Mining Incidents

Blue Creek No. 2 Mine Coal

Blue Creek Mining LLC · Underground
Blount, Kanawha County, WV  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4609296

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
42
Years on record
2009–2019
Latest incident
Oct 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2009
482
citations
70
significant & substantial
$160,236
proposed penalties
$147,663
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
2019 Q4 1,440 9 0 6250.0
2019 Q3 38,219 31 0 811.1
2019 Q2 1,440 13 0 9027.8
2019 Q1 1,440 15 2 10416.7
2018 Q4 33,044 30 7 907.9
2017 Q4 3,603 45 8 12489.6
2017 Q3 29,095 15 2 515.6
2017 Q2 2,880 6 1 2083.3
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

42 on file

2019 · 9 incidents

October 16, 2019 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE stated that EE and another employee were attempting to hang continuous miner cable on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of the EE lifting the cable, EE slipped, and felt a pain in lower back.

September 11, 2019 WV · Coal miner, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated that they were in the process of loading two bags of rock dust on the scoop on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of the employee lifting up two "40 lbs" bags of rock dust onto the scoop they felt a pain in lower back and left leg.

August 23, 2019 WV · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator POWERED HAULAGE
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee stated EE was operating a scoop outby the section in preparation to build a stopping. EE was cleaning the scoop roadway with the scoop. In the process of the employee operating the scoop two roof bolts which were laying on the ground came in to the operator's deck of the scoop and struck the injured employee in the back. This incident turned into an LTA on 8/26/2019.

July 13, 2019 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee stated EE and EE's bolt partner just finished putting up the first row of bolts in the #4 Left entry on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of sitting in the operators compartment of the roof bolting machine a rock which measured 30 x 18 x 2.5 thick fell from the mine roof and struck the employee in the right hand. This caused a laceration and EE received 6 stitches.

June 13, 2019 WV · Coal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated they were in the process of assisting the crew to prepare for a belt move on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of the employee lifting up a piece of top structure EE felt a pain in arm. EE was lifting 48" belt structure when this occurred. NOTE: This incident didn't become reportable until 10/30/2019. This is due to EE going off for surgery.

June 1, 2019 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries

There was an unplanned roof fall which occurred 1 break inby the feeder in the #11 entry inby spad #04284 on the Unit 1 Section. The fall was approximately 55 feet long X 20 feet wide X 15 feet high.

April 25, 2019 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries

An unplanned roof fall was discovered in old works at 3 Belt Mains at 34 Break 2 Breaks inby Spad #4085 in the return airway. The fall was approximately 80 foot long, 20 feet wide, and is 15-20 foot high. No injuries occurred due to this incident.

April 8, 2019 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated was working on the company #311 10S/C Shuttle Car. Employee was in the process of installing a tie rod end on the dump end of the operator side of the machine on the Unit 2 section. In the process of lining up the tie rod end the employee felt right shoulder pop.

March 15, 2019 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator OTHER
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated that EE was operating a 12/27 C/M Machine on the Unit 1 Section. EE had just got done cutting the #8 face and was going to back the machine out of that cut. In the process of bending over to grab the miner rope to hook up the cable to the machine the employees back popped and EE fell to the ground.

2018 · 5 incidents

October 25, 2018 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated EE was working on the spill board on the tail piece and noticed it was spilling between the spill board and the feeder. To fix the gap where the coal was spilling, EE attempted to drive a wedge and missed the wedge and stuck EE's finger with a 16 oz hammer.

June 20, 2018 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated was installing a bolt into the mine roof and turned to grab the joystick on the roof bolting machine. When EE twisted to grab the joystick, EE felt a muscle spasm in the left side of lower back.

April 3, 2018 WV · Coal dispatcher DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

The operator received information on 4/3/2018 that the employee had went to the doctor and now has a black lung claim opened.

February 28, 2018 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee stated ee operating a roof bolting machine on the unit 1 section. In the process of operating the machine two rocks fell from the mine roof and struck the employee in the back, shoulder , and elbow.

February 9, 2018 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee stated EE was tramming EE's shuttle car from the C/M machine to the feeder on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of turning the corner at break #9 in the #6 intersection at Spad #3234 a rock fell out from the rib and struck the employee in the hand.

2017 · 8 incidents

December 5, 2017 WV · Coal scoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operator MACHINERY
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee stated employee was struck by a buggy anchor on the forearm when a monkey face it was attached to broke. Employee was diagnosed with a bruise and was give modified duty.

December 5, 2017 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by flying object

Employees was struck by a buggy anchor when the monkey face it was attached to broke. Employee was struck in the right ribs. Employee was placed on restricted duty.

December 1, 2017 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated was installing roof bolts in the #1 entry on the Unit 1 Section. In the process of installing the outside bolt the employee felt a strain in shoulder and heard it pop.

