Mining Incidents

Big Creek Surface Coal

Controlled by Ramaco Resources Inc
RICHLANDS, Tazewell County, VA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4407162

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2013–2026
Latest incident
Apr 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
157
citations
39
significant & substantial
$78,385
proposed penalties
$43,551
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 25,339 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 29,896 6 0 200.7
2024 Q2 30,813 1 0 32.5
2023 Q3 21,654 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 20,958 2 1 95.4
2022 Q4 20,578 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 22,693 5 1 220.3
2021 Q4 19,378 4 0 206.4
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

16 on file

2026 · 1 incident

April 25, 2026 VA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was dismounting the front-end loader using the stairs on the rear of the machine when EE fell and slid down the machine's stairs. The employee continued to work until EE sought medical evaluation on 4-28-2026 and was removed by a physician.

2025 · 4 incidents

June 11, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

The employee was released by physician and returned to work on 6/9/25 from a previous injury. On 6/11/25 the employee was taken back out of work by physician when they reported continued back pain from the pre-existing injury which was preventing them from conducting normal mine work.

February 12, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver MACHINERY
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Flash burns (welding)

Employee developed welders flash (Photokeratitis) to their eyes when welding.

January 15, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was exiting the mine property in personal vehicle at the end of shift when employee collided with an empty coal truck that was traveling in the opposite direction on the mine haul road.

2024 · 2 incidents

October 12, 2024 VA · Coal water truck operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 10/12/24 employee was outside the water truck and was in the process of entering the truck and twisted knee. Employee continued to work until employee was taken out of work by a physician on 10/23/24.

January 26, 2024 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The employee slipped when dismounting the equipment and got EE's left pinky finger and ring finger caught between a lid, resulting in a laceration and strain to EE's fingers.

2023 · 1 incident

April 29, 2023 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee stated that EE was tramming the D9 dozer when the park brake inadvertently became engaged causing EE to jolt EE's back. The employee completed shift and as EE stepped onto the mantrip, EE stated EE felt pain in lower back. The employee was taken to the ER and determined EE had a strain. The machine was inspected, and no deficiencies were found.

2017 · 1 incident

July 18, 2017 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was placing a strap under a 36 inch corrugated drain pipe down in a ditch

2016 · 1 incident

November 1, 2016 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was welding on the bucket of a loader when felt a strain in lower back when ee went to re-position self.

2015 · 4 incidents

June 23, 2015 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Fall from machine

Employee slipped and fell to the ground when attempting to mount an excavator.

April 7, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

No narrative on form that was submitted.

March 31, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech OTHER
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Working under hood of Komatsu HM400 truck and sprained/strained his back

January 6, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Struck by flying object

Rish Employee was standing approximately 20' away from two other individuals whom were associated with another organization who were attempting to free the rollers on an excavator. One of the employee's associated with the other organization utilized a hammer to contact the roller and that is when a sliver of metal entered into our employees' upper torso area.

2013 · 2 incidents

April 28, 2013 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting off equipment to replace a grease tube on hammer. While he was exiting he slipped on track falling. He had a hold of hand rail and held on to try to stop his fall. His body weight was on one arm and he twisted around hurting rt. shoulder.

February 16, 2013 VA · Coal INUNDATION
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Dozer operator was widening the road in preparation for moving the Highwall miner when the cutting edge of the dozer blade contacted a low pressure polyethylene coal bed methane 8" gas line. This contact caused the cutting edge to puncture the line releasing methane. the dozer operator was the only EE in the area. He immediately contacted the foreman who accounted for all EEs.