San Miguel Lignite Mine — Accidents
Total: 101 accidents | Fatalities: 2
| Date | Classification | Injury | Days Lost | Narrative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/23/2025 | HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | On the morning of October 23, 2025, a dragline supervisor was loosening a 3-1/8-inch bolt on an 8050-dragline swing brake. The wrench slipped from the nut. As a result, the left little finger was caug... |
| 09/07/2025 | MACHINERY | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 10d lost | A P.M. Technician was using a pressure washer and stepped backward, tripping over a shovel handle. As a result, the P.M. Technician fell and hit head on the handrail causing a laceration requiring sut... |
| 03/06/2025 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 5d lost | While pulling a rope to open the rear door of the 8200 dragline, the employee fell to the ground. As a result, the employee suffered a right knee sprain. |
| 01/04/2025 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 157d lost | A Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) fell from a Komatsu D475A Dozer while mounting. As a result, the HEO suffered a fractured ankle. |
| 06/06/2024 | OTHER | INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES | None | While making shift change in the pit, a Heavy Equipment Operator stated they felt ill and fell to the ground unconscious. CPR and AED was administered unsuccessfully. |
| 05/31/2024 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 49d lost | A Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) was dismounting a dozer, lost footing, and fell to the ground. The HEO reached with the right hand to catch the fall to the ground. As a result, the HEO suffered a rad... |
| 09/02/2023 | POWERED HAULAGE | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | None | While operating a Caterpillar 777 water truck at ~18-20 mph, the brakes engaged causing a rapid stop. As a result, the operator was jolted against the seatbelt. The operator reported neck and upper ba... |
| 05/16/2023 | FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS | FATALITY | Fatal | While SC0539 Bulldozer was traveling on 1B Ramp, a large volume of material entered the road and contacted the bulldozer. |
| 01/28/2023 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT | 18d lost, 12d restricted | Employee was removing a guard on 8200 Dragline, SG #4 to change brushes. The employee miss-stepped causing right foot to slip off walkway. The walkway was around 8"" higher than walkway employee miss-... |
| 10/27/2022 | MACHINERY | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | While wrapping hoist drum with cable, the tugger cable failed and the backlash struck employee who was operating the tugger on the right thumb causing immediate swelling. Ice was administered immediat... |
| 04/29/2022 | MACHINERY | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Employee was installing right rear outside tire on Articulating Tractor while using a 5 Spline Air Impact to tighten the bolts. While using the impact to tighten the bolts, the impact socket broke cau... |
| 11/24/2019 | FIRE | ACCIDENT ONLY | None | Coal Train 325 Komatsu 330M Caught Fire and it took longer than 30min to put it out |
| 03/25/2019 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 134d lost | Employee's foot slipped in the truck cab door way while exiting a 6x6 water truck. EE landed on the ground with weight on ee left foot, resulting in a fracture to left heel. |
| 12/21/2018 | OTHER | DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY | 4d restricted | Employee felt discomfort in EE's left shoulder |
| 08/15/2018 | HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) | DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY | 10d restricted | EE was installing inspection cover plates on a propel case. EE was tightening bolts with a socket/ratchet wrench and the socket slipped off of the bolt as they were tightening. Felt pain in right shou... |
| 08/12/2018 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT | 11d lost, 9d restricted | The employee went to the roof with other workers to set a piece of tin roofing in place. The roofing is notched out so that it fits in a certain spot on the roof. The employee grabbed the tin in the... |
| 06/27/2018 | MACHINERY | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | EE was welding handrails on a walkway and was using a 6"" grinder to grind the weld and debris got into right eye. |
| 07/11/2016 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | A mechanic was removing a pin when it pivoted and caught middle finger between the pin and a door. The mechanic sustained a small break and required stitches to close the wound. |
| 06/23/2016 | HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 163d lost | Employee strained shoulder while pulling on an alignment bar. *The incident occurred 6/23/16 but did not become a recordable until 7/18/16. |
| 09/29/2015 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY | 4d restricted | While climbing a boarding ladder to gain access, the employee placed his foot on the curved edge of the hood to make the transition from the boarding ladder. When the employee put pressure on his lef... |
| 09/27/2015 | POWERED HAULAGE | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | The employee thought he had the forks of his Komatsu WA200 securely pinned but the fork attachment fell off. The loader ran over the forks and then came to a very abrupt stop. The operator struck his... |
| 06/08/2015 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | A 65lb pin backed out of a bore and fell on the injured employee's right foot. The foot was put in an immobilizing boot and was restricted from his normal duties for 2 weeks. The boot and restrictio... |
| 05/25/2015 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Operator was dismounting a loader. While holding the grab irons on the left side of the cab and on the inside of the latched open door, the operator stepped from the cab to the first step. When doing... |
| 10/29/2013 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | On 08/27/2013, during a repair of the dragline shoe area, an employee was cleaning and a sliver of metal penetrated his gloves and punctured the left hand. The sliver was removed and the punctured ar... |
| 09/13/2013 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 18d lost | A Haul Truck Operator was attempting to free a rock from between the dual tires of the haul truck and when the rock dis-lodged, it hit the operator in the mouth. The operator had 6 teeth loosened. |
