A miner was fatally injured when the supply car on which they were sitting was struck by a locomotive, causing them to fall where they were crushed between the coupler and deck of the supply car.
TUNNEL RIDGE MINECoal
- Fatalities
- 1
- Total incidents
- 200
- Years on record
- 2020–2026
- Latest incident
- Apr 2026
Fatalities at this mine
1 recordedReportable incidents
199 on file (excluding fatalities above)2026 · 7 incidents
While helping change a top, middle belt roller segment, the injured employee's finger was smashed between the roller and bed rail.
Employee was on EE's knees cleaning out the pan when a rock came sliding down the gob pile and hit EE's left hand and wrist, causing the rock to pinch EE's left middle finger against the pan.
An employee was injured while crossing under an unguarded area of moving conveyor belt. The hood on their sweatshirt was pulled into a bottom belt roller, and as they attempted to free it, their left arm was drawn in between the roller and the belt.
Employee was strapping down a load on a supply car while standing on the car at the Battle Run yard, slipped on ice, and fell to the ground. EE worked EE's normal job until going off for surgery on 04/16/2026.
Employee was changing a ram jack on longwall. While employee was trying to get the ram jack into position, it slipped and accidentally got finger caught between the jack and the panline causing injury.
While in the process of removing a stone from the longwall walkway, the employee's finger was pinched between the chunk of stone and the shield framework.
Employee was cutting green dust line with a utility knife and the blade got stuck. When they forcibly removed the knife from the line, they stabbed themselves in the leg.
2025 · 31 incidents
A contract employee was cutting a piece of mine belt with a utility knife and the knife slipped, resulting in a small laceration just above the right knee.
Employee was standing at the back operator's side corner of the continuous mining machine and a piece of rib peeled, pinning left foot against the body of the miner.
A spool valve on a longwall line shield was stuck in the open position allowing the shield to slowly lower. The shield contacted an employee working under it, fracturing two ribs.
There was miscommunication between two employees setting a sand prop which caused the prop to tilt before being raised, striking the injured employee in the ear.
Employee reported to the safety department on 9/17 stating that on 9/16 they got dust behind their glasses & in their eye while cleaning up debris. They rubbed their eye consistently throughout the evening, resulting in scratches on the eye.
Employee strained EE's back while lifting belt structure during a routine belt move.
Employee reached down and picked up a come-a-long which had fallen out of position. As EE went to hang it back up, a rock of unknown size bounced off the belt and struck EE's left hand, nearly severing EE's index finger.
We are a water treatment company. This employee is not an employee of Tunnel Ridge. They were getting into position to take a picture for a service report. They stepped on some loose gravel/dirt. Their feet slipped out from under them. They landed on a large rock on their lower right back.
An unintentional roof fall measuring 16' long by 16' wide by 6' in height occurred in the East Mains #2 belt entry at 25 wall, crosscut 2 to 3.
An unintentional roof fall above anchorage measuring 35' long by 16' wide by 7' in height occurred in the East Mains #3 belt entry at 23 crosscut.
On 7/31/25 the injured employee experienced discomfort in left upper back and shoulder area while performing longwall support duties. After initial medical evaluation, the employee continued to work normal job until being removed from work on 11/4/25 pending surgery, which is scheduled for 11/20/25.
An unplanned roof fall measuring 16' long by 16' wide by 7.5' above anchorage occurred in the East Mains #2 belt entry at 30 crosscut.
An unintentional roof fall measuring 50' long by 16' wide by 7.5' above anchorage occurred in the East Mains #2 belt entry at 17 crosscut.
Employee was helping another employee install roof bolts with a Cobra drill. EE was pushing a bolt into a newly drilled hole with left hand and a rock fell from the mine roof (approximately 8' high) and struck their right hand, which was grasping the drill, lacerating right thumb.
Employee ducked to avoid a come-a-long chain and ran face first into an overcast I-Beam when they raised their head up.
Employee was part of a group installing ""furniture"" on the longwall pan line. The furniture shifted and struck EE on the chin.
A contract employee was working to remove a rock from the Bretby loop on the longwall face and their finger was pinched between the rock and Bretby.
The 8-man auxiliary hoist located at the West Alexander site was down for over 30 minutes for electrical issues and there were three employees on board.
After the employee removed the pin from a belt lowboy draw bar that was hooked to a 30-ton locomotive, the draw bar drifted, pinching a finger between the draw bar lip and locomotive frame.
Employee was trying to remove the pin from a shield dolly draw bar hooked to a 30-ton locomotive. The pin was on a bind and shifted, pinching EE's hand between the pin & draw bar.
