Decker Mine — Accidents

Total: 91 accidents | Fatalities: 0

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
02/02/2026 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 9d restricted Mechanic was under a dozer looking for a leak on the equalizer bar. Once the mechanic found the problem, EE went to crawl out from underneath the dozer EE used EE's arm to assist self in getting up. I...
06/28/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY None Dragline operator cut the tip of finger while reinstalling a lower hoist chain pin during a PM. Dragline Operator's ring and pinky fingers were pinched under the pin's locking collar cap, with the rin...
06/15/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Grass fire was started when a 230,000 volt transmission line fell to the ground in the highway 314 right of way. The fire spread to mine property in the pond 24 pit 16 area of the mine. Local fire dep...
06/14/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Grass fire along Highway 314 spread from highway right of way on to mine property in the B/C section of pit 11. Fire was contained with local fire departments and mine personnel and equipment. No inju...
09/05/2020 ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT ONLY None Due to high winds and extremely dry range conditions, a broken insulator and associated wind slap arc on the West Decker main feed 345Kv power line initiated an approximately 500 acre grass fire. Deck...
12/18/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Installing pin in spreader bar for dragline rigging, pin started in hole and was not down completely reached to grab pin, then grabbed pin and pin fell into hole completely, which entrapped ring & mid...
08/25/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None All evidence indicates that a bird got into a 34,500 kV overhead power line near the West Decker prill silos. The resulting incineration of the bird resulted in approximately 50 acres of native rangel...
07/25/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None When the pin was backed out of a rear trailer strut, it swung free & struck the employee in the lower lip.
03/12/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Injured employee crushed left little finger between the flat bed pickup rail and replacement dragline bucket tooth that ee was loading into the truck bed.
10/23/2017 ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT ONLY None Driven by high winds, a power line disconnect switch located at pole #80 on the N side of pit 15 - arced igniting dry grass. When the fire was discovered a 657 scraper, 16G blade and wildland truck co...
08/08/2017 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None After the coal shot was initiated, the dust cloud ignited into a large fireball & with gusting winds ignited native grasses/timber to the Southeast of the pitwall. The water truck & wild land fire tru...
08/20/2016 POWERED HAULAGE ACCIDENT ONLY None While climbing aboard a Euclid CH-150, the employee stumbled to the ground when one of the rubber straps for the boarding steps broke. Decker Coal is filing this form under protest, as no injury resu...
04/11/2016 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While inspecting the bin level measuring system on a prill storage silo the injured employee suffered facial and skull lacerations when the unsecured manhole cover fell on to the employees head. Injur...
03/31/2016 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None In preparation of a dragline cable move, injured employee cut the top of EE's left hand with a ""retractable"" blade utility knife while cutting a plastic zip-tie that was securing the cable ends. The...
07/31/2015 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Operator bounced over a large chunk of coal & hurt back/knee. Operator came in at end of shift & told supervisor about the incident. Operator did not need request medical attention at that time. Sever...
11/25/2014 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee observed gap between belt wiper and belt while system was operating. The employee leaned toward the belt for a closer look and the employee's glove was snagged by the belt. Which caused his f...
12/03/2013 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Dragline dozer operator was getting off the dragline. As he got to the bottom of the boarding ladder he lost his grip of the handrail with his right hand causing him to strain his back again. Employee...
11/18/2012 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Hot coal embers were discovered on the #2 feeder pan under #1 silo at the west coal plant. Water was used to extinguish the hot embers and the silo was emptied. Msha was called as a precaution if the...
10/29/2012 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A fire occurred in the West Coal plant under silo #2. Appears that spontanous combustion of coal took place in the silo feeder and fell from the center feeder above the belt onto the belt and igniting...
09/06/2012 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 27d lost Employee has worked in maintenance as a mechanic/welder for 38 years. After 38 years his thumb joints in both hands have deteriorated to the point that he had to have surgery to repair the joints.
04/24/2012 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 3d lost Two scrapers were in a push pull operation when one scraper bumped into the other one
04/09/2012 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 16d lost Operator was panning down haul road in a scraper, another scraper coming off fill canned up and the operator was about to put cushion hook back on when he hit a hole. He pulled a muscle in his neck.
03/05/2012 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 225d lost Employee was hooking up a coolant hot start coupler. As he was pushing the coupler together he felt a pain in his left shoulder. He was taken to the doctor for evaluation. The doctor prescribed medica...
02/24/2012 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 25d lost Employee is a utility oiler and has being doing oiling duties for 25 years. He states that he has developed a hernia on his right side, he had a hernia on his left side 12 years prior. His duties incl...