November 30, 2017 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) STRIKING OR BUMPING
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee stated moved the #1 roof bolting machine over to the #6 right entry so ee could bolt it up. After ee got there ee was going to hang some of the cable slack from the rib. In the process of getting off the roof bolting machine, the employees hand hit a roof bolt strap which was laying on the machine. This caused ee to cut right hand. Employee received 4 stitches.

November 8, 2017 WV · Coal stopping builder, ventilation man, mason man, overcast SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Fall from ladders

Employee stated was installing a fly pad when ee fell off the 2nd step of a ladder falling to the mine floor and injured left wrist as ee was catching self. Employee was diagnosed with a strain and given modified duty.

October 5, 2017 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was assisting another employee to bolt up the #3 entry on unit 1. EE realized they ran out of roof bolt plates and was going to walk to the rear of the roof bolt machine to retrieve them. In the process of walking back from the end of the roof bolt machine EE tripped over a garbage bag and fell down. This caused EE to lacerate right index with the bundle of plates.

August 29, 2017 WV · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated employee had parked the scoop in the #5 entry to dismount so employee could rock dust the #5 heading. The employee got off the scoop and lifted up a bag of rock dust. In the process of lifting the rock dust employee twisted and felt a pain in lower back.

February 4, 2017 WV · Coal stopping builder, ventilation man, mason man, overcast HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was plastering a return stopping and was located on the return side of the stopping. While filling a hole with plaster some of the plaster splashed and was blown into eye causing irritation.(Employee was prescribed Antibiotic eye drops)

2016 · 2 incidents

November 20, 2016 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was drilling a hole in preparation to install a roof bolt and a piece of mine roof approx. 12" wide X 3.5" thick X 27" long fell and struck ee in the ribs.

November 10, 2016 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Blue Creek Mining LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

On 11-10-2016 Employee was bolting in the #9 entry when a piece of rock fell out of the top striking employee in the throat, causing EE to fall back against EE's left arm. The rock measured 3"X5"X7". The chief complaint was shoulder pain. Employee continued to work until EE's first missed shift on 4/17/2017 due to scheduled surgery of EE's left shoulder.

2015 · 4 incidents

July 16, 2015 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
SELAH Corporation · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating a shuttle car. He ran over a bump in the road and it threw him out of the seat and up into the canopy and back down into the floor of the shuttle car.

June 27, 2015 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
SELAH Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Location: Stacker belt outside. Trimming a splice, changing out a splice on belt. He cut his left hand on the pinky finger. Required 8 stitches.

March 9, 2015 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
SELAH Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was tramming the miner from #1 entry to #5 entry, he stopped to move the miner cable and the water line out of the road. When he picked it up to move it out of the road so the miner and buggy could get by, he felt something in his chest. His chest was hurting and he left the entry and went outside.

February 4, 2015 WV · Coal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
SELAH Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was stepping down (approximately 2ft) off of the #2 Belt Head, he twisted his left ankle and leg.

2014 · 3 incidents

November 6, 2014 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
SELAH Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee and a co-worker were putting guards on the miner. They went to reposition the guard and it slid and caught employee's third finger on his left hand smashing finger.

October 17, 2014 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
SELAH Corporation · Struck by falling object

The injured states he was repairing a hole in a stopping when a block fell from above catching his hand against another block.

October 3, 2014 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
SELAH Corporation · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was standing beside of the roof bolter, bolting roof. The roof bolter was placed in reverse, employee stepped and stumbled over a small pile of coal and fell to his knees jarring his lower back.

2013 · 2 incidents

November 7, 2013 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
SELAH Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was moving a rock out of the roadway so his Shuttle car could pass

August 12, 2013 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
SELAH Corporation · Struck by falling object

Employee was hanging fly pads between #5 and #6 and a piece of top rock fell out from the rib bolt to the rib about 7 or 9 foot long and about 3 foot wide and about 3 or 4 inches thick braking the fly board and hitting employee on his left side in the head, neck, back and shoulder areas knocking him to the ground.

2012 · 1 incident

September 6, 2012 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
SELAH Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Location/Section-Mains, #6 entry at the face. EE bent over to remove a rock off of the scoop charging cable. He injured his lower back.

2010 · 7 incidents

August 25, 2010 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was hanging mining curtain stepped off ladder and twisted his ankle.

August 12, 2010 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Walking to help pressure wash, and twisted right knee.

August 3, 2010 WV · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was walking past the section loading point. Just as he walked past the tailpiece he slipped on uneven bottom twisting his left knee. He was diagnosed with a torn meniscus and started missing work on 8/30/2010.

July 29, 2010 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss MACHINERY
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was bolting and had his thumb smashed by the drill guide.

May 24, 2010 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a nut from a piece of all thread rob that had been hit on the end with a hammer. The employee reached down and grabbed the bolt resulting in a laceration.

March 10, 2010 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was loading scoop with waterline and heard a popping sound .

2009 · 1 incident

September 28, 2009 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Midland Trail Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

Another EE was operating the operators side of the Fletcher roof bolter. He was placing a strap on the ATRS to be lined up to start drilling, when the strap slide off the ATRS, striking injured EE in the nose.