Belle Ayr Mine — Accidents

Total: 192 accidents | Fatalities: 1

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
08/26/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 8/26/25 employee was climbing down a 8-foot ladder and thought they were at ground level and stepped backwards from 2nd from bottom step. This caused Tech to fall to ground and felt pain in their s...
08/12/2025 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 8/12/2025, employee was testing A/C on a truck and turned blower on high. Dust came out of vent and went behind safety glasses and into their right eye. On 8/18/25 eye was still irritated and went...
07/26/2025 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 35d lost On 7/26/25 Employee backing up at shovel contacted the loaded shovel bucket, no med care at that time. Later pain got worse and was seen and given a week off work with no diagnosis, an MRI was taken a...
04/30/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 58d lost On 4/30/25 employee was lowering a cribbing block and felt pop in arm resulting in torn bicep tendon. On 5/7/25 an outpatient procedure was done, and employee was taken off work. First shift missed wa...
01/22/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 57d lost Contract employee was filling a 5-gallon bucket of DEF at fuel island for a dozer in shop. On the last of three trips, walking back to vehicle (5-6 ft. away) with bucket, contract employee slipped and...
11/13/2024 FIRE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 91d lost On 11/13/24 Maint Tech was cleaning parts on bench and noticed a rag smoldering under loader. Tech reached down to pat out rag and their gloves caught fire. Tech was wearing mechanics gloves with late...
06/25/2024 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 8d restricted EE was torquing lug nuts on the left rear drives with a Rad nut runner on a Komatsu 980 Haul truck. The nut runner slipped out of EE's hands and landed on EE's left hand causing a contusion.
04/28/2024 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While working on the left rear outside tire and wheel assembly, EE was loosening the lugs on the wheel and holding on to the 1"" impact wrench when the turning force pinched left hand between the impa...
01/29/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 1/29/24 Employee was adjusting width of manual forks of the versa handler. The forks slid unexpectedly and pinched the employees left pinky finger between fork and frame. This resulted in a fractur...
01/08/2024 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 32d lost On 1/8/2024, Welder was walking from shovel to service truck. The Welder stepped on a rock and rolled ankle. Initially thought was a sprain and welder went in for evaluation on 1/12/24 and diagnosed w...
08/21/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 8/21/2023 Employee was performing a pre-shift inspection of a motorgrader. After inspecting the circle, the employee stepped back onto uneven ground and fell. Employee braced for the fall and stuck...
07/23/2023 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 92d lost Haul truck was contacted on dovetail by the shovel bucket. Employee complained of a whiplash event and was evaluated and returned to work. Employee was seen later and diagnosed with neck strain/sprain...
07/15/2023 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 92d lost Employee was operating loading equipment throughout shift. During the shift the Employee started feeling pain in the back area. No event occurred during the shift that the employee felt any issue with...
04/05/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 99d lost Snow, ice, and drifting snow in walkway.
03/30/2023 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Welder was sectioning out a piece of steel from truck bed. On final cut, the metal sprung up on the opposite corner striking welders hand. This resulted in 2 broken bones in the hand.
01/26/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 20d lost, 21d restricted While lifting 76 pound pump into truck, employee experienced pain in abdomen. Pain worsened over the weekend and CT scan revealed omental infarct and hernia. Placed on restricted duty pending furthe...
06/18/2022 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was waiting to exchange pick up with departing crew. Pick up approached too quickly and was unable to stop, striking employee and bending EE's left knee backwards. Employee was diagnosed wi...
02/02/2022 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 180d lost Employee bent down to hook up an air hose, felt a pop in back, was evaluated at a health center, diagnosed with a multilevel degenerative disc disease. On 2/16 employee informed the mine employee was...
01/03/2022 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 195d lost Employee opened the door to the motorgrader, wind caught the door causing an elbow strain. Was taken to the ER diagnosis - RT arm radiculopathy - Work as Tolerated Release. MRI diagnosis stenosis of c...
11/28/2021 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Mechanic needed to cut the sample tubing to the right length, in the process of cutting the tubing the knife slipped, cutting the mechanics left ring finger. The mechanic was seen at Campbell County H...
11/26/2021 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 59d lost Haul truck operator getting loaded by the shovel, shovel had an electrical fault. The shovel bucket came in contact with the canopy of the truck causing the truck operator's face to contact the driver...
09/25/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 09/25/2021 operator dismounting blade 105 and heard a pop in their hip. Operator continued to work with soreness. On 9/27/2021 operator was evaluated at the hospital ER, diagnosed with a bruise and...
07/30/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee went to move a part that weighed 30-35 lbs. and experienced lower back pain. Chiropractor care was given on Monday 08/02/2021 and an X-Ray was ordered for 08/04/2021 for further diagnosis. Th...
06/15/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Operator missed hand left rail while mounting haul truck, grabbed right hand rail to stabilize and strained right shoulder. Doctor place employee on work as tolerated. On 7/15/21 MRI was reviewed, emp...