Employee exited a supply locomotive and twisted EE's knee. EE continued working EE's normal job through a series of follow up appointments & physical therapy until being removed from duty on 8/7/25 to have ligament repair surgery.
Employee climbed into the locked-out longwall pan line, under the protection of a shield, to relieve the ranging arm hydraulic pressure buildup so a broken cutter shaft could be safely removed. A rock fell from the top in front of the shield tip, deflected off the shearer drum, and struck employee in the shin.
Employee was walking on the concrete floor near the tail of the North Mains #2 conveyor entry and slipped on wet rock dust.
Employee was helping install the trapping shoe and left index finger was pinched between the trapping shoe and rack wheel.
Employee was helping another employee remove a hydraulic hose. A third employee had radioed the pressure had been released from the line. The injured employee was holding the hose as the other employee removed the staple. After the staple was removed the hose whipped out of the injured employee's hand and struck EE's right index finger.
Employee was helping winch a shield ram jack. As EE lifted the jack over a shield toe to keep it from getting bound EE felt a pop in EE's right shoulder. EE treated and was released with limitations we could accommodate. EE continued working EE's regular job while receiving PT until, on April 22, it was determined surgery would be required. EE's last day worked was April 25.
Employee's left foot was pinched between a shield toe and relay bar while working on the 5 Right longwall set-up face.
Employee was using an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to cut a bolt. The cut-off wheel bound up and broke. A small piece of the wheel struck EE in the lower lip.
Employee was using a jackhammer to hammer at a shelf of coal at knee level. The piece of coal gave way and the hammer struck a rock and bounced into EE's foot. Injury was not the result of training or compliance issue.
Employee was struck in the side of the head with a roof strap causing a small laceration.
2024 · 35 incidents
An unplanned ignition occurred on the 2 Left West section while mining the face of the #3 entry.
Employee was struck on the top of the foot by a stone that fell from the roof. Initial medical imaging was clear and EE was issued a work release for 12/30, EE's next scheduled shift. On 12/26 EE followed up with a specialist who suspected a fracture and placed EE off work pending additional imaging.
An unplanned roof fall measuring approximately 50 ft. long by 16 ft. wide by up to 7 ft. above anchorage occurred in the #3 return entry of the 2 Left gate section at 85 1/2 wall.
Weekend warrior employee's foot was caught between two metal objects. EE was taken for an x-ray, which was negative. EE worked normal shift until 12/8. EE's foot was still sore, so EE followed up with a specialist & additional imaging showed a small fracture. EE was given a lace up brace & released to return to work EE's next scheduled shift.
An unplanned ignition occurred on the 2L section while mining the face of the #3 entry.
Carpenter lost grip of a 3/4"" sheet of fire rated plywood. It landed on the top right foot. Carpenter chose to continue to work the rest of shift. Carpenter reported in next day 10/23/24, asked to be medical evaluated due to swelling. Taken to Med Center. All req. PPE was being worn at time of injury. Hardhat, safety glasses, gloves, and compressive resistant toed boots.
Employee was in the process of changing bits on the idle longwall shear and smashed a finger with a hammer.
An 8' wide x 16' long x 6' high unintentional roof fall occurred on the East Mains #2 belt line at 33 crosscut.
Employee was reaching to pick up a wooden crib block and EE's right hand was struck by another wooden crib block which had been tossed in EE's direction by another employee.
Foreman went to grab panels from the crate on site. Stood on skids to reach into the crate, grabbed the panels. lost footing and fell on skid with panels in hand. Panels cut palm of right hand.
Employee was unloading ride to load tools on dolly when the tool box with the gas tanks in. There was a pressure in the box that caused the tool box to burst causing flying debris.
Employee was part of a crew working to unload and store longwall pan line underground. EE stepped in a hole and fell, striking the left side of their head on a piece of pan line, lacerating EE's left ear.
Pouring concrete under belt had to be on hands and knees to finish concrete. Concrete soaked through pants burning legs.
Foreman was hosting a JHA meeting. When done, EE walked around the side of the truck and walked too close to the gang box, resulting in a cut on the cheek.
An unplanned ignition occurred on the 2L section while mining in the face of the #3 entry.
Employee was bolting with a single head bolter and a piece of rib rolled out, smashing EE's right hand against the body of the bolter.
Employee was prepping a roof strap to place in the plank jacks. The strap was lying on the continuous mining machine. The strap began to slide. The employee grabbed the end of the strap and the momentum of the sliding strap pinched employee's hand between the corner of the strap and the coal rib.