07/28/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None At the East Coal Plant. A hinged inspection plate was opened to help align a cover with holes on the mounting bracket. The cover bound up and while trying to relieve the bind in the cover the employe...
07/01/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Two employees were trying to let down the mast on a light plant. The employees were trying to pull the base of the mast up so the mast could lay down. The mast slid back into the channel lacerating t...
04/15/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Warehouseman was moving a pallet of parts. He lifted one end of the pallet up and as he set it back down, his right index finger was pinched between the pallet and the part on the pallet underneath, r...
03/23/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Drill operator opened the cab door on an overburden drill. When he closed the door his left thumb was shut in the door lacerating the end of the thumb.
04/20/2010 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 13d lost Electrician trainee was carrying a 14 pound box of brushes for a dragline motor from the warehouse to his truck, when he felt his back give out, almost dropping the box. He continued to work and his b...
04/20/2010 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 48d lost Dragline operator was placing the boarding steps into place to start a repair on dragline. He removed the step from the storage area and dropped the steps on his left foot resulting in fracturing two...
11/23/2009 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 160d lost Employee, a mechanic was removing a tie rod from a CH 150 coal hauler. While holding onto tie rod, another mechanic knocked tie rod loose injuring the back of the employee holding onto tie rod. The ti...
08/11/2009 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 None EE was holding flexible conduit while sliding a nut down on a junction box and felt a pain in his shoulder. This incident could be an aggravation to a pre-existing condition as the employee has had r...
05/12/2009 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Oiler was moving cable @ Dragline and felt a pop in wrist. Xrays showed no positve findings and he returned to work. On 6-10-09 emp. returned to doc for MRI which showed small fracure on wrist. Emp....
09/05/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Cat 518 skidder door was accidently shut by mechanic asisting in getting the skidder started and unstuck smashing operators finger. Employee received a laceration to right ring finger that required st...
08/15/2008 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 14d restricted Employee was cutting a water pump discharge hose with a safety razor knife. He was cutting toward himself. The knife slipped and lacerated his left forearm.
08/10/2008 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 222d lost Employee was driving a Euclid CH-150 coalhauler in pit 11 F section when he hit a hole in the road jarring his back, road maintenance was ongoing at the time of the incident. On 8/11/08 employee was d...
01/02/2008 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was walking to the parking area when she slipped on a patch of ice striking the back of her head, cuasing a laceration that required stiches to close. Employee returned to full work duties, n...
12/26/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 115d lost Oiler reported pain in right shoulder after changing filters in drill. Was taken to Dr. and no injury was found. A week later continued to complain of pain was taken to ortho and no injury was found....
06/05/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A weld on a tag broke and contractor employee tried to catch the brass washer to keep from falling. The brass washer fell two feet (2 ft.) shearing his left pointer finger between the brass washer an...
05/20/2007 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The contractor employee was swinging a hammer with his right hand at the 3rd Intermediate brass bushing. The hammer glanced off the bushing, lacerating the top-side of the employee's fingers on a sha...
05/18/2007 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None In order to gain access to the generators to disconnect the wiring EE had to climb through a small opening under the generator. He twisted his body to get under the generators and felt a pulled muscl...
04/23/2007 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 21d lost While driving an empty coal hauler employee hit a slight dip in the main haul road and felt a slight pinch (burning) in his lower back. After lunch the following day his lower back was bothering him t...
03/12/2007 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 None After running a 657 scraper for 5.5 hours (plating road) employee finished remainder of the shift driving a coal hauler. At the end of the shift employee told the production superintendent tha t his l...
03/07/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 32d lost After removing a lighting pole light fixture, employee was loading the fixture (approx. 40 lbs) into the bed of a pickup truck and felt a slight pop/pull in the back of his right shoulder. Checked ou...
10/22/2006 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 120d lost After checking the shoe wear clad for proper lubrication employee turned to leave the area ducking under an I-Beam and struck a lifting eye that was welded to the bottom of the house. The impact (buck...
07/21/2006 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 3d lost After blowing out the grid box on a Euclid R-170, employee was attempting to align the right side mirror bracket mounting bolt to the top of the grid box. Employee chose to push (bump) the mirror brac...
05/03/2006 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 280d lost Crossing a 12-14 inch high windrow left in the pit floor caused the truck to pitch enough to bottom out the operator's seat. Employee complained of a warm/tingling sensation in his lower back for seve...
10/15/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 7d lost Employee suffered a lower back muscle spasm while carrying an 85 lb. return roller to the tail pully area of belt #3, a 60 inch conveyor. It requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to get to the tail pu...
08/16/2005 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 55d lost Employee's position as coal prep oiler - experienced increasing lower back pain over the last couple of months.
06/19/2005 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Operator was using utility knife and cut his thumb