Mining Incidents

DEEP MINE 44Coal

PARAMONT CONTURA, LLC · Underground
McClure, Dickenson County, VA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4407308
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
78
Years on record
2015–2026
Latest incident
Mar 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

78 on file

2026 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee stated EE was throwing cable over in #7 heading with another employee. After picking up the cable, EE twisted as EE was throwing the cable over and felt a sharp pain in EE's left lower back. EE continued to work until 3/31/2026.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was trying to get a rock off the side of the miner using a slate bar. As the rock came off, the slate bar slid down the side of the miner and the employee felt a pop near right shoulder. They continued to work until taken off by a doctor on 3/20/2026.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis for employee on 3/12/2026.

Struck by falling object

Employee pulled bolting machine up in #1 heading and spotted a roof bolt, then sounded the roof and stated it sounded drummy and then tried to pull down a piece of rock but was unable to. EE then drilled a hole to bolt it up and was making up a bolt to installed when a piece of rock fell striking EE on the left forearm. This resulted in 5 stitches.

Struck by falling object

Employee states EE was bolting in #4, in 4R entry, first turn. EE had just completed installing EE's first bolt on EE's 3rd row and went to swing in to install EE's 2nd bolt. When EE swung in, a piece of draw rock fell from the mine roof striking EE's right foot resulting in a fracture to EE's 1st metatarsal.

2025 · 6 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee states EE was bending roof bolt to put up. When EE went to bend the bolt, EE felt like EE's left shoulder was grinding. Employee continued to work up until surgery on 2/2/2026.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was assisting their bolting partner tram their roof bolt machine from #4 right to #4 left. While tramming the roof bolt machine, the operator did not see the employee at the rear of the machine while getting into position in #4 Left and caught the injured employee between the roof bolt machine and the coal rib.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was setting bits, turned to go to back of continuous miner and stepped in a hole. EE twisted EE's left knee and fell to the ground.

Struck by falling object

Employee was drilling the outside bolt on EE's 5th row. EE's right hand was resting on EE's right knee when a piece of rock fell from the roof striking EE's hand. This caused a laceration between EE's thumb and pointer finger resulting in 7 stitches.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee states they were bending a bolt to install in the top when they felt a sharp pain in both shoulders but the right one was a lot worse.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee stated they were in the process of installing roof support. They bent a bolt to install into the hole, when attempting to straighten the bolt, the bolt twisted resulting in pain in their right shoulder.

2024 · 8 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated while putting bolt into strap, it got in a bind. The bolt bent, hit rotation and bolt struck left arm causing a laceration resulting in stitches.

Struck by falling object

Employee had just installed a cable bolt and was straightening up the tray when a piece of draw rock fell out between the coal rib and outside bolt striking EE on EE's lower back and right leg. This resulted in a fracture to EE's femur.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated was on the third row in #6 heading in the process of installing the first bolt. EE bent the bolt to install it. As EE was straightening the bolt, it kneeled and EE felt a pain in their right shoulder. Employee continued to work until surgery on 2/21/25.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall that measured 15' wide, 20' long, and 15' high occurred. The fall was isolated to the #5 entry on south mains at break #27. Additional support measures in the form of cribs were installed in by, out by, and to the right to support the area. The release of supported roof was due to an overlying separation above the anchorage of the primary support installed.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated EE went to the mantrip and was getting miner bits off the front of the mantrip. EE stated EE reached and got two buckets of miner bits and twisted to go back to the stinger. EE tripped over the waterline and caught self and EE's lower back began to hurt on the left side. Lost time as of 9/3/24.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall that measured 16' wide, 25' long, and 12' high occurred isolated to the #6 entry on the active 002 MMU. Additional support measures in the form of cribs, 7 cable bolts were installed out by the roof fall to support the area. The release of supported roof was due to an overlying separation above the anchorage of the primary support installed.

Struck by falling object

Employee stated was in the process of putting a draw bar from the MRS to the retriever when the large knuckle that connects from the retriever to the draw bar fell down pinching EE's left thumb between the draw bar and knuckle. This resulted in an open fracture.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall that measured 8' long, 10' wide and 6 to 14' high. The fall was isolated to the #8 entry at the active pillar line. The release of supported roof was due to an overlying undetected separation above the anchorage of the primary support installed. The separation would not have been possible to detect while drill on advance.

2023 · 5 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was drilling a hole and broke a piece of steel. When EE stood up to get steel out of head, EE slipped on a rock falling into steel with EE's right arm. This resulted in 6 sutures.