An unplanned roof fall measuring approximately 52 ft. long by 16 ft. wide by up to 8 ft. above anchorage occurred in the #1 entry 3-way intersection at 85 wall in the 2 Left gate section. The fall encompassed the entire width of the #1 entry and extended through the #1 to #2 crosscut, stopping approximately 4' from the #2 entry.
As EE's partner was lowering drill steels out of the mine roof with an air drill, the injured employee went to grab the steels not realizing they had separated in the roof. The top steel fell from the roof and pinched EE's thumb between it and the steel EE was reaching for. EE finished the shift & was not seen at a treatment facility until the next day.
A dome shaped unplanned roof fall measuring approximately 20 ft. long by 16 ft. wide by up to 6 ft. above anchorage occurred in the East Mains 3 #2 entry at 23 wall. The roof fall is in an area of high humidity in a 4-way intersection. The humidity most likely caused the original 6' grade 40 bolts to weather and weaken over time.
Employee was exiting the cab of the CAT 980M end loader located at the Battle Run supply yard. They missed a step while climbing down the ladder and fell backwards, bumping their head on the ground.
A dome shaped unplanned roof fall measuring approximately 30 ft. long by 16 ft. wide by up to 7 ft. above anchorage occurred in the #2 entry 4-way intersection at 80 wall in the 2 Left gate section.
Employee was carrying a hydraulic hose down the longwall face and slipped on gob, straining right knee. EE worked EE's regular schedule through 06/05/2024. EE was initially seen at a treatment facility on 06/06/2024 and put off work at follow up appointment on 06/11/2024
Employee strained lower back while helping hang a ventilation tube.
The injured employee, an experienced continuous miner operator, was on the off-side of the miner at the bolter station to help troubleshoot why the ATRS jack would not lower. As the IE bent over to look at the hosing a stone fell from the corner and knocked IE against the framework of the miner, causing a laceration to IE's right eye and left shoulder discomfort.
EE was carrying a cobra drill out of work area. Upon getting ready to go through a mandoor EE threw down the drill with the wrench still in the chuck of the drill. As doing so the drill wrench bounced up striking EE in the right forearm. EE continued to work until EE was diagnosed after MRI with contusion or non-displaced fracture. EE was then taken off work fully on June 17, 2024.
Employee was bolting off the continuous mining machine. Just after EE placed a roof strap in the plank jack, a rock measuring approx. 65"" L x 30"" W x 12"" thick fell from the corner and struck EE in the shoulder area, knocking EE against the dust box of the miner.
Employee was at the control box of a longwall shield and a rock kicked out from the running face and struck EE in the left side near the hip, and EE's left elbow.
The miner crew was mining crosscut 3 to 2. The back bumper of the miner was positioned near the inby corner of the crosscut. As the employee reached for the lever to lower the ATRS jack, the rib rolled off the corner and a rock struck employee's left forearm, pinching it between the miner frame and the rock.
Employee was using a shield wash down hose to clean off rear ram jack pins. EE went to turn the hose off with EE's right hand and the hose, still under pressure, slid through EE's left hand and struck EE above the right eye causing a laceration.
Employee was side bolting off the continuous miner. As EE was using the drill pot to push a bolt into the hole, the bolt bent, pinching EE's right hand between the bolt and the bolter mast.
An unplanned roof fall at or above the anchorage point occurred at the face of the #1 entry of the 1 Left miner unit. The fall measured 48 ft. L x 16 ft. wide x 7 ft. high.
A mechanic was using a hydraulic bit puller to remove inserts on the cutter head of a continuous mining machine. Approximately eight (8) feet away, the injured employee was installing new inserts. As hydraulic pressure was applied to the bit puller, a metal fragment dislodged from the bit puller and penetrated the injured employee's abdomen.
Employee was kneeling in concrete for an extended period of time performing finishing work in a water ring. This action resulted in concrete burns to the miners right and left knee.
An unplanned ignition occurred on the 1 Left gate section while mining in the face of the #2 entry.
2023 · 49 incidents
Employee was using a sledgehammer to knock down a block wall. Several blocks were already out of the wall. They swung the sledge at the wall and missed. The momentum of the swing caused their left hand to be pinched between the sledgehammer handle and a concrete block, causing a laceration.
Employee was helping set the section tailpiece. The roof anchor clamp slipped causing the anchor to flip up and hit them in the chest.
Employee picked up an empty wooden pallet and felt a painful ""pop"" in right bicep.
Employee lacerated left hand on a piece of banding while trying to free a bundle of wedges that was stuck between two pallets.
