Mining Incidents

Laurel Fork MineCoal

Ramaco Resources, LLC · Underground
Controlled by Ramaco Resources Inc
Vallscreek, Mcdowell County, WV · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609084
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
38
Years on record
2005–2025
Latest incident
Aug 2025
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

38 on file

2025 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

On 8/2/25 employee picked up a small air compressor and felt a pain in groin/stomach area. Employee continued to work and sought medical treatment on 8/8/25 and diagnosed with a potential hernia. EE continues to work and has fulfilled all their duties as a dispatcher. The employee is scheduled to see a specialist for complete diagnosis and applicable treatment.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 7/19/25 the injured employee twisted EE's knee while rising to EE's feet from a kneeled position but finished EE's shift. Employee missed work on 7/21/25 to be examined by a physician and returned to work on 7/22/25 with no restrictions and continued to work until 7/25/25, when EE again missed work to be evaluated by a physician. The employee received a full release for 7/28/25.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee was in the #4 entry when a coal rib gave loose striking them on the right ankle. Employee finished the shift and sought medical attention on 6/12/25 for a fracture ankle.

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

The employee's left foot was positioned near the edge of the scoop bucket as it was being lowered to the ground, resulting in the bucket making contact with their foot.

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

While working to repair dust vacuum hose on the roof bolting machine the drill boom was inadvertently raised pinching the injured employee's fingers between the top of the drill pot and the mine roof resulting in lacerations requiring stitches to two fingers.

2024 · 7 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee was struck by a coal rib when working on the number 8 drive.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Making a belt splice and got hit with a hammer on the pinky.

Struck by falling object

Employee was in the #2 entry when a piece of loose coal rib came loose and struck EE in the upper back. Injury was not the result of a training or compliance issue.

Struck by flying object

Employee was struck by A piece of rock came that from the CM ripper head hitting the employee above the ear.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury unplanned roof fall occurred above anchorage point in the #3 entry during retreat mining.

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

Employee was swinging the drill station over to change a piece of drill steel out and mashed the web of EE's hand between the canopy and the drill steel hanging down out of the hole.

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

Employee was in the process of repairing a damaged plastic water line and got a finger caught between the water line and a belt chain resulting in a laceration.

2023 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a slate bar to remove a rock lodged in the #7 drive rock box. As EE was prying on the bar, it slipped striking the employee on the arm resulting in a laceration. Belts were not running at time of incident.

Fall onto or against objects

On 9-16-2023, the employee slipped in the battery barn and during the process of catching self employee pulled a shoulder. Employee sought medical attention but was released to work until 3-21-2024. On this date the employee received new restrictions from employee's doctor which could not be accommodated therefore resulting in a lost time accident.

Contact with electrical current

Employee's finger inadvertently came in contact with an energized lead as EE was trouble shooting the panel of a shuttle car.

2022 · 10 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee was dusting section when the duster fell out of the scoop bucket and made contact with employee's foot causing injury.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was using a chain ratchet set when the chain broke striking the employee in the lower left leg.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred in the left return air course at break #49. The fall approximately measured 60'long by 20' wide and 5'high.

Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred in the primary intake #3 entry at break #48. The fall approximately measured 30' long by 20' wide and 5' high.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was hanging line curtain in the number two entry, and as employee was lifting the curtain felt a strain in groin and back. The initial incident happened on 9/11/22 and the employee sought treatment on 9/19/22 and was taken off work by employee's physician on 9/26/22.

Fall onto or against objects

The employee was getting off a mack-12 mantrip when they slipped striking knee on the metal seat bracket resulting in a laceration.

Struck by falling object

Employee was putting a scoop on charge and the battery bell fell striking employee on the finger.

Accident type, without injuries

An Non-Injury roof fall accident occurred in the roadway #3 entry at break #22. The fall is approximately 40' long by 20' wide and 10' high.

Accident type, without injuries

A Non-Injury unplanned methane ignition occurred in the Mains section of the number 8 right cross-cut.

Struck by falling object

Employee was scooping the cross-cut from the number 6 to 7 entry when a piece of coal rib gave loose striking EE in the back.

2019 · 2 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

Unplanned roof fall at Break 33 in the #4 entry. The fall was dangered off and cribbed at all approaches. The life line was rerouted around the the fall in a different entry.

Accident type, without injuries

Rock Fall was discovered during weekly airway examination at Spad # 293 intersection in the Left Return.

2016 · 1 incident

Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall occurred outby the section. The roof fall fell at cross-cut #50 in the intake #4 entry and extended to the intake #3 entry (3 to 4 cross-cut). The length of the fall was 75' by 18' wide and approximately 4' to 5' thick. A clean up plan will be submitted and the fall cleaned up.

2015 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was trying to pull drill steel out of roof and beat it with a sledge hammer to release it. Felt pain in back.

2009 · 2 incidents

Contact with hot objects or substances

The shuttle car operator was loading behind miner in #5 left break when methane ignition occurred. The igniton came across the miner and back to the shuttle car striking the shuttle car operator on the left side of his face.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Miner operator was taking 2nd cut out of #5 left entry break when a methane ignition occurred. The ignition came back across the miner burning the operator.

2007 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

S/c operator making left turn in intersection. Oper side deck catching corner of rib. Lump of coal 3""x9"" come into oper. deck. Oper tried to move with left foot while s/car still tramming, causing a laceration to inside of ankle.

2006 · 4 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While operating roof bolt machine, injured raised canopy against mine roof (uneven top) with too much pressure applied, causing part of canopy to break loose, fall, striking victim, causing injuries.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was operating a drill with jack leg attachment, jack leg failed to release, employee was attempting to release jack leg when employee slipped, employees (right) foot was between two (2) rocks, when employee fell and injured ankle.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The pinner needed hydraulic oil; two co-workers went and got two 5 gallon buckets of oil from outside and carried it down slope through door to reach pinner. Once injured reached the pinner, he set the two buckets down. When he rose back up he felt pain in his lower back. Was taken to hospital at 11:00 a.m.

Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS USING SCOOP TO PULL CONVEYOR CHAIN WHEN THE STEEL CABLE BROKE, STRIKING HIM ON THE FACE AND RIGHT EYE, CAUSING BRUISING.

2005 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pushing an I-Beam off of a Mucker when little finger on right hand got caught between the beam and the roof. Employee went to doctor received stitches and returned to work with no restrictions the next day.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

ee was installing I-Beams across intersection of slope when he strained right shoulder after attempting to lift beam over his shoulder