Black Thunder — Accidents

Total: 569 accidents | Fatalities: 4

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
01/22/2026 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY None The employee was dismounting the drill from the offside ladder. When on the last rung of the ladder, EE's foot slipped off and when EE landed on the uneven ground EE felt a pop in EE's ankle.
01/19/2026 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal fire was located in the 5 west pit that could not be extinguished within 30 minutes
01/09/2026 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY None Employee tripped in the revolving frame of a dragline catching their fall with their right arm. Employee was diagnosed with a torn bicep tendon on 1/16/2026 and had a procedure on 1/22/2026 to repair...
12/23/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None while moving a part in the warehouse the employee lost their grip causing the part to move suddenly pinching finger and causing a laceration that required 6 stitches.
12/18/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was trimming a piece of plastic when knife slipped resulting in a laceration to left index finger requiring five stitches.
11/13/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 11d lost, 1d restricted Dark out with dry/calm weather conditions. Uneven walking surface with loose ballast and exposed rail ties.
11/05/2025 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal fire was discovered in the 6 west spoils that could not be extinguished within 30 minutes
10/23/2025 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal fire was discovered in the 5 west pit that could not be extinguished within 30 minutes
09/22/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was removing a metal cover plate which contacted their right shin causing a hairline fracture
09/20/2025 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal fire was discovered in the south pit that could not be extinguished within 30 minutes.
09/01/2025 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal fire was discovered in the South Pit that could not be extinguished within 30 minutes
07/29/2025 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee slid out of seat on bus ride out to EE's equipment. When EE slid out of EE's seat EE hit EE's left side (ribs) on a lunchbox. Positive X-ray showed fractured ribs. Was released to work and...
06/11/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A driver was stepping off truck step onto the lowboy when EE misplaced EE's footing, causing a small fall to the ground. Employee landed on EE's shoulders and struck back EE's head on the ground causi...
06/06/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While securing a load to the bed of a service truck with a ratchet strap the anchor point failed. the buckle from the strap struck the employee in the mouth damaging three teeth.
01/23/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 53d lost Employee needed to get a strap under a RAX link pin, so they could lift it up into place. They tried to lift one end of the pin to slide the strap under it. When employee lifted on the pin employee to...
12/29/2024 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None bottom of a coal pit, discovered a small coal fire burning at toe of coal wall.
12/20/2024 OTHER DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 4d lost, 17d restricted Team member was making a squatting motion on level dry ground when what EE claimed to be EE's knee gave out and EE fell down to the ground. Outside conditions at the time were clear and sunny.
12/20/2024 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal smoker was found and it took longer than 30 minutes to get it put out.
11/19/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 41d lost Snow and ice on haul road caused i.e. to slip and break their left ankle.
09/28/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 1d lost A Mechanic removed a fender from a bulk truck and with help lifted and placed the fender on the ground. After setting fender down mechanic felt pain in EE's back and sat down in hopes the pain would p...
09/11/2024 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 18d restricted Employee came into office 9/11/2024 claiming smoke inhalation from torching on material on mine site. Unknown time of return.
08/17/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 80d lost Employee was operating a skid steer stemming holes on pattern. Once finished, the employee parked skid steer and went the lift the lap bar and exit skid steer. Employee received 1st Aid for pain in th...
08/04/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An employee was making adjustments to a shovel bucket, when the stand kicked out from under the latch bar and it pinched the web of the employee's thumb, causing a laceration that required stitches.
07/16/2024 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 32d lost An employee reported that EE's back was sore from a shovel dropping a bucket of material in EE's haul truck. EE continued working for two days and then went on days off. EE did not report to work on...
07/14/2024 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A grass fire started under the powerlines and burned for over 30 minutes. Five dead black birds were found at the ignition point, indicating they had caused a phase-to-phase arc flash.