Employee was tandem lifting 15 pieces of roof mesh over the miner slack with another employee and felt a ""pop"" in their lower back.
Employee was lowering the drill steel after completing a hole and the wrench came out of the pot and struck them on the right cheek, just below their safety glasses.
Employee was using a utility knife to cut mine belt. The knife slipped, slicing EE's left thumb.
Employee was using a utility knife to cut a piece of mine belt and sliced their left pinky finger.
While working in the shaft miner twisted which caused pain in their right knee.
Employee was using a utility knife to remove electrical tape from coiled up hydraulic hoses. The knife slipped, lacerating EE's left thumb.
Employee was helping install the headgate spray arm. The spray arm slipped out of the receiver and fell, pinching EE's left hand between the spray arm and rack bar.
The 1 Left mining crew had an unintentional encounter with the West Center Leg of the abandoned CBM well No. NV99.
Employee rolled right ankle while dragging a cable. EE rolled it again later in the shift while fire bossing.
Employee was walking alongside a scoop car, tripped on a rock, and fell, jamming EE's left wrist on the mine floor. EE continued working the utility position until being placed on a 5-pound restriction by an orthopedic specialist on 11/22/2023.
Employee was setting the starting ring in place when the bell rope (metal) triangle lodged between the ring and panning tin. Rope tension caused the metal triangle to spring and strike the miner in the chin (causing a laceration needing 3 stitches).
Employee was operating a scoop to off-load a loaded belt structure sled from a supply car. The sled got bound up. When it freed, the scoop bounced causing the employee to hit the top of EE's head on the scoop canopy.
Employee was drilling a bolt hole. Employee drilled the first two steels without incident. As employee was adding the third steel the coupler between the first two steels caught the roof strap, breaking the coupler between steels 2 & 3. When the coupler broke the steels kicked sideways, striking employee's finger.
Employee was helping drag hi-line slack for a VCB and twisted their knee awkwardly while pulling. EE continued working until 11/20/2023 and had the knee surgically repaired on 11/21/2023.
An unplanned roof fall at or above the anchorage point occurred on the East Mains 2 belt entry at 60 crosscut. The fall measured approximately 42 ft. L x 16 ft. W x 7 ft. H.
Employee was tramming shuttle car from the feeder to the face in the #3 entry of the 2 Right section and hit a hole. The force of hitting the hole bounced EE out of the seat and EE hit head on the canopy roof, jamming neck.
Employee was doing metal fabrication work and a metal shard got behind EE's safety glasses and into their eye. The shard was removed by a treatment facility and antibiotic eye medication was prescribed.
Employee was trying to loosen a 3/4"" fitting on a locomotive using two wrenches. One of the wrenches slipped and EE's hand contacted the metal stop for the engine cover lid, causing a laceration.
Employee was installing roof bolts with another contract employee. They were using a Cobra drill. While drilling, a large rock fell from the top. The rock glanced off the employee's chest then struck the employee's hand, pinching ring and pinky fingers between the rock and bolter pot.
Employee was hanging 4"" waterline with another employee & felt pain in their ribs. EE worked the next scheduled shift, but the pain did not improve. EE reported for work the next day and was transported to a treatment facility by company truck and subsequently removed from work due to pain in the thoracic region of the back.
Employee started to drill a new bolt hole and some small particle foreign material fell from the top and got behind employee's glasses and into the left eye, causing a scratch. Employee was prescribed eye drops to treat the scratch.
Employee was pinning the belt together after a belt move. EE stood up and turned, striking EE's head on the foot of a piece of hanging belt structure.
Employee's foot was pinched between the bucket counterweight and bucket stop because they neglected to engage the bail stop during the mucking process.
Employee had drilled the first steel into the roof. They reached for the finishing steel and it was stuck between the bolt tray and ATRS. When it came loose, the steel flipped up and struck them in the lip.
Employee was helping pull broken cat pads back around the crawler frame of the longwall tailpiece. A 2-ton come-a-long was being used to pull the cats. The come-a-long chain, still securely fastened on both ends, became bound. When it came loose the chain struck the employee on the wrist, causing injury.
Employee was bolting off the miner. EE was placing a roof strap in the strap jacks and felt discomfort in EE's right shoulder. Later in the shift EE felt a ""pop"" in the same shoulder while getting a ventilation tube.
Employee was tramming the off-standard shuttle car and hit a rock in the haul road causing EE to hit the top of EE's head off the canopy, jamming neck.
Employee tripped while walking along a supply train, slicing left hand on a piece of metal banding as EE attempted to break the fall.
Employee strained left knee while installing a 54"" bottom belt roller.
