Mining Incidents

Liberty Mine Coal

Alcoa Fuels Inc. · Surface
Controlled by Alcoa Corporation
Boonville, Warrick County, IN  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1202428

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
19
Years on record
2014–2023
Latest incident
Aug 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2013
79
citations
30
significant & substantial
$40,795
proposed penalties
$38,841
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q3 500 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 450 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 400 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 22,129 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 29,599 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 21,139 1 0 47.3
2022 Q4 9,443 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 687 0 0 0.0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

19 on file

2023 · 1 incident

August 9, 2023 IN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver MACHINERY
Alcoa Fuels Inc. · Struck against a moving object

2600 excavator was loading shot rock into haul truck and a rock came off the bucket and jarred the truck. The operator complained about their back hurting.

2019 · 1 incident

January 7, 2019 IN · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

IE claims that when closing the door on a storage container, EE felt a pain in arm. After follow up for persistent pain on 1/30/2019, IE was placed on restricted duty until an orthopedic surgeon could decide if a steroid injection is necessary to control inflammation of shoulder joint. This injury is still under investigation.

2018 · 6 incidents

December 11, 2018 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Struck by flying object

IEs were in the process of inflating a tire to examine it to determine where a slow leak was emanating from. As the tire was being inflated, a lock ring became dislodged. This resulted in a rapid deflation of the tire. The second lock ring came loose as well and struck both employees.

December 11, 2018 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Struck by flying object

IEs were in the process of inflating a tire to examine it to determine where a slow leak was emanating from. As the tire was being inflated, a lock ring became dislodged. This resulted in a rapid deflation of the tire. The second lock ring came loose as well and struck both employees.

June 25, 2018 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Contact with heat

Fueler was found laying on the ground by the night shift end dump drivers prior to the start of their shift. EE was aware of EE's surroundings, The foreman was contacted and a ambulance was dispatched immediately. EMS observed that all vitals were normal. Transferred to Deaconess Gateway Hospital EE was examined and given fluids and released to work with no restrictions.

June 18, 2018 IN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Struck against a moving object

Mowing hillside and equipment overturned.

May 8, 2018 IN · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vigo Coal Operating Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was dismounting from dozer and slipped on the wet ground and heard a popping noise in right knee. EE continued to work with no restrictions. Surgery was scheduled for a torn meniscus which was repaired on 09/21/18.

January 3, 2018 IN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

While troubleshooting a bad roller, employee was attempting to move away from belt structure when employee's coat got caught by the belt. That pulled employee's arm to the roller resulting in a laceration to left arm.

2017 · 3 incidents

November 18, 2017 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

IE was attempting to remove mud from the transmission housing of a pickup truck. IE violated Co policy by not chocking the wheels, not locking/tagging, and not de-energizing the truck prior to maintenance. Resulted in truck moving while IE was still on ground with the tire of the truck contacting ee resulting in a broken clavicle and a laceration to ear

September 19, 2017 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

IE was using a pry bar while repairing a radiator. As IE was tightening a bracket, the pry bar slipped free, striking IE in the upper lip, resulting in a laceration. IE was treated, and 4 sutures were applied.

January 12, 2017 IN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

IE was attempting to open heater valves on dozer with engine running. In process IE's thumb contacted the alternator belt, resulting in a fracture of bone in left thumb, as well as laceration that required sutures to close.

2016 · 4 incidents

July 31, 2016 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

Conditions contributing to this injury are: high heat and humidity, steel on steel rigging and failure to adequately rig the chain to the track pad.

July 16, 2016 IN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While walking to close a valve, the injured employee stepped into an opening that had been created when a drain panel had been removed. Injured employee fell 7 feet to concrete floor below. IE has been ordered to take physical therapy to repair damaged muscle.

March 21, 2016 IN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was using a 24" pipe wrench. EE was in the kneeling position pulling the wrench toward EE when the wrench slipped off the nut causing the handle to strike EE slightly above the forehead. EE received 5 staples in the scalp.

March 11, 2016 IN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE stated reached above the hose crimping machine and lifted the die to place in the machine. At this time EE felt pain in left shoulder. The die is estimated at 25lbs. The resulting diagnosis was a partial tear of the rotator cuff.

2015 · 1 incident

December 11, 2015 IN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stated he was not sure what he did. States he did pick up a piece of metal that he realized he couldn't pick up by himself. He got another employee to help him & had no problem until an hour later when he started to hurt. X-rays negative. Diagnosed as an illness - tenosynovitis.

2014 · 3 incidents

April 28, 2014 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was removing the hoist cylinder yoke from the radiator guard of the D9 dozer. He rigged the yoke with 3/8" chain and was using the 20 ton hoist to ease the yoke out. He positioned his R hand on the yoke to stabilize it. The yoke cleared the radiator and shifted slightly. Chain tightened and pinched little/ring finger of R hand. Sutures were placed in both fingers.

April 2, 2014 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee alleges he developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome while performing his work as a mechanic at Liberty Mine. The diagnosis was confirmed on April 2, 2014 and surgery was performed April 10, 2014. Both wrist areas are affected. There are two procedures, right wrist surgery on April 10, 2014 and left two weeks later. This will be reported to MSHA and 7000-1 counted as illness.

March 11, 2014 IN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vigo Coal Operating Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While repairing a machine employee was holding a drive line in one hand while starting the bolts with the other felt a pop in left shoulder