Mining Incidents

Big Mountain Preparation Plant Coal

Prenter, Boone County, WV  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 4603143

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
40
Years on record
2000–2015
Latest incident
Nov 2015
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
243
citations
93
significant & substantial
$38,123
proposed penalties
$32,905
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 168 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 159 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 179 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 171 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 171 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q3 26 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

40 on file

2015 · 1 incident

2011 · 1 incident

March 2, 2011 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking between the No. 1 Refuse Vibrator and the No. 1 Clean Coal D & R Vibrator and tripped either on a make-up water line or insulating mat. He extended his right arm and hand and grabbed a support beam to keep from falling, which resulted in pain in his right upper arm.

2010 · 1 incident

July 1, 2010 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was installing lift cylinder on D10 Dozer. While trying to roll over cylinder caught finger between cylinder & block on ground cutting & fracturing finger.

2009 · 2 incidents

July 17, 2009 WV · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Occupational pneumoconiosis. Diagnosis made 7/17/09, received by company 8/4/09.

2006 · 3 incidents

August 30, 2006 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE stated he was using a round steel bar approx 6' long and weighing about 10 lbs to dislodge a piece of slate that was lodged in the raw coal chute going to the #1 heavy media vessel. While the EE was pushing on the bar to break the material loose, he felt pain in his right shoulder.

July 9, 2006 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE stated that while installing a new ceramic pulping column, he was doing a lot of lifting and pulling while installing the ceramic pulping column. EE stated that he felt pain in his groin area and a knot appeared in this area. **EE did not start missing work as a result of this injury until 9/5/06**

February 6, 2006 WV · Coal pumper POWERED HAULAGE
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee stated that he was using a scrapper tool to clean spillage off of the pans below the top belt. He struck a bottom return belt roller whith the scrapper in an attempt to remove some build-up when the scrapper caught between the roller and the moving belt, causing the tool to turn sharply in his hand and tearing his glove and skin on his right thumb.

2004 · 1 incident

November 8, 2004 WV · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS SPREADING STRAW ON A BERM. COWORKER ROLLED A BALE OF STRAW TOWARDS EE. EE REACHED OUT TO CATCH AND STOP THE BALE AND HPEREXTENDED HIS LEFT ARM, FELT AND HEARD SOMETHING SNAP OR TEAR IN LEFT ARM ABOVE THE ELBOW.

2003 · 5 incidents

July 28, 2003 WV · Coal truck driver DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS

May 19, 2003 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

May 7, 2003 WV · Coal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

April 30, 2003 WV · Coal electrician, lineman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEGED OCCUATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

January 6, 2003 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS.

2002 · 6 incidents

October 31, 2002 WV · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Fall from machine

EE STATED THAT HE STOOD ON THE MOTOR BASE OF THE NO.1 GLAND WATER PUMP. THAT IS APPROX. 10 INCH OFF THE FLOOR. IN ORDER TO TIGHTEN A PIPE FITTING OF THE FREST WATER LINE FOR THE NO. 2 GLAND WA TER PUMP, THAT WAS LEAKING. EE STATED THAT AFTERTIGHTENING THE FITTING HE TURNED HIS RIGHT ANKLE WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN FROM THE MOTOR BASE ONTO METAL GRADING ON THE PLANT FLOOR.

October 17, 2002 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Fall from ladders

EE STATED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING THE FIXED LADDER NEXT TO THE NO.3 DESLIME VIBRATOR, WHEN HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF A RUNG OF THE LADDER, CAUSING HIMTO FALL APPROX 42 INCHES TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE PREP PLANT, AND LANDING ON HIS BACK. HE COMPLAINED OF PAIN TO HIS BACK AND NUMBNESS IN THE RIGHT FOOT.

October 14, 2002 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK WHILE LIFTING A PIECE OF METAL TO PLACE IT ON THE FORKS OF THE BOBCAT TO PLACE THE METAL ON THE METAL RACK.

July 29, 2002 WV · Coal truck driver MACHINERY
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Struck by flying object

EE WAS OPERATING THE M318 CATERPILLAR RUBBER TIRED EXCAVATOR, LOADING MATERIAL FROM THE NO. 1 SUMP INTO A M45 MACK TRUCK OPERATED BY OTHER WHEN HE HAD FINISHED LOADING THE TRUCK, HE TRAMMED TH EXCAVATOR TO THE PARKING LOT OF THE TRUCK SHOP AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE OF THE EXCAVATOR. HE STOOD UP IN THE CAB AND APPEARED TO COLLAPSE, FALLING OUT OF THE CAB COMPARTMENT OF THE EXCAVATOR

April 9, 2002 WV · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATED THAT HE HAD REMOVED A CRIB BLOCK FROM THE REFUSE AREA AND WAS CARRYING IT TO HIS TRUCKWHEN HIS FOOT SLIPPED ON SOME SCALPER ROCK CAUSING HIM TO FALL TWISTING HIS BACK.