Employee was hanging belt structure with chain. As they wrapped the excess chain around the bedrail, the end of the chain hit them in the mouth, chipping a tooth.
Employee's foot was pinched between the bolter pot and ATRS mounting bracket of a Joy 14-09 continuous mining machine.
Employee stepped off an approximately two foot ledge and twisted their right knee when they contacted the mine floor.
Employee was lowering drill steels out of a freshly drilled hole and the steels momentarily stuck in the mine roof causing the starter steel to separate from the others. As EE reached for the steels still in the roof they fell, pinching EE's left middle finger between the steels and the drill pot.
A fire occurred in the Prep Plant while conducting maintenance work during an idle shift.
Employee was using a hammer to beat rust off a bolt and some rust got behind employee's safety glasses and into right eye.
Employee was removing the inby sander box on EE's 30 Ton Motor to dump out the wet sand. While lifting, employee felt a sharp pain shoot up EE's lower back.
On 3/13/23, employee was preparing to remove monorail on the lw headgate. EE was climbing over the crossover at the tailpiece. As EE went to take the first step down the ladder on the monorail side (tight side), a large rock came out of the LW stageloader chute, bounced off the belt, ricocheted off the ladder framework, and struck EE on the right ankle.
Employee was lifting an I-beam (approx. 200 lbs) into position to be lifted by a chain-hoist. As they moved the beam into place, employee felt discomfort in lower back.
On 3/8/23, Employee went to throw a shovel full of stone on the belt and felt a ""pop"" in right shoulder. EE worked until 6/21/23, but shoulder did not improve. On 6/21/23 occupational health restricted EE's duty to ""no use of right arm"". The employee began missing work on 6/22/23.
Employee was stepping over a coupler, in the longwall power train, and felt a ""pop"" in right calf as employee went to transfer weight from right leg to left.
EE was shoveling coal and felt a sharp pain in their back.
Employee was raising the outby roll of belt that as going to be pulled on next. The inby roll was being pulled, pulled to the end of the spool. There were nails holding the last lap of belt to the spool, allowing the spool to pull forward a couple feet. The nails then pulled out of the wood, allowing the spool/hangers to swing back and strike the employee in the lower left leg.
An unplanned roof fall above the anchorage point occurred on the 10 Left longwall panel in the #2 entry between 56 and 57 crosscut. The fall measured approximately 43 ft. long x 16 ft. wide x 8 ft. high
Employee was carrying rib block through a water hole that had silicate (from pumpable cribs) in it. The employee's pant legs became saturated in the water/silicate mixture. A few hours later EE's calves were burning and EE noticed skin irritation.
The shotcrete spray crew was in the process of clearing the hoses between the machine and the spray nozzle. The employee was holding the nozzle when the material in the line broke loose, causing the nozzle to whip out of EE's hand. The material coming out of the nozzle sprayed the employee in the chin and then down EE's abdomen.
2022 · 39 incidents
While handling steel set supplies, employee slipped and struck EE's tailbone against the heel of EE's boot. Injury was not the result of a training or compliance issue.
While welding on an HG drum bit lug, a piece of molten slag dripped off the drum and fell into employee's boot, causing a burn. Employee worked up until 12/30/22, when employee was taken off work by a doctor to allow the wounds to heal properly.
Employee had knelt down to check the temp on a bearing and felt a stabbing pain in EE's back. EE got self using guarding to climb onto a concrete curb. EE walked took about 3 steps, and when EE went to step off the curb, EE tripped and fell forward. EE latched onto the guarding to break EE's fall and when EE did, EE's back twisted, causing a tingling sensation in EE's buttocks.
Employee was in the process of bolting a ""bagged"" area of roof screened top when a loose rock measuring 12"" long x 4"" wide x 1"" thick fell through the screen striking the employee on the front of the hard hat.
Employee was trying to move a partially filled portable sand blasting unit that is on a dolly-type frame. When EE tipped the unit back on it's wheels, the weight of the unit knocked EE to the ground. The handle of the unit landed with force on EE's left thigh, causing injury.
A rock approximately 2' long x 2' wide x 8"" thick fell our of the corner in #4 entry at 5 wall (inby left corner) and hit employee in the back, knocking EE to the ground face first.
walking across a ditch that was muddy and slippery causing them to fall
The injured employee and two other employees were unloading pre-fab overcast panels. The panel they were handling twisted causing the injured employee to feel a pull in EE's lower back.
Employee picked up a 50 pound bag of rock dust to put on the loading machine and felt pain in EE's lower abdomen, hear EE's naval.
