West Elk Mine — Accidents

Total: 408 accidents | Fatalities: 2

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
12/04/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 15d lost Lifting casing to thread and felt burning sensation in groin. Diagnosed with hernia
11/10/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While cutting outer jacket from heat tape cable, blade slipped from cable and knife contacted employee right upper thigh causing laceration.
11/04/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was thirdman on bolter, tripped and fell, striking left elbow
11/02/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None struck in mouth pulling on chain when chain came loose
08/13/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 37d lost WHILE UNLOADING SUPPLIES FROM TRUCK BED, BULL HOSE WAS DROPPED, STRIKING TOP OF LEFT FOOT.
07/10/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY None EE PULLING SHIELDS MANUALLY, RIGHT FOOT/ANKLE CAUGHT BETWEEN SHIELD AND PAN
05/26/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 113d lost EE was pulling in shields on LW face, fell while stepping to next shield striking posterior ribs/back.
05/25/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY None EE was shoveling at a belt transfer, while in a crouching position to reach under belt EE felt a sharp pain in lower left abdomen which was diagnosed as a hernia.
05/17/2025 OTHER DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 1d lost EE donned Ocenco DBA 6.5 SCSR as part of routine training and fell unconscious after walking approximately 100 feet. EE was unconscious for approximately 45 seconds. Originally filed 7000-1 5/23/25
05/07/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 1d lost EE WAS CHANGING SHOCK ON BELT SCRAPER WHEN SCRAPER ARM FLIPPED UP AND CONTACTED LEFT INDEX FINGER. FINGER WAS AMPUTATED IN SURGERY AT 2ND KNUCKLE.
05/01/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Employees were performing work tasks not focusing on other job tasks occurring around them. A group of employees were working on the lower scaffold deck directly below another group. One employee work...
03/12/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was running a come-along, EE thought the handle was locked in. When employee released the handle the tension brought handle back hitting employee in the safety glasses. Employee's safety glas...
02/21/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 8d lost, 12d restricted Employee fell onto employee's proximity pad at the right hip resulting in contusion and bruising to the right hip. Employee was seen the same day and given a full release with no restrictions. During...
01/29/2025 STRIKING OR BUMPING DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 42d lost Employee was tramming bolter from ATRS controls. EE walked toward cable reel to check cable, returning to ATRS controls EE smacked knee on fire suppression bottle/bracket and dislocated knee cap.
12/28/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 122d lost Employee pulled on about 40ft of miner cable swinging it towards the rib with their right arm when they felt a ""pop"" in their right elbow and had discomfort. Suspected torn bicep.
11/13/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 2d lost, 19d restricted employee was operating left boom of the roof bolter when a piece of roof mesh they were placing on the ATRS slid over the front catching fingers of both hands against the machine.
10/28/2024 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 17d lost Individual operating water wagon pulled into crosscut out of the way of traffic when a drill steel came through the floor striking right knee.
08/26/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was removing a Kennedy panel from a stopping. As EE looked up to see what the top of the panel was caught on, a baseball size rock with sharp edges fell from the top striking EE in the face a...
08/15/2024 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK ACCIDENT ONLY None ROOF FALL SUNSET MAINS PILLAR SECTION 6E 27-28XC.
08/14/2024 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 9d lost, 40d restricted EE WAS CUTTING FLAP ON BELT WITH RETRACTABLE KNIFE, CUT LEFT HAND NEAR BASE OF THUMB WHILE TRYING TO CUT BELT. SUSTAINED LACERATION TO HAND WITH TENDON INJURY.
08/11/2024 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 219d lost An accident occured and a miner tried to catch another miner who was falling. The miner has been on leave since the accident. The miner reported shoulder pain the following day and was diagnosed with...
08/11/2024 POWERED HAULAGE FATALITY Fatal Employee was shoveling coal off a conveyor belt, belt moved forward causing miner to fall down transfer chute onto belt conveyor that transferred EE to stacker tube where EE fell onto coal pile.
07/09/2024 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Riding in mantrip to work section hit a pothole bounced EE.
05/22/2024 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 43d lost While using miner puller eyelet broke and came up and hit EE in the arm.
04/23/2024 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK ACCIDENT ONLY None roof fall in front of MRS in retreat section due to using 2 MRS plan.
04/17/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN A CLOGGED SPRAY NOZZLE AND WAS SPLASHED IN THE EYE BY WATER AND DIRT. EMPLOYEES EYE WAS FLUSHED AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WHERE IT WAS CLEANED OUT BETTER AND EE WAS GIVEN...
