Mining Incidents

Lee Ranch Coal Mine Coal

Grants, Mckinley County, NM  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2901879

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
53
Years on record
2000–2026
Latest incident
Jan 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
433
citations
115
significant & substantial
$342,452
proposed penalties
$182,001
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 Q4 73,932 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 73,112 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 72,294 1 0 13.8
2025 Q1 4,101 2 2 487.7
2024 Q4 79,174 7 1 88.4
2024 Q3 83,788 1 0 11.9
2024 Q2 73,453 18 3 245.1
2024 Q1 31,777 0 0 0.0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
April 26, 2002 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS FUELING DOZER WHEN FUEL TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY MOVED DOWN THE SLOPE. THE CHOCKS WERE PLACED AT REAR TANDEM WHEELS ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN TRUCK MOVED. EE RAN AFTER TRUCK AND WAS STRUCK BY THE REAR WHEELS ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION IS ON GOING.

Reportable incidents

52 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2026 · 1 incident

January 12, 2026 NM · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was carrying a box of detonators while distributing them on blast pattern when they stepped into a low spot in the ground, employee felt discomfort in their abdomen. Employee was diagnosed with a hernia on 1-29-2026 making this a reportable incident.

2025 · 4 incidents

September 6, 2025 NM · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

IE slipped in mud as they tried to catch themselves with right leg they felt a pop in upper leg.

August 27, 2025 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Tool slipped and employee fell to a lower surface injuring the right elbow.

August 4, 2025 NM · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall from machine

Employee misjudged step on boarding ladder. Held on to handrail with right arm so they wouldn't fall to the ground.

June 11, 2025 NM · Coal drill operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck against a moving object

On 06/12/2025 employee reported that a coworker kicked the back of the front seat from the back seat of a quad cab pickup on 06/11/2025. On August 4th the employee was treated at an urgent care facility and released with restrictions.

2024 · 1 incident

February 27, 2024 NM · Coal miner, prospector, nec OTHER
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Left arm was caught between porta-potty door and frame due to excessive wind

2022 · 1 incident

October 20, 2022 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

IE was removing #2 belly pan. IE planned to rattle hinge bolt with impact to get the pan to hinge downward. Bolt threaded out and allowed belly pan to move. Cable supporting the pan allowed the pan to move sideways due to weight. Side movement of pan pinched IE's arm between belly pan and side frame of tractor.

2012 · 1 incident

August 30, 2012 NM · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

IE and co-worker were replacing a sway bar on a haul truck. a broken portion of the sway bar was attached to the pin. As the pin started out of the frame bushing the IE reached to steady the pin, it rotated allowing a sharp edge to contact the IE's arm. IE was transported to hospital. IE received 9 sutures to repair the laceration then returned to work.

2011 · 5 incidents

November 12, 2011 NM · Coal welder (shop) OTHER
Peabody Natural Resources Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

There was an unidentified event causing a loud percussion noise resulting in temporary hearing loss in both ears. Employee will be retested in less than 21 days.

October 28, 2011 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was stepping down onto the tub of a dragline and stepped on a foreign object resulting in a loss of balance and rolled his ankle.

October 20, 2011 NM · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

IE and 4 other techs were replacing a snub pulley. A piece of channel was used to position the pulley. IE pulled on the channel before securing the channel for removal the other end fell into the chute, the end he was pulling on raised. IE's left hand was caught between the channel and the pillow block, resulting in a fracture of the middle metacarpal shaft.

May 23, 2011 NM · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AUDIOMETRIC TEST WERE CONDUCTED DURING PART 48 ANNUAL TRAINING ON APRIL 4TH AND 8TH. IT WAS DETECTED THAT EMPLOYEE HAD AN MSHA REPORTABLE STS. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE CONDITION ON 05/23/2011. NOTIFICATION AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE MINER.

February 12, 2011 NM · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall onto or against objects

IE was boarding a dozer. His foot slipped as he was reaching for the grab iron. As he fell forward his hard hat partially slipped off and he struck his head on the grab iron. The impact with the grab iron knocked his hard hat off and struck the IE in the top of the head. It was determined this morning (2/14/2011)that 4 staples were required to secure the laceration.

2010 · 1 incident

June 22, 2010 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

IE was replacing a seized bogie roller on a D-11 dozer. IE states he told GG to hold on, the shaft has to be rotated to align with the cap alignment pin. GG states that IE instructed him to lower the machine. Machine lowered 1-2 inches. IE yelled and crawled out from under the dozer.Injury resulted in amputation of the rt index finger at the proximal phalanx.

2009 · 1 incident

November 6, 2009 NM · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

IE had completed his pre-shift inspection of ground level items on his dozer He mounted the machine and while checking engine oil from the left track he slipped and fell onto the track. He landed on his left elbow and felt pain in his left shoulder. He did not want treatment from the mine ERT. The incident became a Lost Time Injury due to a rotator cuff repair.

