Mining Incidents

Sycamore Surface Mine Coal

Powellton, Fayette County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4607058

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2000–2025
Latest incident
Nov 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
314
citations
81
significant & substantial
$154,791
proposed penalties
$120,648
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 18,506 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 44,328 13 4 293.3
2023 Q1 46,246 33 7 713.6
2022 Q4 38,107 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 25,274 3 0 118.7
2021 Q4 5,995 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 3,959 5 0 1262.9
2019 Q3 16,262 12 0 737.9
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

2025 · 1 incident

November 21, 2025 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Panther Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Clear Cutting, a lot of the trees has grape vines in the tops, while cutting one tree when cut the grape vines pulled the rotted top down and hit my employee in the head

2024 · 1 incident

May 28, 2024 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Panther Creek Mining LLC · Fall onto or against objects

The refuse dozer operator parked the D6T dozer beside a D7T dozer (28" apart), exited the D6 to retrieve a bottle of Lysol from the D7. After retrieving the Lysol and dismounting the D7 EE slipped and fell striking EE' head on the D7 tracks. It was found that the EE traveled from one piece of equipment to another while mounting and dismounting.

2019 · 2 incidents

July 9, 2019 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Murray Maple Eagle Coal, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was exiting #10 truck, coming down steps. EE had right arm around rail when EE's left foot slipped off step catching the right arm between grab bar and fender of truck. Later EE complained of shoulder pain.

January 8, 2019 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Seminole WV Mining Complex · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE climbed the ladder to get back in position to operate the loader. As EE was climbing, EE missed a step & fell forward which caused EE to reach out to the hand rail to catch self. When EE grabbed the handrail EE had pain in left shoulder & the pain has continued in left shoulder since this incident happened.

2018 · 3 incidents

June 13, 2018 WV · Coal FIRE
Seminole WV Mining Complex · Accident type, without injuries

As the Day Shift Pre-shift examiner entered the mine property conducting EE's examination (around 4:45am), EE noticed the #314 Dozer engulfed in flames. The machine had been parked for about 11/2 hours after the conclusion of Evening shift. There was no one else on the property at the time of the discovery of the fire. EE immediately reported the fire on the 1-800 number.

June 11, 2018 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Seminole WV Mining Complex · Struck against a moving object

Employee stated when loader placed large rock in the bed of employee's haul truck, the rock rolled across and struck the off side of the bed. This caused employee to be jarred inside of the operators cab.

February 8, 2018 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Seminole WV Mining Complex · Struck against a moving object

Slippery road conditions, Employee was hauling an empty truck in route to be reloaded when the truck started sliding and upon employee counter steering, the truck went into a ditch, getting in a sump.

2016 · 1 incident

May 2, 2016 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Seminole WV Mining Complex · Struck against a moving object

EE was hauling refuse to the refuse dump site, stated truck powered out and came off the hill backwards. EE tried to steer into the escape ramp and missed causing the truck to overturn onto the driver's side (Note: EE was scheduled off on 5/3/16 prior to the accident).

2015 · 1 incident

October 30, 2015 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Maple Coal Co., LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Two equipment operators were on the ground discussing work to be performed at the staker plant. A service man arrived to service and lube the plant. Friendly horseplay occurred as they grabbed each other this caused them to trip backward over a large clump of dirt. The service man landed on top of the equipment operator fracturing the left ring finger

2014 · 2 incidents

October 28, 2014 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Maple Coal Co., LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was raising side door on lube track door is spring loaded so when door is raised spring helps raise it. Employee had a hold of factory hand when door was raised near the top or raising the door employee's hand was pulled into frame of door causing a cut to the inside of his index finger on Rt hand.

March 17, 2014 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Maple Coal Co., LLC · Struck against a moving object

When the bed on the truck was raised, the rear wheels sank causing the bed to flip over.

2012 · 1 incident

September 26, 2012 WV · Coal pumper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Maple Coal Co., LLC · Fall from machine

EE was dismounting dozer after installing a CB when his foot slipped off push arm step causing him to fall and strike the side of his service truck parked next to the dozer causing his right shoulder to dislocate.

2000 · 1 incident

April 11, 2000 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Kanawha River Mining Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS INSTALLING BRAKE ON SPINDLE AND WAS TIGHTENING MOUNTING BOLTS WITH A LARGE RATCHET. BACK STARTED HURTING.