Employee was in the process of picking up sand for the sanders on the motor. As employee was lifting the sand, at about waist high, they felt a pain in their lower left back.
Employee was on knees preparing to insert a new bottom belt roller. Another employee was walking by, carrying the old belt roller, and lost balance. The old roller fell from shoulder and struck the injured employee on the left side of the head.
The miner crew was cutting stone in the #2 entry. Employee was hanging cable/waterline in a roller hanger and was struck in the forehead by a piece of rock or carbide off a miner bit.
Employee was coming down the steps from the school house elevator, when EE tripped on the bottom step. EE put hands out to catch self and pinched the right pinky finger between the lunch bucket handle and the bucket, resulting in a laceration to EE's right pinky finger that required stitches.
Employee was sending cars to the surface on the hoist cage at Battle Run. EE pulled the de-coupler cable to release the supply car, that was on the hoist cage, from another supply car. The first pull didn't uncouple the car. EE then pulled again on the cable and felt a sharp pain in EE's left arm, through EE's shoulder, to EE's neck. The pain then dulled to a numb feeling.
Employee was installing belt structure and pinched hand between two hard surfaces.
Employee was installing belt structure and pinched EE's hand between two hard surfaces.
Employee was performing longwall tear down duties on the face and slipped and fell on a wet surface, injuring wrist.
Employee was loading belt cradles on the forks of the megatrac. They moved a piece of wood from the lift of belt cradles and two of the cradles slid together, pinching left pinky finger between them.
Employee was hanging rib mesh off of a ladder, approximately 5.5 ft off the ground. As they reached to attach the mesh, it didn't catch on the existing rib mesh, and their momentum and the weight of the mesh caused them to fall from the ladder, striking their face on the mine floor.
Employee had finger pinched between mantrip frame and belt dolly pin, while trying to remove the belt dolly pin.
Employee was in the process of removing the CM trailing cable and water line from a roller hanger. As employee pulled down on the roller hanger handle to unlatch it, employee heard a ""pop"" and felt pain in the top part of right hand.
Employee was installing an outside roof bolt off the Twin Boom Roof Bolter. Employee had just began to drill the hole when a piece of roof material fell through the wire roof mesh and struck their right hand against the machine. Employee received a laceration requiring one suture and a fracture to the tip of their right index finger.
While standing on top of miner to reposition roof straps, employee strained left arm lifting the straps. Employee worked up until 10-15-2022, when EE was wrote off work by a doctor.
An experienced trained beltman was prying up a piece of metal plate to align bolt holes on a booster drive frame. EE was working under a piece of belt guarding, under the belt. As EE pushed up on the plate EE's screw driver slipped, EE's arm went up, pushing the belt guarding to the side and EE's right arm was pulled between the belt and bottom roller causing an abrasion.
Employee was walking toward the rear of the miner after finishing putting up a roof strap. Employee had right hand on top of the dust box when a rock fell from between the straps and struck EE's right pinky finger causing a fracture and laceration to the tip of the right pinky finger.
While installing roof screen off of the miner, the top fell in on the roof screen. Employee raised the timber jack to help get the rock off the screen. As the employee and miner operator were pulling the screen back onto the strap, another rock fell, hitting the roof strap. This caused the roof strap to strike the employee in the right side of hard hat.
Employee was cutting a huck bolt on ""A screen side"" sheet with torches. EE was cutting vertically/overhead when hot, melted metal went down EE's right arm sleeve. The melted metal was trapped in EE's sleeve, causing first and second degree burns from EE's elbow to EE's wrist.
Employee was repairing the Plant Feed Head Chute while inside the head chute and slipped down. EE jammed EE's shoulder into EE's neck while trying to break EE's fall. Initial ER x-rays were negative for breaks. The employee seen by Orthopedics for a follow up and RTW on 4-25-2022. After a follow-up MRI revealed a fracture, the employee was written off work on Friday 5-6-2022.
Employees right foot slipped while cutting conveyor belt causing body position to shift resulting in a laceration to the left forearm resulting in 8 stitches. Employee was released back to work with no restrictions.
Employee and another employee were carrying a section of Ultra-Trac (approx. 200 lbs) to the crusher crossover from the last open X-cut. As employee tried to put their end on the crossover, the ground under foot gave way and they smashed their right pinky finger between the Ultra-Trac and crossover.
Employee #1 was sitting in the shanty. Employee #2 was pulling a Dapco battery ride into the shanty, not knowing #1 was in there. #1 called out, startling #2, causing them to inadvertently hit the acceleration pedal. The Dapco ride struck #1 and pinned them and their chair between the ride and under a work bench table.