03/07/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 24d lost, 2d restricted ANOTHER EE HEARD PANEL SLIDE ACROSS OTHERS, LOOKED AROUND STOPPING AND SAW INJURED WORKER ON THE GROUND. EE RETURNED TO NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT, THEN SAW MD 3/13/24 FOR FOLLOW UP AND WAS PLACED OFF WORK...
10/24/2023 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK ACCIDENT ONLY None roof fall found at ssms return 3E, 33xc intersection. The roof fall is approx. 10-12 feet at its highest point which is above anchor point. It is approx. 30 feet long by 23 feet wide. The affected...
08/04/2023 MACHINERY DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 3d lost, 7d restricted WHILE CUTTING COAL ON THE LONGWALL, THE SHEARER SLOUGHING PLATE CAUGHT A SPRAY BAR HOSE CAUSING IT TO STRETCH TIGHT BEFORE DISLODGING AND WHIPPING BACK TOWARD THE OPERATOR. THE BAR STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE...
07/29/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None Bad valve attached to bull hose.
07/18/2023 POWERED HAULAGE ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None Driving the 31/2 to get bolting supplies and ran over a crib in the road jarring EE's head and back
06/28/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 10d lost EMPLOYEE SHOVELING COAL ON BELT, MOVED TO STEP OFF, FOOT SLIPPED AND EMPLOYEE FELL TO BELOW TO HEAD/NECK.
05/26/2023 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 45d lost EE TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN BUMPER ON TR-11 USING CHAIN, 20TON HYDRAULIC JACK. EE USING ROSE BUD TRYING TO HEAT REAR BUMPER TO STRAIGHTEN. CHAIN UNDER TENSION BROKE, CHAIN HIT EE IN FACE/MOUTH. EE FELL...
04/09/2023 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None Bruised foot
03/15/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Slip on wet surface
03/13/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 3d restricted Twisted ankle while shoveling accumulations off the top of the miner.
02/21/2023 FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 79d lost THE EE CLIMBED INTO A SHIELD WAITING FOR THE SHEARER TO PASS. WHEN THE SHEARER PASSED, THE EE CLIMBED OUT OF THE SHIELD, STEPPING ON THE NEXT SHIELD THAT HAD JUST PULLED, THE FLIPPER ON THE SHIELD TIP...
02/17/2023 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 8d restricted While re-bolting a steep area where the screen was bagged, the employee grabbed the pan rack with right hand to help climb onto bolting platform. At that moment, a rock fell through screen striking t...
02/14/2023 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK ACCIDENT ONLY None MSHA Inspector and supervisor were walking weekly route and discovered a reportable roof fall in ESM, 8E, 21XC intersection that impeded the travel route for the weekly. Ventilation was not affected....
12/13/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 10d restricted Reinjured an existing injury to EE's left foot fracturing the fourth metatarsal. Injury was due to excess body weight on the employee. Employee stumbled catching self and applying all weight to the on...
10/19/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Poor lifting technique in trying to lift too much alone. Should have gotten another person for help.
07/13/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 38d lost EE WAS HELPING TO REPOSTION THE BELT TENSIONER STATIONARY ROLLER ASSEMBLY AFTER IT HAD BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING BEAMS. THE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN STOOD UP AND THE CREW WAS GETTING READY TO REPOSITION...
07/13/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 229d lost EE WAS HELPING REPOSITION THE BELT TENSIONER STATIONARY ROLLER ASSEMBLY AFTER IT BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING BEAMS. THE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN STOOD UP AND CREW WAS GETTING READY TO REPOSITION ROPES TO...
06/21/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Went to step out of operator's seat and foot slipped and employee hit the back of the operator's seat with mouth and chipped a front tooth.
08/05/2021 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While removing a DA cylinder from shield a come-a-long was being used to suspend the cylinder. When the electro-hydraulic function was cycled to move the cylinder it caused the come-a-long to spin str...
07/29/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 257d lost While repositioning a bad relay bar for removal from the face the miner disconnected the safety chain and had another miner remove the come-a-long, when they did this the relay bar slipped off the she...
07/20/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 36d lost, 122d restricted Employee lifted 72"" return roller into back of pickup and felt pain in right shoulder and arm. Employee continued to work until surgery on 2/3/2021.
07/07/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 7d lost MINER WAS HANDLING END CAP OF OVERCAST. AS EE WAS LIFTING IT TO PLACE IT ONTO PANELS, MINER SET IT DOWN ON LEFT LITTLE FINGER CAUSING A LACERATION AND FRACTURE THAT REQUIRED SURGERY TO SET.
06/19/2021 EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While transferring rock dust, the line blew apart striking the miner on the right side of the face causing a laceration requiring sutures to close.
03/02/2021 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 9d lost Injured miner was working on a belt splice with two others employees setting a row of rivets, they had completed rivets and was backing away with head bowed down to avoid obstacles. One of the other e...