2008 · 2 incidents

June 17, 2008 NM · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE's were replacing a beltline idler when there was a call for ERT members.1 went to loadout to relieve ERT member.Other went down the beltline for truck.30? from the portal he turned to see if he had lost tools from his pockets.He stumbled and fell.Uni-strut material used as beltline walkway cut his knee requiring nine stitches.

May 6, 2008 NM · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck against a moving object

The scaper driven by EE was traveling at a high rate of speed. (8th gear) A water truck driven by Other EE had stopped in the road to let the motor grader make his turn. The scraper made contact with the water truck on the right rear corner. The damage estmate was $44,000 The operator stated that he was OK at the time of the accident, but went to the doctor the next day.

2007 · 4 incidents

December 29, 2007 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck against stationary object

Technician was repairing the left propel walking camshaft in the revolving frame of the dragline. Employee stated he was working in compartment #L-26 when he stepped on an unknown object, slipped and twisted his right ankle.

December 28, 2007 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

He was re-torquing tire of a coal hauler, using a air torque gun. He had torqued all lugs except lug at 6 o-clock. As he placed the gun on the last lug he hit the trigger with his rt hand.The gun being activated caused the gun to twist.This action caught his lt 5th finger between the gun extension and the wheel cover. He received a laceration to his lt. pinky, requiring sutures.

August 28, 2007 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Normal hearing for speech sounds in left ear. Normal hearing for speech sounds in right ear. Moderately severe loss for high pitch sounds in left ear. Moderate loss for high pitch sounds in right ear.

August 9, 2007 NM · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employees advancing trailing cable. After advancing, he went to rear of skidder, removed cable and motioned operator to move forward. When he dropped the cable, it got caught on a hook. As skidder traveled forward tension on the cable increased and cable struck ee in the lower chest and flipped him to the ground. X-rays show fractured ribs and a fracture in #4 Metacarpal.

2006 · 2 incidents

November 17, 2006 NM · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was climbing up on shovel track to change lube filter under lube room. As he was climbing, pain in his left knee. EE did not fall, twist or have any impact to the knee. No mechanism of injury could be found. Investigation supported by MRI and EE statements revealed degenerative conditions aggravated by several years of high impact sports. Surgery 12/28/06.

March 25, 2006 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While working on equipment in shop, EE was removing a relief from hydrolic cylinder with a wrench and his back popped. It only felt like a sore muscle until 3/27/2006.

2004 · 3 incidents

August 12, 2004 NM · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

ON 8/11/04 EE LIFTED AN 80 LB. SWIVEL HEAD ATTACHMENT SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT PAIN BUT WHEN HE GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AT HOME, HE FELT PAIN TO HIS LOWER BACK. HE REPORTED THE PAIN THE NEXT DAY. THE DOCTOR ALLOWED HIM TO CONTINUE WORKING BUT ON 8/25 WHILE STARTING TO CLIMB A HAUL TRUCK LADDER, HE FELT PAIN AGAIN. ON 9/2 AN MRI SHOWED DISC AND FACET DISEASE AND FACET ANTHROPATHY.

July 18, 2004 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

LIFTING EYE USED TO HOLD PAN STRIPPED OUT OF THREADS ALLOWING BELLY PAN TO PIVOT AND HIT EE IN THE LEFT KNEE.

June 6, 2004 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

INJURED RT. KNEE WHEN LIFTING ENGINE HOOD DURING A PRE-OPERATIONAL INSPECTION OF A FUEL/LUBE TRUCK. THE PREFERRED LOCATION TO RAISE THE HOOD IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK. WHEN EE PULLED THE HOOD FORWARD TO OPEN THE HOOD, IT TRAVELED PAST NORMAL OPEN POSITION FORCING EE TO THE GROUND. THIS WAS DUE TO A RETAINING PIN THAT APPARENTLY VIBRATED OUT OF THE CABLE/SPRING DEVICE.

2003 · 5 incidents

September 25, 2003 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS RETORQUING REAR TIRES ON HU716 SN 201 WITH A 1" IMPACT. HE FELT SOMETHING IN HIS RT. EYE.HE REPORTED THIS TO THE COAL SUPERVISOR. EE WAS WEARING PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT, HIS SAFETY GLAS SES ARE THE WRAP AROUND TYPE OF GOOD QUALITY.

August 27, 2003 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

FRACTURE OF LT. LITTLE FINGER 3RD PHALANGE, IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE HOIST ROPES ON THE ELECTRIC SHOVEL. A CHAIN USED TO SECURE THE BAIL BROKE STRIKING THE EE ON THE SIDE OF HIS LEFT HAND FRACTURING HIS LITTLE FINGER.

June 24, 2003 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING ON AN ELECTRICAL FAULT ON UNIT HU714/174. THERE WERE SOME ELECT. WIRES THAT NEEDED TO BE COVERED TO PROTECT THEM FROM RUBBING. HE WAS CUTTING ON A SHEET OF RUBBER TO WRAP AROUND THE WIRES USING A UTILITY KNIFE TO CUT WITH, THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS LEFT HAND BELOW HIS THUMB. STITCHES WERE REQUIRED.

