Mining Incidents

Blue Creek Prep PlantCoal

Tad, Kanawha County, WV · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609226
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
18
Years on record
2009–2025
Latest incident
Mar 2025

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The injured was fatally struck by a hydraulic cylinder. An investigation is on-going. The causes are unknown.

Reportable incidents

17 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

After notching a tree to be cut, EE started boring into the tree and the saw kicked back and ran through EE's chaps and into EE's leg.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Teammate was attempting to open a door at the Blue Creek Loadout. When the employee pulled on the door with EE's left hand EE felt a pop in EE's left arm. During treatment the employee was diagnosed with a full tear of EE's left bicep.

2022 · 1 incident

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

Employee was turning drive sheave to set the thrust on heavy media pump when EE's glove got caught between the sheave and the drive belts resulting in a fracture of EE's right ring finger and 11 sutures and 3 sutures on EE's left pinky finger.

2020 · 2 incidents

Struck by flying object

Employee stated that while in the process of removing bolts from the scalping screen in the crusher building. EE was using a pick hammer to knock the bolts out of it so they could be removed. In the process of striking the pick hammer, a small splinter of metal flew off of it, and punctured the employees left middle finger.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee came out of the restroom and stepped the wrong way and slipped and fell hurting a hand.

2018 · 1 incident

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

Employee stated that ee was operating the 30 ton crane on the top floor of the prep plant that was hooked to the metal bin. In the process of operating the crane to empty the metal bin, it swung and caught arm between the separator and the bin.

2017 · 2 incidents

Struck by flying object

Employee stated their right eye turned red and they found a small particle in the eye. Employee tried to wash it out but could not dislodge the material. Employee could not pinpoint work activity that caused the debris to irritate the eye but believed it could have been around the time they were working on some screens.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated EE was using a cable spool hand crank to clean on magnet. The cable had built up tension. The employee hit the release with a miner bit and the handle came around and struck employees right forearm causing an avulsion. Employee needed stitches to close wound.

2016 · 2 incidents

Struck by flying object

The injured was using a chipping hammer to clean the weld when EE got a piece of slag in eye. The injured was wearing safety glasses with side shields at the time of the incident. EE flushed eye out immediately, but the irritation persisted. EE went to the doctor on 9-15-16 where they removed a small piece of metal.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Occupational Illness. Operator was notified on July 7, 2016 that employee submitted a workers compensation claim for Coal Workers Occupational Pneumoconiosis.

2015 · 1 incident

Fall from ladders

Employee was assigned to close a chute flop door. As the employee was positioned on a ladder to begin ratcheting with the chain ratchet, he slipped off the ladder and fell to the ground. Approx 4 foot fall, but in the process of falling he struck his left knee on metal flooring. The impact caused a fracture to his tibula bone near the knee.

2013 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The injured picked up one side of a roll of typer to throw it out of the way and felt a pain in his left elbow. He went to his family chiropractor on 04/06/2013 who referred him to an orthopedic specialist on 04/19/2013. The orthopedist diagnosed him with a torn bicep tendon and scheduled him for surgery on 04/25/2013. The injured didn't start missing work until 04/25/2013.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The injured was struck by an unknown object. An investigation is still on-going. The causes are unknown.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The injured was cutting a piece of screen buffer rubber with a razor knife and cut two fingers on his left hand.

2009 · 3 incidents

Contact with hot objects or substances

Welding slag got between his boot and leg, burning his leg on or about 4/8/09. Employee treated it with a burn ointment at home, no injury was reported to a supervisor. The following week his leg and knee began to swell. Employee went to the hospital and on 4/16/09 the doctor said the swelling was from infections in the leg due to the burn.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee states he felt a sharp pain in his lower back when he bent down while assembling a roof truss. Employee taken off work by ER physician.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE states that his back gave out after bending over to pick up a piece of angle. As EE was bent over, he twisted to pick up ac-clamp. When he stood up he suffered muscle stain to his lower back. EE worked light/restricted duty for 3 days and returned to full duty 2/27/09.