Spring Creek Mine — Accidents

Total: 62 accidents | Fatalities: 2

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
10/28/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was cutting rubber skirting with a box cutter style knife. The knife slipped and cut through the welding gloves they were wearing. EE received 5 sutures to close a laceration on the back of their l...
09/10/2025 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The cutoff wheel fractured during grinding, and a fragment struck the employee's right arm, causing a laceration that required sutures to close. The disc had the proper RPM rating for the grinder, and...
08/28/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was replacing a single point lubricator on a plant roller bearing cap. While withdrawing their hand their right index finger contacted the zero speed sensor mount causing a laceration requiring 5 s...
08/12/2025 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 10d restricted EE was pushing dirt off a coal fender to bury warm coal when the fender gave out and the dozer slide off sideways. The dozer overturned landing upright on the tracks. EE sustained a 1 inch laceration...
07/24/2025 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal smoker was discovered in the ramp 20 waste dump. Dozer was walked over to bury the smoker. Smoker was extinguished but took longer than 30 minutes. No people, equipment or property was threaten...
10/15/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was power washing a drill in the field when they tripped backwards over the wash wand and hit their head on the genset radiator shroud causing a laceration on the head requiring 3 staples to close.
08/16/2024 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was operating a manlift. During the operation, the man-lift had a mechanical failure that caused the boom to retract into the housing causing the employee to hit their mouth on the handrail.
05/02/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 60d lost EE was boarding a blade when they felt pain and a burning feeling in their left calf muscle. Two days later the calf began to swell and bruise. On May 9th imaging revealed a ruptured (torn) Achilles t...
08/21/2023 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was greasing a pin with a pneumatic grease gun when the adapter slipped off the fitting and injected a small amount of grease into the EE's LH index finger. Debridement and stiches were required to...
08/02/2023 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was cutting a piece of wear plate off the dragline shoe. When it fell to the ground it cut through EE's boot causing a small laceration on two toes. Stitches were required to close the wound.
07/16/2023 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None CV07 suffered a tear in the splicing with coal loaded on the belt. The head pulley created enough heat friction with the belt not moving to start the belt on fire. Fire was not fully extinguished in u...
04/17/2023 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was using a hydraulic tool to remove a wheel lock ring on a RTD. The tool slipped off of it's position landing on the EEs Rh index finger causing a laceration that required stitches.
09/08/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE started climbing the ladder on a scraper when EE slipped and fell causing a distal fracture to the radius on the left wrist.
04/01/2022 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was preparing a coal sample by pulverizing it in the pulverizer. When pushing down on the lever with left hand to lower the plate to replace drawer with right hand employee felt a ""pop"" in...
02/23/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 117d lost Employee was dismounting equipment when EE's foot slipped causing EE to land on right hand/wrist. Employee states heard a ""pop"" and swelling was present. Employee was treated at a local medical fa...
10/06/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None The hoist ropes came out of the boom point sheeves on the BE1570 dragline when the bucket contacted the spoil pile. The operator tried to lower the bucket which created heat/friction between the ropes...
09/15/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was removing a haul truck tire lock ring when it shifted causing the EE's thumb to be pinched between the lock ring and a wheel lug stud, causing a laceration. The laceration required stitches to b...
02/14/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Employee noticed smoke and flames coming from a haul truck that was idling in a parking ditch. There was no operator on or near the machine at the time. The fire was not fully extinguished in under 30...
01/19/2021 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 29d lost, 94d restricted EE working on hands and knees, felt a ""pop"" in knee. MRI revealed a torn meniscus.
01/19/2020 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was attempting to cut a plastic zip tie with a pocket knife. The knife slipped causing a laceration to the employees left pinky and ring fingers. Sutures were required to close the wound.
11/12/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Operator relocating loader to another pit when sparks and flames started coming from the front of the articulation. Mine rescue team extinguished all flames in 64 minutes.
09/03/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 203d lost Employee was pulling a drawer of coal from the riffler with their left arm and felt something pull in EE's left upper arm/shoulder.
12/22/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 91d lost Employee was exiting the right rear passenger door of a crew cab pickup when EE got feet hung up between the rear seat and the door pillar, causing EE to fall out of the vehicle and land on the right...
12/17/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 132d lost Truck driver was walking around trailer when ee slipped and fell. The temperature was -6 degrees which contributed to slick conditions of the packed snow. The driver slipped, ankle rolled and ee fell...
02/04/2015 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 61d lost Employee was moving trailing cable with a cable hook when he slipped and fell to the ground landing on his right elbow tearing his right shoulder rotator cuff.