February 24, 2003 NM · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

FOOT STRUCK BY PIECE OF BROKEN RAIL THAT WAS TURNED OVER AFTER A FRONT END LOADER DROVE OVER IT,FRACTURING RIGHT METATARSAL OF GREAT TOE.

2002 · 5 incidents

November 16, 2002 NM · Coal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE DISMOUNTED A D-11 DOZER INCORRECTLY, RESULTING IN HIS LEFT FOOT SLIPPING & HIS BODY FALLING FORWARD. HE WAS ABLE TO HANG ON TO THE GRAB RAIL BY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT HIS LEFT FOOT BEC AME CAUGHT NEAR THE STEP, RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA & FIBULA ABOVE THE LEFT ANKLE.

January 28, 2002 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Peabody Natural Resources Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAS EXPERIENCED BACK PAIN SINCE 1988. BACK PROBLEMS HAVE RANGED FROM STRAINS & SPRAINS TO A LOST TIME ACCIDENT. ON 1/24/02, WHILE ATTENDING A TRAINING CLASS, HE STATED THAT HIS BACK WAS HUR TING A LOT AND ASKED TO SEE THE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST AS SOON AS HE COULD. NO RECENT ACCIDENT OREVENT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIS PAIN. DIAGNOSIS: "MULTI-LEVEL DISC DISEASE W/STENOSIS OF CANAL.."

2001 · 9 incidents

December 20, 2001 NM · Coal truck driver MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck against a moving object

300-TON HAULER WAS STUCK ON STOCKPILE. EE'S CONNECTED COAL HAULER TO A RUBBER TIRE DOZER WITH A 1 1/2" CABLE SLING. EE IN THE DOZER AND EE IN THE HAULER BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. AS THE MACHINES STARTED MOVING FORWARD THE HAULER TRAILER LAID OVER ON ITS SIDE. THIS ALLOWED THE TRAILER TO DISCONNECT FROM THE TRACTOR ALLOWING THE TRACTORTO PROPEL FORWARD STRIKING THE DOZER.

September 20, 2001 NM · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

FRACTURE OF THE MEDIAL MALLEOUS AT THE DISTAL END OF THE TIBIA.

June 8, 2001 NM · Coal drill operator MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MOVING HOLE OPENER FROM BACK OF PLATFORM TO THE FRONT OF PLATFORM WITH HOIST LINE, ONE MAN WAS HOLDING IT AT THE BOTTOM TO MOVE IT FORWARD AS IT WAS RAISED, THE INJURED MAN GRABBED IT AT THE T OP AS THIS MOTION STARTED AND SMASHED THE END OF HIS RING FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND BETWEEN THE HOLE OPENER AND DRILL PIPE.

April 9, 2001 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CAUGHT ARM BETWEEN DRISCO WATER PIPE AND ROCK.

2000 · 7 incidents

December 15, 2000 NM · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer OTHER
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by flying object

STRUCK SMALL PIECE OF METAL MEASURING 3/16" BY 1/16".

March 29, 2000 NM · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS DISPATCHED IN MAINTENANCE SERVICE TRUCK U-932 TO WORK ON A WHEEL LEAK ON END DUMP UNIT 302. AS HE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE SERVICE TRUCK, HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF THE STEP OF THE SERVICE T RUCK, AND HE GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE SERVICE TRUCK TO KEEP HIMSELF FROM FALLING. HIS LOWER BACK MUSCLES WERE STRAINED IN THE PROCESS. HE NEVER FELL TO GROUND. HISTORY OF BACK PROBLE

February 29, 2000 NM · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS USING THE MANUAL WINCH TO LOWER THE MAST ON AN IR RIGHT PLANT WHEN THE WIRE ROPE CABLE BROKE NEAR THE TOP OF THE MAST, ALLOWING THE MAST TO TELESCOPE DOWNWARD. THE RESULTING MOMENTUM TH EN CAUSED THE CABLE TO BREAK APPROX 14" FROM THE WINCH DRUM AND WHIP BACKWARD, STRIKING THE DISTAL PORTIONS OF HIS LEFT INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER. RESULTING IN AVULSIONS & FRACTURES TO BOTH.

January 4, 2000 NM · Coal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Peabody Natural Resources Company · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS HAULING COAL TO THE "D" STOCKPILE IN A UNIT RIG 300 TON COAL HAULER. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE DUMP AREA, HE HIT A DEPRESSION IN THE COAL, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BOUNCE FROM THE OPERATOR'S SE AT, AND STRIKE HIS LOWER RIGHT SIDE AND BACK ON THE ARMREST OF THE OPERATOR'S SEAT AS HE CAME DOWN. OPERATOR CLAIMED HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AT THE TIME, BUT STATED IT "SLIPPED" AND DIDN