April 8, 2002 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEGED HEARING LOSS.

2001 · 7 incidents

October 2, 2001 WV · Coal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING SLATE TRUCK WHEN HE HIT A ROLL IN ROADWAY CAUSING HIM TO BOUNCE IN HIS SEAT AND HE HIT HIS HEAD AGAINST THE CAB OF THE TRUCK.

July 5, 2001 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS PUSHING A SIEVE SCREEN HOLDER BACK INTO PLACE, HE FELT PAIN ON TOP OF HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND DOWN HIS RIGHT ARM. EE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS WHILE PERFORM T HE SAME TASK IN THE PAST. NOTE:(THIS OCCURRENCE IS BEING REPORTED AS AN OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AT THIS TIME, PENDING ADDITIONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION.)

April 12, 2001 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEDGED HEARING LOSS. FIRST CLAIM FILED. RECEIVED MEDICAL APRIL 12, 2001.

April 2, 2001 WV · Coal security guard, watchman OTHER
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE, EMPLOYEE OF ALLIED SECURITY INC. SUFFERED AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK AND WAS FOUND BY A FELLOW EE IN THE GUARD BUILDING AT THE #2 GATE OF PINE RIDGE COAL CO. AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 ON 4-2-01.

March 14, 2001 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE STATED THAT AS HE REACHED TO PICK UP ONE END OF A 4"X10"PIPE THAT HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LEFT ARM &SHOULDER. (MEDICAL INFORMATION IS INCOMPLETE AT THIS TIME & FURTHER MEDICAL TESTING HAS B EEN SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE THE DIAGNOSIS. BECAUSE THIS EE HAS HISTORY OF CHRONIC BACK PROBLEMS INCLUDING BACK SURGERY & BYPASS SURGERY OF THE CAROTIOD ARTERY THIS OCCURRANCE IS BEING REOPENED

January 9, 2001 WV · Coal grader operator, roadgrader operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJ WAS USING A 16 LB HAMMER TO REMOVE A KING PION THE NO. 54 MACK TRUCK. HE STATED HE FELT PAININ HIS UPPER BACK ON RIGHT SIDE. NOTE: LOST TIMEAS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL 1/22/01 Y

2000 · 13 incidents

October 31, 2000 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEDGED PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

July 31, 2000 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEGED HEARING LOSS

July 31, 2000 WV · Coal truck driver DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEDGED HEARING LOSS.

July 17, 2000 WV · Coal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE STATED AFTER CHECKING WATER AND OIL UNDER HOOD OF TRUCK, JUMPED OFF BUMPER TO GROUND, FALLING AND CAUSING INJURY TO RIGHT KNEE.

July 12, 2000 WV · Coal truck driver DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEDGED HEARING LOSS.

June 29, 2000 WV · Coal electrician, lineman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEDGED OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

May 17, 2000 WV · Coal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEDGED HEARING LOSS.

May 11, 2000 WV · Coal electrician, lineman NONPOWERED HAULAGE
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT THE SPPEDREDUCER FOR #2 BELT HAD BEEN REMOVED AND LOADED ON A HAND CART. HE WAS PUSHING ON THE CART AND THE CART STOPPED SUDDENLY AND HE STRUCK HIS LEFT KNEE AGAINST THE M OTOR BRACKET THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SPEED REDUCER.

April 27, 2000 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ALLEGED HEARING LOSS: (NOTE: RECEIVED MEDICAL INFORMATION ON 4-27-00)

April 22, 2000 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

MECHANIC BENT OVER TO PICKUP A 1200 X 24 TIRE AND STRAINED A MUSCLE IN HIS BACK.

March 10, 2000 WV · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS, RECEIVED NOTIFICATION 3-10-00.

March 10, 2000 WV · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

ALLEGED OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS, RECEIVED NOTIFICATION 3-10-00.

February 19, 2000 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pine Ridge Coal Company LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE STATED THAT WHILE CLEANING THE OPERATOR FLOOR WITH A WATER HOSE HE STEPPED BACKWARD AND STEPPED ON THE WATER HOSE TURNING HIS RIGHT ANKLE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR CATCHING HIMSELF WITH HIS HAN DS.