Mining Incidents

Bishop Surface Coal

Pax, Fayette County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4607491

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Bishop Surface.

Fatalities
1
Total incidents
17
Years on record
2002–2025
Latest incident
Nov 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
183
citations
81
significant & substantial
$69,629
proposed penalties
$54,398
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 21,141 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 10,881 1 0 91.9
2025 Q2 41,629 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 43,207 4 3 92.6
2023 Q3 48,048 3 0 62.4
2023 Q2 49,674 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 13,244 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 16,138 2 0 123.9
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
December 29, 2017 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Struck against a moving object

Two bulldozers pushing in the same area, operators talking on CB. D9 operator is injured worker. D-11 is colleague. D9 stopped talking. D11 found that D9 had gone over highwall. Injured worker passed away from injuries sustained.

Reportable incidents

16 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 2 incidents

August 5, 2025 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nicholas Contura LLC · Fall from machine

EE was standing on right side fender doing EE's pre-trip inspection when EE went to exit fender EE missed a step and slipped. Then EE fell to the ground on EE's right side elbow/arm. Went to ER, had strain to right arm.

2024 · 1 incident

October 14, 2024 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nicholas Contura LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was removing hose from axle cooler pump on 993k Z9K00314 when pulling hose back for removal, hand slipped making contact with top of transmission. Unknown exactly what the right hand contact on transmission. The contact caused a laceration on top of right hand

2023 · 1 incident

December 5, 2023 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nicholas Contura LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepping up onto front-end loader, felt a pop in knee.

2019 · 1 incident

December 18, 2019 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nicholas Contura LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Trying to pull door open that was frozen shut. This was at starting time and door had frozen shut during the night.

2018 · 2 incidents

March 28, 2018 WV · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was using a pipe wrench to remove cap from radiator, antifreeze blew on employee's hand causing burns.

January 23, 2018 WV · Coal drill operator MACHINERY
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Struck against a moving object

Reported 1/30/19 - Proceeded to back up the drill, the rear of the drill dipped sharply down, causing the front of the drill to jump into the air, throwing employee into the control console, woke up the next morning with pain in the right knee

2017 · 1 incident

December 19, 2017 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Fall onto or against objects

Exiting rock truck, caught back of boot on 2nd step, lost balance & fell forward hitting head on fire ext. bracket.

2015 · 1 incident

June 16, 2015 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hooking up a drop trailer, twisted when turning around escaping bees, sprain to knee

2014 · 2 incidents

February 17, 2014 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Struck against a moving object

large rock fell out of loader into rock truck, causing jarring to employee and instant back pain

2013 · 1 incident

July 22, 2013 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blackjewel L.L.C. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Opening a gate valve on an overhead bin, strain to abdomen

2009 · 1 incident

February 12, 2009 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey OTHER
Hanover Resources LLC · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was loading a bulk truck. While on the top of the truck, he bent to go under a beam on the bin. In doing so, something in his back went out. He elected to seek medical attention.

2005 · 1 incident

November 3, 2005 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Patience Inc · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating 777D rock truck. He was getting loaded by 992G loader. First scoop jarred him around, injuring his left shoulder.

2004 · 1 incident

August 11, 2004 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Patience Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

STUMBLED WHILE USING CUTTING TORCH AND RUN TORCH OVER LEFT HAND CAUSING HAND TO BE BURNED.

2002 · 1 incident

March 26, 2002 WV · Coal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Patience Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CLEANING LIGHTS ON HIS TRUCK WHEN HE GOT BRIGHT LIGHT SHONE IN HIS EYES. DUE TO A WORK STOPPAGE (LAYOFF), COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF INCIDENT UNTIL 5/2/02 WHEN WORKER'S COMP. PAPERWORK WAS RECEIVED.