Employee was helping mechanic service the miner head. As EE was handing the mechanic a ratchet wrench, a piece of rock fell out of the corner of the roof and struck EE in the left lower back.
Employee was spotting a top belt cradle at 57 wall on EM#1 belt. The employee attempted to toss cradle down. The cradle caught the employee's shirt and pulled the employee down. Employee's chin contacted the belt cradle, causing a laceration.
Employee was rib bolting in #1. EE was bringing the steels out of the rib to add the bolt wrench to finish drilling the hole. EE put hand near the steels to grab the bottom steel. The drill pot and steel was in a bind. When the bottom steel came out of the chuck, it sprung towards the bolter mast, pinching EE's left thumb between the steel and the steel guide.
While washing out the basement of the prep plant sizer building with a water hose, employee was standing in front of a propane heater. EE didn't realize EE was as close as EE was to the flame. The back of EE's shirt ignited. EE ran outside and laid in a puddle to extinguish the flames.
Employee was cutting zip ties while recovering shield to shield hoses and cables. As they cut through the (heavy duty) zip tie with a razor knife (using force) the momentum carried their hand and knife through the zip tie and into the back of off (left) hand that was on the shield to shield hoses.
The employee was moving an approximately 65 lb. transfer pump, that was placed on a wooden pallet. The pallet was placed on the forks of a forklift. While stopped, the pump shifted, slipped off of the pallet and onto the forks, smashing the employee's right middle finger between the pump and one of the forks. Injury was not due to a training or compliance issue.
Employee had the boom of the single boom bolter swung to the extreme right. When they rotated the mast, a drill steel, which was longer than the tray, was caught by the mast, and flipped upward, striking the employee in the mouth.
Employee was unloading belt structure on 10 Left Section. During the process of placing a bedrail along the rib, the employee pinched left hand between the mine rib and the bed rail. This resulted in an injury (laceration) to the left middle finger.
2021 · 32 incidents
Employee was pulling up on a cam lock hose, which was stuck in the mud, to take apart at a coupler. The coupler was not coupled which allowed the free end of the coupler to come out of the mud and hit employee in the mouth, damaging two teeth.
EE was changing the cab filter on a 980M end loader. EE was positioned on the second step of the end loader ladder 34.5"" off the ground. EE didn't maintain 3 points of contact.
Employee walked out of the beltline to the track entry through the equipment doors. EE was hanging the curtain back over the equipment doors when EE got dirt in left eye.
Employee was taking a hose off of a pump to clean it, and when the hose broke loose EE scraped EE's fingers off the metal plate below. Stitches and a small fracture to the right ring finger.
Employee and two other mechanics were removing an ATRS jack from the EM#5 miner. They were using a come-along to assist with the removal. Employee was helping pull the jack out and felt a sharp pain in lower back.
Employee was standing on the track rail. Employee went to step up onto motor with right foot, when employee's left foot slipped and went under the step to the motor, causing an abrasion to left foot. The employee has a titanium plate, from a previous injury, in the spot of the abrasion. The abrasion became infected, causing the doctor to keep the employee off work.
Employee was guiding/turning the rock deflector into position as the ATRS jack was being pressurized. They were mining through a clay vein, which had caused bad top conditions. The pad on the ATRS went into a cavity in the top, allowing the rock deflector to pinch EE's hand against the top.
Employee was flipping a stack of roof straps on the supply car. When the stack rolled over, they smashed EE's left middle finger between the straps and the supply car.
A roof fall was discovered at East 1-60 xcut between the track and belt. The fall was 20' long X 15' wide X 7' high. The fall was called into the MSHA hotline at 3:53 pm. The fall was investigated by MSHA Inspector on a later date. Weathering was a contributing factor.
Employee was loading straps onto the miner. Employee finished loading a set of straps and was returning to the scoop when EE tripped over a rock. As EE tried to catch self, EE felt a sharp pain from the right knee going towards the groin area.
Employee was lifting two buckets full of tools, to put in the back of EE's EMU, and felt a sharp pain in the lower back.
Employee picked up an oxygen tank and felt a pop in lower back. Employee worked up until 11-18-2021, when they were written off work by a doctor.
An unplanned roof fall at or above anchorage occurred on the South Mains #1 belt at 14 x-cut. The fall measured 10'L x 16'W x 6'H.
Employee was spotting face chain links. Employee was sitting on the tailgate drive housing with left leg hanging over the edge. A rock rolled out of the face/top, catching employee's leg between the rock and the tailgate drive housing.