06/16/2024 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 25d lost An employee with a history of back injuries began experiencing increased pain and was taken in for evaluation on 06/16/2024. An MRI was schedule with a follow up appointment on 06/20/2024. A previou...
06/11/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was getting a chain into position around body retaining pin to aid in pulling a lower strut pin. While holding the body retaining pin up placing chain into position, the pin slipped out of th...
06/04/2024 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was prepping a splice for vulcanization when the olfa knife employee was using slipped and contacted employee's arm. Employee was transported to the hospital and received stitches resulting...
05/31/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A wash bay attendant got into the cab of a grader and the door closed on EE's finger.
03/28/2024 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A powerline air switch arced and caused sparks that ignited a grass fire that burned for over 30 minutes.
03/24/2024 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 76d lost An employee slipped and injured EE's knee getting off a pit bus. EE continued working until 03/27/2024, at which time EE missed work to go have knee surgery.
03/21/2024 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 44d lost Subject exited axle box on unit 192, the hand grab bar welds broke and employee fell to the ground, approximately 4 feet, landing on back.
02/15/2024 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None A millwright was thawing out an airhorn on an electric shovel with a small butane torch, when methanol sprayed out of a connection and was ignited by the torch. The flash caused burns to the employee...
01/12/2024 DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 14d lost A Part 90 Miner applied for short-term disability on 01/11/2024 and did not come to work on the next schedule shift, which was 01/12/2024.
12/27/2023 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 1d lost A haul truck operator drove into the back of a haul truck that had stopped, crushing the cab and pinning EE under the steering column for about 1 hour. EE had nerve damage to EE's legs.
12/19/2023 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None A haul truck was driving erratically up a ramp. It stopped near the top, rolled back down into the left repose and tipped onto its side. The operator was found unresponsive, removed from the truck, a...
12/16/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 48d lost A wash bay technician was on a portable stairway, trying to remove a mud clod from the ripper frame of a track dozer. EE's hands slipped off and EE fell back on the concrete floor, fracturing two rib...
12/04/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 23d restricted Employee lifted a riffle drawer with coal and pulled something in their lower back.
10/20/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 25d lost A maintenance employee stepped from an IT loader to the third step of a 6' step ladder and fell to the concrete floor, bruising their hip. Employee was released by the doctor but did not report to wor...
09/23/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None An area was seen smoldering at the top of an 85-foot coal wall. Dozers were used to push an access ramp in, so a water truck with surfactant could be applied to the area and extinguish it. The area...
09/08/2023 MACHINERY PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 10d lost A mechanic smashed their little finger between a track dozer and a jack handle.
08/29/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoldering coal was found in five different areas of the coal mine. The apparent cause was spontaneous combustion from the recent rain, followed by hot dry weather. The areas were difficult to acces...
08/19/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None An area was seen smoldering at the top of an 85-foot coal wall. An elevated dirt ramp had to be constructed to get a water truck high enough to extinguish and seal the area, so it burned for over 30...
08/18/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A series of three grass fires started along the railroad tracks west of the mine property and burned onto the mine. It took firefighting personnel over 30 minutes to extinguish the flames.
08/18/2023 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None An electrical fault on a mining shovel, initiated a coal dust ignition that caused some material to catch fire on top of the shovel house.
07/14/2023 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 45d lost The front suspension bolts sheared off and caused the front of a haul truck to hit the ground. The operator was bruised by the seatbelt.
07/06/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoldering coal was found in an area of the pit that was difficult to access. It was over 30 minutes before a loader could reach the area and dig it out.
04/20/2023 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The technician was working outside when dust/dirt blew into their left eye. After removing the dirt particle, the Doctor prescribed an antibiotic for the tech's eye.
04/17/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A grass fire started along the railroad tracks, west of the mine pit. Firefighting personnel contained the fire within the 30-minute time frame, but total extinguishment took over 30 minutes.
04/13/2023 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 11d lost A dragline operator elected to go get carpal tunnel surgery on this date for an illness that has occurred over many years.