Mining Incidents

Shade Creek Plant Coal

PBS Coals, Inc. · Facility
Central City, Somerset County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3603329

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
29
Years on record
2000–2021
Latest incident
Aug 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
314
citations
106
significant & substantial
$301,417
proposed penalties
$170,155
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 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 16,234 6 0 369.6
2024 Q3 537 2 0 3724.4
2024 Q2 2,805 1 0 356.5
2024 Q1 515 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 763 1 0 1310.6
2023 Q3 1,213 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 2,063 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
December 19, 2000 PA · Coal truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
PBS Coals, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

TWO MERCURY OWNED TRUCKS ENTERED PROPERTY TO DELIVER COAL. THE TWO TRUCKERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO AREA TO DUMP BY SCALE MASTER THEN BY THE HI-LIFT OPERATOR. THE TRUCKS BACKED PARALLEL TO EACH OTH ER TO THE LEFT (CAB AREA). AS THE 1ST TRUCK BEGAN TO RAISE AND DUMP THE COAL IT HIT THE TOP POSITION, THE COAL CAUSED BED TO FALL ON SECOND CAB.

Reportable incidents

28 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2021 · 1 incident

August 3, 2021 PA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was scraping a transfer chute with a long-handled scraper and hyper-extended shoulder. Employee continued to work normal duties until receiving an MRI and determining that the employee had a torn rotator cuff. Employee worked until surgery date of 9/10/2021.

2012 · 3 incidents

May 31, 2012 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by falling object

The injured employee was removing the right front wheel assembly on a Chevrolet 1/2 ton truck. The wheel assembly dropped approximately 12 inches to the ground and struck his right thigh and gave him a laceration.

April 19, 2012 PA · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Employee fell from elevated position on new construction project. Employee sustained injuries to the head, arm and waist.

April 19, 2012 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

The injured employee was preparing to grease the front end loader he operated that day. He tripped on the 3/4 inch grease line that he was going to be using. He tripped over the grease line in the doorway at the maintenance shop while he was walking to attach the airline to the air greaser.

2010 · 1 incident

August 23, 2010 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee claims to have had an accident on 8-23-10 but did not report incident to the mine until 9-3-10. At that time the employee was sent to the panel of Doctors. On 9-6-10 the employee took vacation and company could not talk to him until 9-13-10 to report the accident.

2009 · 4 incidents

October 14, 2009 PA · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling welding leads up from the floor below. The welding electrode hit the employee in the mouth - chipping his tooth. Employee did not leave work because of the injury. He followed up with the family dentist to get his tooth repaired.

October 9, 2009 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on front end loader. Tool slipped and the employee received a laceration on the top of his left hand. Transported to Somerset hospital and received two stitches to close the wound. "Stitches only -- no Medication"

September 4, 2009 PA · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee walked into a hole that was cut out of the floor while repairs were being made.

January 15, 2009 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Slipped, fell on ice.

2008 · 7 incidents

November 24, 2008 PA · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was transferring tram assembly to wheels. Injured right thumb on tram assembly.

November 6, 2008 PA · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee states he was putting PVC fittings into the back of a pick-up truck when he felt a tearing in his right shoulder. The employee did not notify the office of this injury until 11-15-08 (November 13, 2008).

October 11, 2008 PA · Coal welder (shop) FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Employee states he suffered a scratched cornea after a foreign object entered his eye while cutting on a rusty distributor support legs.

October 7, 2008 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee states that a chainfall hit him in the mouth causing a small laceration & breaking a tooth. Employee did not seek medical attention until 11-17-08.

September 18, 2008 PA · Coal miner, prospector, nec POWERED HAULAGE
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by powered moving object

Employee states that as he was walking away from a discussion with the bobcat operator, he was struck in the right leg with the bucket of the bobcat. The operator swung around to move bobcat before the employee had walked a safe distance away.

February 8, 2008 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was attempting to get a new box for the washer and twisted back. Was pushing object. Injury was 2/8/08 but was not reported until 2/12/08.

January 7, 2008 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall from machine

Was receiving training on bobcat. Jumped out of bobcat as equipment was accidentally started and bucket began to lift.

2005 · 1 incident

June 4, 2005 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck against stationary object

Employee reported striking his elbow on a motor shaft. He did not receive medical attention until 7/19/05 - Though he never informed the company of his treatment until 8-28-05. That's when he notified the company because medical bills came to his home.

2004 · 4 incidents

November 16, 2004 PA · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EMPLOYEE WAS PLACING CONCRETE AND GOT CONCRETE PARTICLES IN HIS EYE.

November 10, 2004 PA · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS PICKING UP DEBRIS AND FELL ON THE GROUND AFTER SLIPPING ON WET GROUND CONDITIONS, BRUISING HIS LEFT KNEE. EMPLOYEE DID NOT REPORT THE INJURY UNTI 11/14/04.

October 13, 2004 PA · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Employee was walking beside a pipe fabrication table looking for material. Pipe on table fell off onto ee's left leg.

October 5, 2004 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
PBS Coals, Inc. · Contact with hot objects or substances

Ee was fitting pipe, while moving with torch hose became tangled causing lit end to enter glove burning wrist/arm

2003 · 5 incidents

October 16, 2003 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE AND FORMAN WHERE PRYING WITH TOOL BARS AND EE PREYED AND FELT LEG POP.

September 2, 2003 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall down stairs

INJURED PERSON WAS WALKING DOWN A SET OF STAIRS WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL. HE HIT THE STEPS WITH HIS BACK AT BOTTOM OF HIS FALL. HE SUSTAINED A BLUNT TRAUMA INJURY TO HIS MID BACK AND RIBS AND IS OFF WORK AS A RESULT.

August 25, 2003 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STRIKING OR BUMPING
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck against stationary object

INJURED PERSON WAS WALKING OUT THE DOOR OF CLEANING PLANT WHEN HE INADVERTANTLY HIT LEFT ELBOW ON JABCO BOX FOR THE RAW COAL BELT NO. 1. HE SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO LEFT ELBOW WHICH HAS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE TIME FROM WORK. HE IS ALSO TAKING A MEDICATION AS DIRECTED.

April 8, 2003 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
PBS Coals, Inc. · Fall onto or against objects

DURING LOADING OPERATIONS AN ICE STORM OCCURRED. THE ICE CREATED A SLIPPERY WALKWAY AND THE OPERATOR SLIPPED AS HE WAS MAKING FLUID CHECKS. HE STRUCK HIS RIGHT KNEE ON THE BATTERY BOX.

March 4, 2003 PA · Coal electrician, lineman STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS WORKING AT A WATER TREATMENT FACILITY AT THE PREP PLANT, OUTBY AREA. HE STEPPED ON AN ELECTRICAL KNOCKOUT TAB & IT PENETRATED THE SOLE OF HIS RIGHT WORK SHOE CAUSING A PUNCTURE WOUND.

2002 · 1 incident

June 12, 2002 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS GREASING 966 LOADER WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN & TWISTED BACK.

2000 · 1 incident

May 30, 2000 PA · Coal brakeman, roperider, car runner, spotterman, snapper, trip rider, car rider, flagman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PBS Coals, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CREW WERE REBUILDING 2 SETS OF BELT LINE STRUCTURES. ONE SET WAS BEING HOISTED BY A CRANE AND THE BACK DRIFTED TO THE LEFT STRIKING THE SECOND STRUCTURE ON SUPPORTS STRIKING THE TEAM MEMBER ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AS IT SHIFTED. BRUISE TO LEFT SHOULDER.