Struck against stationary object

Employee stated was in the process of starting the fourth row in #5 heading. When EE swung the drill station out to put up the outside bolt, EE's left middle finger came in contact with the rib. This resulted in a fracture and stitches.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was installing roof bolt in the hole after drilling. Bolt was bent. While using both hands straightening bolt out to put in drill chuck, the bolt turned which resulted in a pop felt in left shoulder. EE continued to work until 7/4/2023.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional non-injury roof fall that measured 12' long, 19' wide and 6 to 14' high was isolated to the #4 entry at the active pillar line. Additional support measures in the form of jacks and beams and rope bolts were installed out by the roof fall to support the area.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee stated they were in the process of pinning belt together. While positioned on knees they pulled the belt back to line the splice up and felt a pain in lower right back. They continued to work until 1/30/23.

2022 · 12 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #8 entry at spad #5190 on Cowan Panel 2 at break 7. The roof fall was approx. 20' wide x 15' high. Roof fall was discovered by the mine examiner.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #4 entry on Cowan Panel 2 at break 8. The roof fall was approx. 20' wide x 65' long x 15' high. Roof fall occurred on the day shift discovered by section foreman.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #4 heading on Cowan 3 Bridge at break #9. The roof fall was approx. 70' x 19' x 14. Roof fall occurred on the owl shift.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling belt with channel locks to line splices up in order to pin a piece of move belt in. After pinning belt, EE sat down to watch belt get pulled in and felt a pain in their back.

Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall occurred on the 004 MMU on Cowan Bridge in the #2 left xcut. Fall was approx. 25' long 16' wide and 7' high. The fall will not be cleaned up.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

cutting off a splice when the blade broke in the belt causing the knife to slip out and cut leg

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the secondary escape way in the #2 entry on Cowan Panel 2. Fall was approx. 20' in by SS#5060 at break 9. Roof fall was approx. 10' long, 10' wide and 6 to 7' high.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was bolting in the #4 heading on the operator side of FB73 on the 3rd row on the outside bolt, had drill hole and push bolt top had drill steel in left hand and drop drill head and it caught drill pot and pushed drill steel into left thigh. This resulted in a bruise. Employee continued to work until 4/21/2022 when doctor took employee off work.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred in an out by area of the 002 MMU on Ramsey Mains at xcut 21.

Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was found at survey station #5037, #7 heading, break #6 on Cowan Panel 2. A slip fell across the entry measuring 20' long, 40' wide and 15' in height.

Struck by falling object

Employee went to pin curtain back up when an undetected rock fell striking them. The rock pushed head down chin against chest and pushed them back.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee going under waterline and felt EE's right knee pop.

2021 · 7 incidents

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis for EE on 10/5/2021.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated that EE was installing bolt. EE was going to straighten the bolt to put back in drill pot when the bolt rolled sideways and EE felt pain in EE's left shoulder. EE continued to work up until EE had surgery on 1/6/2022.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall has occurred in the primary escapeway out by the 002/003 MMU on the #23 belt at survey station #3794, #4 entry xcut and #5 entry. Slip fell across the entry. Additional supports (cribs, jacks, and rails and jacks) were installed. Fall area measured 80' long, 20' wide and 12' in high.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Received a hearing loss diagnosis for employee on 7/1/2021.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was pushing conveyor chain slack out of the way when left hand slipped. A bur on the conveyor chain cut through employee's leather glove resulting in a laceration to the left wrist requiring stitches.

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

While trying to put on a belt clamp, the tensioned belt broke loose catching employee's left thumb resulting in amputation.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

As employee reached for the handle on the canopy of EE's shuttle car to exit the car, EE felt a pain in EE's right shoulder. Employee stated EE pulled self up by the handle.

2020 · 13 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall was found at this operation at 5:45PM in the CO#4 entry of the active retreating 001 MMU. A high angle slip fell in the cut and pulled 2 permanent supports. Rock slid out on the side of MRS#7 blocking it from tramming out. There were no injuries.

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

Employee stated as EE was drilling EE's hole, EE was throwing out EE's bolt and caught EE's finger between the bolt plate and the push plate on the side of the drill head. This resulted in a fracture and stitches to EE's right index finger.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on the miner, stepped off of the rub rail stepping on a rock or uneven bottom causing them to twist their right ankle resulting in a sprain.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall was discovered on the Spring Fork Panel #8. The fall was found on the pre-shift exam at approx. 8:58 PM on 10/4/20. The fall was approx. 16' high, 65' wide and 25' long. There were no injuries.

Contact with electrical current

Employee was pulling cable on the #3 MRS when EE felt a shock in EE's left hand. Section b was completed as serious injury potential due to electrical shock and MSHA was notified via hotline and an investigation started. The employee did not receive any injuries from the shock and RTW on next scheduled shift.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred on Spring Fork Panel 7 at intersection spad #3266, the #7 entry. Roof fall was 10' high, 35' long and 25' wide. There were no injuries.