10/02/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was manually moving a dragline swing gear bearing retainer weighing approximately 150 lbs. when his middle left finger became pinched between the retainer flange and a walkway toe board. Thi...
09/17/2014 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was grinding on a spreader bar in the Weld Shop when the grinder kicked to the left after catching on metal causing the disc to cut through his coveralls and into his left knee. The lacerati...
06/23/2014 POWERED HAULAGE FATALITY Fatal An empty haul truck traveled in a forward direction through a dump berm and came to rest at the bottom of the angle of repose dump fatally injuring the operator.
03/16/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 7d lost Employee was helping a mechanic tighten a loose hose connection in the back of a lube truck when the mechanic bumped the truck rear door lever causing the door to come down and strike the employee acr...
02/22/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was changing a park brake on a haul truck when the bolt he was using an impact on broke allowing the brake housing to pop slightly outward and strike the top of his right middle finger. This...
09/26/2013 DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 None While at his residence the employee woke up early in the morning to discover his eyes had sustained flash burns from performing extensive weld work over the last 3 days. The damage over time was eith...
05/02/2012 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee stuck his hand into a moving heater/ac fan blade while attempting to replace the cover for it that had just fallen off. His right index finger was cut by the fan blade resulting in three (3)...
07/27/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was purging propel lube lines on a 1570 Dragline. Contractors were working above him & accidentally knocked over an open bucket of EPA 2000 Solvent which in turn fell on top of him. He was correctl...
08/20/2010 OTHER DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 92d lost Employee stopped dozer to look behind when his neck popped. He could not turn head to side afterward. The mine believes due to no noted mechanism of injury that this is not work related. Potential cau...
08/17/2010 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The EE was trying to remove a door panel that was stuck. When it came loose, his hand came into contact with a sharp edge, resulting in a laceration to his finger that required medical attention (3 st...
05/04/2010 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was opening the heater valve door to turn on the dozer heater valves when a gust of wind caused dust to swirl up underneath his safety glasses getting into his left eye. This resulted in his...
10/08/2009 HANDLING OF MATERIALS PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY None Employee was laying down some metal shelving on a push cart when his left ring and pinky finger were caught in a pinch point causing the ring finger to be lacerated and the pinky finger to lacerated a...
05/15/2009 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 38d lost Employee was exiting the cab of the vehicle she was driving that had been parked with the driver's side front and rear axles partially on a stem pile increasing the distance from the vehicle step and...
05/07/2009 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Removable stairs were not level or secured from top of dragline shoe to rev-frame platform. Injury was stepping down onto second step when stairs came loose. He lost balance falling approx. 3' onto hi...
01/05/2009 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was removing bolts from the belly pan of a scraper to perform maintenance work when the hinged pan swung down pinching his right index finger causing it to be lacerated on both side from the...
06/20/2008 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 5d lost Task to remove cable guide of ""A"" frame, stagged in shop, when partially cut loose by air arcing, cable guide broke loose and dropped about 16 inches to floor, striking welder on top of right foot a...
12/20/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was lifting a bucket of approx. 20 to 25 lbs. of bolts and other materials from the ground to the flatbed of his pickup when he sustained an umbilical hernia. He was evaulated by a physician and f...
07/24/2007 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Two employees were in the process of inspecting topsoil piles while driving on a two track road when they noticed flames coming from the engine compartment of their pickup truck and underneath it. Th...
03/15/2007 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was working from a walk platform. As the platform is designed to fold up, the weight of the employee standing on the edge caused the platform to fold unexpectedly pinching his left leg at sh...
03/06/2007 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee put himself in a precarious position so that when he slipped, his leg became wedged between two pieces of iron.
02/19/2007 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was lowering a manlift and felt something get in his eye. He was wearing safety glasses at the time.
11/28/2006 POWERED HAULAGE FATALITY Fatal The Haul Truck operator that had called in a problem with his park brake was found shortly thereafter pinned under his left rear tires. He had sustained fatal crushing injuries.
09/16/2006 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 30d lost While attempting to locate the heater valves in the engine compartment of a blade, the employee fell approximately 3 and 1/2 feet to the ground. The employee felt sharp pain in his right shoulder and...
09/01/2006 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was attempting to place the de-watering pump back into the cradle after he was finished de-watering a blasthole when pump slid into postion pinching the tip of the his finger between the cradle and...
01/15/2004 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None EE STRUNG OUT A CUTTING TORCH, TURNED ON THE FUEL GAS (PROPANE) AND LIT THE TORCH. HE THEN OPENED THE OXYGEN VALVE. WHEN HE DID SO THE OXYGEN FEED LINE EXPLODED. A FIRE RESULTED AT THE HOSE REEL WHICH...