Cement burns to both right and left calf area of legs
Employee got off motor to throw switch and slipped in the mud, striking left shoulder on the ground. Employee worked until 8/31/2021.
Employee was part of motor crew moving a feeder. The car carrying the feeder came off track at EM#1 at 106 wall. Employee climbed onto car and into feeder and was throwing crib block out of the feeder causing them to strain their back.
Employee and others were in the process of re-installing the belt winch cover and it became jammed. As they worked to free the cover, it let loose suddenly, pinching employees right middle finger between the cover and winch base.
Employee was positioning roof strap, screen, and still steel to top while standing on rib protector door and a ""detail"" welded to the miner frame. As the drill pot was being ran up, foot slipped, and became wedged between the drill pot and the miner frame.
Employee was placing steel set leg when leg fell due to wet conditions scraping the arm as it went down
The 8 Left belt went down with the head gate shields pulled in tight. Employee crossed stage loader to exit the face. As employee was coming down on the walkway side of stage loader, EE slipped and EE's leg got caught, twisting EE's left knee.
Employee was tossing a cobra drill through a mandoor @ 76 wall from the belt to track entry. The top in that area is roughly 60"". The employee was bent over and felt an immediate pain in EE's lower back, as soon as EE tossed the drill.
Employee was cutting away the zip-tied cardboard from a new pair of channel locks. As they were cutting, they slipped and sliced the back of left hand.
Employee was helping to change a vertical pin at #1 shield. Employee lost balance in the mud and fell backwards. Employee's right leg was stuck in the mud, preventing the leg from moving as the employee fell. The leg stayed in the vertical position, causing a fracture to the right lower leg.
Employee was loading/sending supply cars up the hoist. The belt skid was too far on one side of the car so employee was using a jack and pry bar to move skid up and over the edge of the flat car. Employee stuck the pry car into a hole on the belt skid. When employee went to pry on the bar, the bar slipped, causing employee to fall back into the supply car.
Employee was going to get back on EE's motor when EE tripped and fell forward, striking EE's left knee on the ledge, to the opening, of the operator compartment. Employee was not able to get an MRI until 5-9-2021 and results were read on 5-11-2021.
Employee stepped up into motor and felt a pop and stinging sensation in right knee.
Employee felt pain in abdomen after dragging slickline and noticed a bulge in navel. Diagnosed with a hernia. Injury was not the result of a compliance or training issue.
An unplanned fall of the roof was determined at 7:25 pm. The fall was on the East 2 Belt at crosscut 26. The dimensions were 13' Long X 12' Wide X 8' high.
Employee had just finished drilling EE's first steel and added the second steel. EE said the hole and steels were ""kind of kinked"" and the steels were about half inserted together. EE meant to drop the drill pot, but pushed the drill pot up instead. This caused the steels to bend at the connection and pin EE's hand between the steels and strap jack.
Employee was removing ""winter gloves"" to put metacarpal gloves on. EE's hands were tight in the gloves, making them hard to remove. When EE pulled the glove off, EE's hand struck a metal barb on the side of a Polaris EMU, causing a laceration.
Employee was loading supplies onto scoop when they stepped into a hole and tweaked left hip. Employee was wearing all required PPE and was fully trained. The employee did not seek medical treatment and worked until 2-19-2021, at which point the doctor put them off work.
2020 · 6 incidents
Employee was removing broken bolts from the paddle wheel cover on the shearer. EE was hitting them with a hammer and chisel. EE re-adjusted hand and didn't realize hand was over the chisel and struck hand with the hammer. Employee is fully trained and was wearing proper PPE.
An unplanned roof fall measuring 16' long x 16' wide x 7.5' above normal mining height occurred at 19 x-cut on EM#3 between #2 and #3 entries.
Employee was hosing at the tail of the stacker belt. Employee stepped onto a piece of coal, causing right ankle to twist. Employee worked up until 7-22-2021 and wasn't given an off work slip until 8-4-2021. Employee is expected to be off work 8-12 weeks from surgery.
Employee was prying on a damaged belt roller with a slate bar to free it from the belt structure cradle. The slate bar slipped pinching EE's left thumb between bar and bed rail. The employee was wearing EE's gloves and all other required PPE. Employee is a fully trained belt person.
An unplanned roof fall measuring 50' long x 16' wide x 9' above normal mining height occurred at 128 x-cut in the 7 Left Section between the track and return entries.
Employee was raking coal from under the 6 Left impact bed. As EE pulled the rake back, the end of the handle was pulled between the roller and the belt, sucking the rake out of EE's hand, causing the rake end to strike EE in the head and EE's hand.