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

Employee was swinging out to install first bolt in the third row of 4 right. EE stated: had hand on the handle of the canopy and as EE swung out EE pinched the left index finger between the handle and rock that was protruding from the rib.

Struck by falling object

Employee was installing the second bolt in the last row when a piece of undetected draw rock fell on left wrist and forearm resulting in a bruise. Employee was diagnosed with hand pain.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis for employee on 4/27/2020.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis on 4/13/2020 for employee.

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

Employee was closing lid on duster. While pushing hinged lid down, mashed right pinky finger between the lid and the frame of the duster. This resulted in a fracture to the tip of EE's finger and 5 stitches.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee and coworker were in the process of hanging the miner cable to the mine roof when EE felt pain in left arm and shoulder.

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #6 entry of the active retreating 002 MMU. A high angle slip fell in the entry above the anchorage zone. There were no injuries.

2019 · 6 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee had hooked up a rope and had trammed the continuous miner approx. 60' and was about to stop to drop the miner cable that was hung across the entry when the cable came down striking them on the neck and right shoulder area which resulted in pain in their neck and back as well as tingling in them right arm.

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

Employee was pushing a rock into the conveyor of EE's car because it had pulled down some cables. When the weight of the rock shifted into the car, EE's finger was caught between the mine roof and the rock resulting in a hairline fracture to the tip of EE's middle finger and 9 stitches. Employee worked up until 5/13/19 when EE was taken off work.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Received a hearing loss diagnosis on 4/1/2019.

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

Employee alleged that while making the turn into the xcut from the #4 to #5 entry, the car slid into the rib trapping arm between the shuttle car deck and the coal rib. EE continued to tram freeing arm. This resulted in an abrasion to EE's right arm.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis for employee on 2/1/2019.

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

Employee states ee was backing out of 4 heading when drill cable quit taking up. EE states ee turned reel off and reached to grab cable to throw on back bumper. The cable tightened catching fingers between bumper and the cable. This caused an avulsion to the end of ring finger on right hand.

2018 · 7 incidents

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee was drilling the hole when a portion of the coal rib rolled out behind the line curtain. The very end of the rib struck them in the left calf causing their leg to buckle and they rolled the left ankle. Employee did not receive the blunt force of the rib, only enough struck them to cause the ankle to roll. The rib did not hit the ankle.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was coming up 12 belt line on a Mac-3. Employee states employee hit a hole causing the steering wheel to twist catching left hand resulting in a cut to the index finger requiring 3 stitches and a fracture to middle finger at the middle knuckle.

Struck by falling object

Employee was backing the continuous miner when the cutter head of the miner contacted the coal rib on the right side causing the corner to become loose. Employee was unaware of this and went to the cutter head to move the miner cable over. The corner of the rib came out and struck employee's right ankle resulting in a fracture of the tibia and fibula.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall was found on the secondary escape way on the Spraddle Branch Mains at spad #1236.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred on the 002 section, #2 entry in the secondary escape way at spad #1614.

Struck by falling object

Employee was standing beside of drill when a piece of draw rock fell out between bolts striking EE on top of the hard hat. This resulted in a sprain to EE's neck area.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

While raising the belt with a mini-trac to make a belt set up, the belt slid off and came down on employee's head. This resulted in pain in employee's neck and lower back. Employee continued to work until 3/28/2018 when employee was taken off work.

2017 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall was found on the 002 section at intersection spad #327. The roof fall occurred in the #1 intersection on Panel 1A and measured about 8' in height and approx. 20' wide.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was adjusting forks on mini track. While pushing fork, employee felt a pop that resulted in pain in the lower part of employee's back.

Struck by falling object

After removing rub rail pin, the rub rail fell on victim's left foot.

2016 · 1 incident

Accident type, without injuries

The transformer in a belt power center became grounded and caught fire.

2015 · 5 incidents

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Received a hearing loss diagnosis for EE. No % disability at this time.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was operating Fletcher walk thru roof bolter installing roof bolts in 4 right xcut. He had drilled hole in roof, inserted resin and started bolt into hole. He had bent the bolt due to low height. As he attempted to straighten the bolt to get in drill head the bolt shifted and he fell forward hyper extending his right elbow/shoulder.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had drilled hole for 10 cable and installed resin. He reached to get cable bolt to start in hole. As he reached for the bolt he heard a ""pop"" in his left shoulder and felt pain.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received a CWP diagnosis for Employee.

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

Bates Contractor was installing roof bolts with truss bolter and had the canopy raised and was drilling a hole. The collar on the canopy shell had raised up with canopy. He had his hand on the joy stick with his finger extended out. When the collar fell it caught his left index finger between collar and bottom of shell resulting in a fracture and stitches.