Black Thunder — Accidents

Total: 569 accidents | Fatalities: 4

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
03/02/2019 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 78d lost The employee was walking from the parking lot to the changehouse prior to the start of shift when the employee fell, fracturing left femur.
02/25/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 6W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
12/20/2018 ENTRAPMENT ACCIDENT ONLY None At 4:35AM the plant technician was going to the top of the silo in the elevator when the elevator stopped near the top of the silo. The elevator passenger was never in any danger of being injured. Thi...
11/29/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An employee was attempting to disconnect a 4 inch hose secured by camlock fittings. The employee opened the ears and was attempting to disconnect it by holding onto the hose with both hands and wiggli...
11/18/2018 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 32d restricted At the beginning of shift, the equipment operator fell while walking to the pit bus resulting in a fractured left elbow.
09/26/2018 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 6W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
09/26/2018 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 1N coal pit at the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
07/21/2018 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 5W coal pit on the coal face. The smoldering coal was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
06/25/2018 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 91d lost The blade operator was climbing the boarding ladder to the cab when ee lost grip on the right inside cab handrail causing ee to fall to the ground. The fall resulted in a right elbow dislocation frac...
06/10/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A mechanic caged and removed a brake can that needed replaced from a truck. The mechanic had the old brake can on the shop floor and was in the process of removing the cage bolt. The mechanic attempte...
06/10/2018 OTHER DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 4d lost, 27d restricted Descending from haul truck caught foot on water pump fitting while twisting body. Felt pain in left knee. Employee continue to work until recent surgery resulting in injury becoming recordable.
05/15/2018 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 6W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
03/21/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 2d lost, 7d restricted Injured employee was dragging welding leads behind them when they became lodged under a stationary tire. This jerked employee's arm and injured the shoulder.
03/16/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None On 3/16 at 1530 employee secured train returned to cab, felt pain in back, at the time employee refused all medical treatment. The Next day, went to the clinic. Was released back to work with no restr...
02/14/2018 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 8d lost, 16d restricted The injured employee was sprayed by pressurized hydraulic oil during the removal of a sensor. The release of the pressure caused EE to move rapidly and had struck the ground. Injuries were sustained t...
12/29/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 5W coal pit on the highwall. The smoke was not able to be extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
12/28/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 35d lost, 14d restricted IE twisted Left Knee, complained of pain. On 1/11/2018, IE was diagnosed with torn ACL, which will require surgery.
11/20/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered on the west high wall in the 5 1/2 West entry. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
11/10/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered on the west high wall in the 6 West entry. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
10/03/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 5d restricted employee was removing sample from sampling system. As employee pulled the sample out, it was too heavy for employee and employee strained lower back
09/29/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The mechanic was guiding the left front spindle assembly into position on a motor grader when the assembly suddenly slipped into place pinching the mechanic's gloved left ring finger between the spind...
08/22/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered on the 4W end wall, in the upper coal seam. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
08/18/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 4W coal fender near the bottom of the ramp. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
07/19/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 88d restricted Removing fittings with a crescent wrench. While pulling on the wrench the employee felt a pop in left elbow. Initial diagnosis is muscle strain.
07/15/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The equipment operator was assisting electricians remove a cover from on top the RPC cabinet when the cover fell to the floor, bouncing and hitting the operator. This resulted in a laceration to the...
07/10/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 27d lost, 19d restricted The employee walked near an open blast hole when the collar of the hole caved, resulting in the employee's foot and leg falling into the hole. The employee grabbed the discharge auger of the truck, wh...
06/02/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The IE tripped on a forklift pocket of a stand. When EE fell EE landed on left knee. Other than a little pain and some initial swelling the employee was feeling fine and able to walk and move the knee...
05/30/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 175d lost Team member was climbing the ladder on the locomotive. Team member reported that EE heard popping noise in the right wrist. Poor body mechanics.
05/30/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was assisting another employee with the dovetail of a trailer to add an extension to lengthen the trailer when the incident occurred. There is a handle on the dovetail but it was stuck so emp...
05/29/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An equipment operator slipped on the dozer tracks while pulling on a pry-bar causing the bar to hit EE in the mouth, chipping EE's upper left front tooth.
04/24/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 90d restricted The IE was working in an engine compartment of a 795 haul truck when ee lost balance. When ee grabbed the deck of the truck to catch balance the twisting motion on shoulder caused it to pop.
02/12/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 191d lost Employee walked out of bldg. with sample and slid on rock salt on the cement, falling on both knees. EE continued to work until 2/21/2017 when Dr. restricted EE to no work.
02/01/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 15d restricted Crew was dipping center pin of shovel in liquid nitrogen when it started to bubble out of the tank coming into contact with employee's left hand.
01/28/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 106d restricted Two millwrights were removing a dragline swing pinion retainer plate when the plate slipped from their grip, resulting in a crushing/fracture of the left little finger for one of the technicians.
12/20/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 6d lost Employee was spraying off front entrance to the prep bldg with air hose. Employee turned around to go inside and tripped over a 4/4 block of wood that was on the ground holding the door open. Employee...
12/11/2016 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 46d lost Employee was swinging a sledge hammer against the outside of a bulk storage bin to dislodge the material inside. The end of the hammer became entangled in a stainless steel lifeline cable, causing a s...
12/01/2016 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 149d restricted A mechanic was beginning to lift a gear case off the floor with a crane when one of the slings caught on a bolt. This caused the case to tip over, whipping a drain hose on the case towards the mechan...
10/13/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A small blower was bolted onto a pallet. When the pallet was loaded onto the flatbed truck it had to be turned 90 degrees to allow for proper securement to the flatbed. The employee was in the act of...
10/11/2016 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Was changing a bearing and got a piece of metal stuck in hand. Had it removed and required 3 stitches.
09/16/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While walking across the drill pattern, the drill operator tripped on uneven terrain, twisting knee. On 10/27/2016 the employee underwent a medical procedure that makes this incident reportable.
08/24/2016 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 141d lost Employee was picking up a coal sample and EE stood up and felt back pop.
08/01/2016 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A millwright stepped up on a tub cable hook to connect the ground lead from welding machine to the revolving frame of the dragline. When EE stepped up EE felt pain in right knee. On August 18, 2016...
07/26/2016 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Changing ties at the mine - setting spikes and a shard split off and hit arm of employee, small particle removed, no lost time went back to work put wrap on arm.
06/15/2016 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 8d restricted Employee was removing a swing motor from a PC2000 Komatsu Excavator, when the fitting became loose employee's hand slipped down the wrench crushing it between the wrench and a hardline hose.
04/22/2016 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was struck in arm by boom after cylinder failure caused boom to drop to bed. Employee was bruised and received 2 stitches.
03/23/2016 STRIKING OR BUMPING NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The employee's hard hat made contact with the uncut portion of a protruding zip tie. The end of the zip tie was deflected by the hat, and then whipped back when released. The end of the Zip tie went a...
02/08/2016 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The employee was welding and grinding when a particle got into left eye.
01/24/2016 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 67d lost The pickup truck's RR tire blew while driving south on the haul road causing the truck to slide into the ditch. The abrupt stop caused the driver's back to be jarred resulting in a thoracic vertebrae...
12/05/2015 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While trying to loosen a nut on a steering wheel of a 793 haul truck, the employee was pulling the wrench towards himself the wrench slipped and struck the employee in the mouth causing a chipped toot...
12/03/2015 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 1d lost While lifting/pulling a conveyor belt wiper, the employee's shoulder was dislocated. The employee underwent 2 medical procedures to have the shoulder put back in position.