| 06/17/2013 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | A belt repair was taking place on an Easi-miner. The remnants of the belt were removed. While attempting to back off the adjuster on the short conveyor so the new belt could be fastened together a... |
| 05/10/2013 | POWERED HAULAGE | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 165d lost | The operator of a Komatsu End Dump was exiting the pit due to weather conditions when he hit a pot hole and then felt a pull in his back. The truck that hit the hole was the 3rd of 4 empty haul trucks... |
| 04/25/2013 | POWERED HAULAGE | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | A Mobile Equipment Operator was driving a Komatsu 785 when he experienced a Muscle Spasm in his lower back. The operator was training new truck drivers the three previous days before the incident. The... |
| 03/26/2013 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT | 8d lost, 38d restricted | Injured worker was installing a generator on a dragline. As he was rolling the bearing into the bearing pedestal, his right pinky finger between the generator babbitt bearing and the pedestal. |
| 03/09/2013 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | A team of three employees were attempting to clean the cutting area of an Easi-miner that was clogged with built-up dirt. One of the team members had their hand in a crush point and his right ring fi... |
| 12/11/2012 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | An employee slipped in the change-house causing a laceration to his hand requiring 3 stitches |
| 11/09/2012 | NONPOWERED HAULAGE | DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT | 3d lost, 2d restricted | The injured employee was assisting another employee to re-install a tire on a lube truck. The injured employee was lifting on the dolly to help position the tire when he felt a pain in his lower back... |
| 09/17/2012 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 1d lost | The employee slipped on a step while he was descending the ladder of a haul truck. When he slipped, he felt a sharp pain in his lower back. The Dr. found nothing and told the employee to take otc Ty... |
| 07/23/2012 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | An operator stepped out of the pickup and rolled his ankle. He felt pain immediately and his ankle started to swell. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays which were negative. - This is an update o... |
| 05/31/2012 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | The operator of a loader was attempting to lift an engine compartment door when his finger was caught in the latch and the door got away from him and lacerated the tip of his middle index finger on hi... |
| 08/22/2011 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | On August 12th, the injured employee was getting out of a boat. The employees foot caught the lip of the boat and he fell. He hit the concrete spillway and jammed his shoulder. His shoulder continu... |
| 08/02/2011 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 48d lost | The injured person was assisting a maintenance employee to change a tire. The injured person reached to pick up lug nuts. His foot slipped. He was seen by the mine's Emergency Response Team and the... |
| 06/24/2011 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Moving a 200 pound hydraulic ram, ram shifted and fell onto little finger, right hand causing a laceration that required sutures to close. |
| 06/02/2011 | MACHINERY | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Employee was grinding inside drag line wearing welding hood and safety glasses. When finished, removed hood and felt something in his eye. Employee was treated at Texas Med Clinic and had particle rem... |
| 04/03/2011 | POWERED HAULAGE | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 16d lost | The employee jumped from a burning water truck. The landing that he jumped from was approx. 10'. The employee suffered mild 2nd degree burns to both forearms and a severe sprain to his right leg. |
| 06/16/2010 | HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Mechanic was knocking out a bearing race from a hub on the ground using a brass drift and a hammer. The brass drift edge slipped off the surface of the race as he hit the drift. This caused his left h... |
| 05/06/2010 | POWERED HAULAGE | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Operator was running tractor pulling 3 scraper pans. Tractor ran off the side of the haul road striking a root pile. Impact broke out right and left side glass. Operator received laceration to left in... |
| 04/22/2010 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT | 3d lost, 26d restricted | EE was opening pump valve @ Area A pond 1 when the valve would not open. EE used 2 hands to open the valve when the valve broke, EE fell back on left side of back. EE landed on a polypipe on his left... |
| 04/08/2010 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Operator was performing pre-shift inspection on a motor grader in the maintenance shop. When closing the engine compartment door, the operator lost his balance and fell backward onto the shop concrete... |
| 03/29/2010 | MACHINERY | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | Employee was doing general clean up of work area. Employee picked up grinder. Grinder started causing a l inch laceration to his right thigh. |
| 03/22/2010 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | EE was removing the transmission pump which was tied up by a rope. When he went to remove the rope it slipped causing a laceration to his left finger when the pump slipped down |
| 01/15/2010 | OTHER | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 4d lost | Diagnosed Staph Infection possibly stemming from cut on wrist. |
| 10/12/2009 | SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 79d lost | Operator tripped on the top step of the ladder while mounting a 992 wheel loader. He fell forward against the cab, causing pain in his right arm. |
| 10/12/2009 | HANDLING OF MATERIALS | DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY | 183d lost | Employees's shoulder was strained when a choker he was hooking up was pulled tight. |
| 09/30/2009 | HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) | NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT | None | EE was using a pry bar when it slipped and smashed his finger |