04/15/2021 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 27d lost Operator was performing a walkaround inspection on a blade and slipped on the snow-covered surface and fell backwards resulting in a knee injury. The Doctor has removed the employee from work and pres...
03/09/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee assisted seating a bearing into a housing, reached out to catch the bearing block, fingers were smashed between the bearing block and table resulting in an acute fracture at the terminal tuft...
02/26/2021 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 51d lost Employee was walking from the main shop to the truck shop. While walking employee tripped on uneven ground resulting in twisting an ankle. ER visit employee received a work as tolerated release with a...
02/20/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 11d lost Debris (Mud and Ice) fell off of the underside of the 797 haul truck bed while the teammate was servicing the rear duals and struck the teammate on top of hardhat
02/01/2021 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 14d lost On 02/21/21 employee was waiting for a crew van, slipped on the ice and fell causing back pain. On 2/25/21 employee notified the mine of MRI results, which showed small bulge in disc at L5 and S1. Phy...
09/11/2020 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee connected a fuel hose to a haul truck, felt a sharp pain in the neck and arm. A follow up doctor visit on 9/28/20 determined the need for physical therapy which began on 9/29/20
07/07/2020 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None HT loaded by shovel, 1st bucket the door opened unexpectedly, material fell on the dovetail causing the bed to raise up, slam back down. HT driver experienced leg pain upon impact, was seen at the ER...
05/31/2020 ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT ONLY None Lightning initiated a grass fire on the south property line at Belle Ayr today. The Campbell County Fire Department was dispatched and put the fire out. The grass fire consumed approximately 11 acres...
05/03/2020 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Mechanic cut out a driveline bracket with a torch. The bracket started to fall, EE grabbed it to help guide it to the ground. The bracket fell, pinched EE's index finger between the driveline and brac...
04/19/2020 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 53d lost Employee was walking to a pickup when EE stepped into a hole twisting EE's knee. Employee was evaluated at Black Hills Urgent Care and received a knee brace. Black Hills Orthopedic suspects a meniscus...
03/24/2020 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None Employee waiting to be loaded was found unresponsive. A mayday was called, rescue team arrived and 911 was phoned in. Rescue team started CPR until ambulance team arrived took over and worked on patie...
03/09/2020 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 20d lost Employee was removing lift cylinder for drill 10108 mast. Mast was secured hydraulic lines bled off, but when cylinder was cut the mast dropped 4-6 inches striking employee on hard hat. Employee went...
06/06/2019 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was getting loaded by shovel 11. Shovel had electrical fault and loaded bucket dropped into truck box striking box. Employee was seen by mine EMT for back muscle pain and has followed up goin...
04/25/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was fueling up PC-2000 track hoe and could not tell if tank was full. EE went to the top of tank and unscrewed cap for a visual. Employee thought ee had released all pressure but did not. Cap...
04/06/2019 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE driving 523 was leaning forward in chair, shovel operator loaded truck which had larger rocks. Because of way EE was seated, head moved forward & contacted steering wheel which caused bloody nose....
02/24/2019 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 27d lost Employee was removing ice and snow from switch gap with a switch broom,(broom on one end scraper on the other end). EE took a break and was standing when EE felt a pain in back and went down to one kn...
01/20/2019 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Mechanic was removing the retaining bolt from the hoist cylinder pin on 522 when the wrench slipped and struck the mechanic in the face which broke a tooth and cut lip.
07/10/2018 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was pull starting a Honda trash pump. Compression built up in engine pulled cord out of employee's hand impacting 4th finger causing fracture.
06/22/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was fueling truck 515 and was reeling electric hose up when done. The hose should have stopped reeling when button was released but did not. Hose jerked employees arm and shoulder causing str...
04/20/2018 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was welding on truck box 12.516. While employee was repositioning self to continue welding, employee slipped and fell. Employee put right hand down to break fall, landing on hand causing smal...
01/25/2018 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was taking lunch break and was cutting avocado with personal knife. The knife slipped and contacted left hand ring finger resulting in laceration. Employee was taken to the mine EMT, the woun...
10/30/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While re-installing a depth counter chain sprocket on drill 110, a 7/16"" open end wrench slipped off of bolt striking ee in the mouth chipping the left front incisor.
09/23/2017 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None At intersection of DLS, Fuel truck driver saw a truck coming, fuel driver turned sharp to avoid truck and the fuel truck tipped over. Driver exited the truck. Driver noticed fuel leaking from the top...
09/23/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was cleaning a strainer basket using a metal pick tool. The tool slipped off the edge of the strainer basket and lacerated the third finger of the employee's left hand. Lighting was good and...
09/02/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While lifting 12"" poly pipe onto the fuser with the pipe being slightly wet. Employee hands slipped and ee hands became wedged between pipe and fuser roller. Causing lacerations to both little finger...
08/10/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was opening a packaging container and cut the back of left hand.