger. EE did not seek immediate medical treatment. The cut became infected and EE sought treatment on 10/24/2023 and has been off since 10/25/2023.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was assisting with a belt-up in the haulage section. While attempting to cut a piece of belt, EE's hand slipped and EE cut self. It caused an approx. 1 inch laceration which required 3 stitches.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was helping the bolter operator attempt to remove a cable bolt that had become stuck in a drill head using a pry bar. When the cable bolt head broke free, the pry bar in use struck the victim above the left eye causing an approx. 1"" cut and swelling.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was trying to loosen a bolt on a continuous miner lid when they felt a pop and pain in left bicep. Employee worked until scheduled surgery on June 13, 2023.

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

Employee was riding on a diesel mantrip into the shop, at the end of the shift. The tip of EE's left boot was sticking out and it got caught between a small post on the mantrip and a ground-mounted metal post that was mounted in the shop "" garage door "" entrance. EE received stitches on EE's large toe.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was using a slate bar to pry on the cable handler of the miner. The slate bar slipped and caused EE to fall into the cable handler. Employee did not initially miss work. EE went for a check-up on 4/20/2023 and was given a week off, which in turn made it a ""lost time"" accident.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

A coal miner was working along the ""lo-lo"" belt portion of a haulage section. The tail gobbed out and while the miner was assisting with the clean-up process the miner became caught in the tail. The miner recieved multiple breaks in the arm and fractures in the hand.

2022 · 5 incidents

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

While bolting, and starting to install a 6' bolt in the roof. The operators hand slipped and pushed EE's right index finger in between the roof bolt and a strap causing a laceration that required 4 stitches.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was roof bolting on the helper side of a twin-boom bolter. Employee reached to grab a metal roof strap in order to install it and cut the palm of left hand. It created a laceration roughly 3 inches in length.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was rock dusting the Lo-Lo belt area in the D Mains #1 haulage section and tripped over the structure, twisting left knee.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was spotting dust in order to dust the slope belt and experienced lower back pain in relation to that activity.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was de-trashing #6 entry along the main travel way. EE was lifting mud/ice laden pallets and felt a pop in groin area. Employee was not initially a lost time accident as they worked until 3/28/2022 doing regular job when they then went for treatment.

2021 · 9 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating the Return Side shuttle car in the B3 Mains (MMU-02) continuous mining section. Employee hit a bump in the mine floor and experienced a sharp pain in the left side; rib area.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

During a belt-job, employee felt a pop in shoulder while lifting structure.

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

While removing a rock from the shuttle car, the employee pinched their hand between the rock and the rib. This resulted in a laceration. Upon getting checked by the Dr. it was discovered to be fractured.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While drilling the roof to install a roof bolt, the drill steel bent. While removing the steel from the roof and drill head the drill steel, being under pressure, struck the operator in the left hand/wrist.

Accident type, without injuries

Weathering contributed to a roof fall inby spad#17 of the #3 entry (slope belt). The fall is 10 feet long and 6 feet high. No one was injured, ventilation was not affected, and the secondary escapeway was re-routed.

Struck by falling object

While roof bolting, employee's drill steels clogged up. When EE was removing them from the roof they fell free striking EE on the left hand causing a small laceration between the thumb and index finger. EE was treated in the ER where EE received 4 stitches.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

While changing a roller on the belt in the screen house, employee felt a pain and spasm in EE's back. EE went for evaluation and found swelling on EE's L3 disk.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was observed during the return run on April 8, 2021 at spad No.1421 in the No.1 Entry of B mains return. No one was injured. The No. 2 entry is in common, so it did not affect ventilation and it did not impede travel.

Struck against a moving object

On 03/24/2021 employee filed an accident report stating employee injured back while operating a shuttle car on 03/17/2021.

2020 · 10 incidents

Struck against stationary object

While bolting, cut hand on roof strap. Laceration required 3 stitches.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While stepping through a mandoor during EE's pre-shift the employee felt a pull in EE's groin area. Did not get checked until 12/30/20. Broken blood vessel in groin area.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee grabbed a cable to hook up the slack. EE felt a sharp pain in EE's upper back near the shoulder. EE finished EE's shift and sought medical attention. Restricted duty, no missed work. After follow up appointment, additional restrictions were applied. EE is unable to work till released. First day missed 10/16/2020.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

While unloading 4"" block from the scoop bucket, employee felt a sharp pain in lower back. Employee was treated by an EMT and transported outside where they went via ambulance to the ER.

Struck by flying object

While loading structure for a belt up, the employee had EE's hand on the edge of the scoop bucket. Another employee threw a rail into the bucket, striking the injured right pinky causing a laceration. The employee was treated by an EMT and transported outside.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was adding structure while the tail was chained off. The chain broke causing the tail to push the stucture into EE's ankle. EE was treated by EMT's and transported to the surface. EE went to the ER and found EE had a broken ankle.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was roof bolting when they struck an elbow on the rib causing a small laceration. Employee finished the shift and went to ER the next morning where they received 3 stitches. Did not miss any part of any shift.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was discovered in the return during the weekly run. The fall occurred between 5/23 & 5/30/2020 when it was discovered. MSHA & PA DMS were notified. Section was withdrawn until the area could be rehabilitated. The roof fall was located at spad #760 in the East Mains #2 rooms. It extended from the solid rib in the #1 entry, across the #2 entry, into the crosscut #2-#3.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting a cable when employee felt something snap in right forearm. EMT transported employee outside where employee made arrangements to go to the ER.

Struck by flying object

Employee was grinding belt structure on shift. After the shift on the drive home, they rubbed their eyes. Employee went home and slept. When they awoke, the eye was sore so they went to the dr. At the dr.'s they removed a piece of metal from the right eye.

2019 · 6 incidents

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

Employee was operating shuttle car. EE was attempting to negotiate a left hand turn to get under the miner tail when EE got too close to the rib and pinched EE's arm between the rib and the kitchen of the shuttle car.

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

The feeder bottomed out while tramming it to the new section. Cribs were placed under the rear end so the cats could be lifted. After the feeder became unstuck, the employee reached under the feeder to remove the cribs. The feeder teetered back pinching employee's finger between the crib and mine bottom.

Struck by flying object

Employee was changing bits on the miner. They struck one that was stuck with a hammer and a shard of metal hit below the left eye. EE was treated at hospital and released. After 3 weeks of blurred vision EE was seen by eye specialist who removed metal from the eye on 9/19/2019. Employee is off work till released by Dr.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was tramming scoop down slope and bottomed out in a rut. Worked the rest of shift and following week thinking EE was just sore. EE did not report accident until 8/27/2019.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

While bending a 6' bolt, employee slipped forward and felt a tugging in the groin area. Employee did not report incident until 07/05/2019 after the pain did not subside.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was grinding wear strips on continuous miner in the pit. A piece of metal struck EE in the eye. EE was wearing safety glasses and full face shield at the time. Worked the shift. Noticed it the next day upon waking.