Mining Incidents

Arch Resources Inc: 23 recorded fatalities controller

MSHA controller ID: C15561

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Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at any mine Arch Resources Inc controls.

Fatalities
23
Total incidents
3,435
Mines on record
91
Years on record
1997–2025
Public-issuer link

ARCH RESOURCES, INC. (ARCH) discloses mines under this controller in its SEC Dodd-Frank Section 1503 (EX-95) mine-safety filings.

Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
45,764
citations
10,152
significant & substantial
$35,740,830
proposed penalties
$28,912,219
paid to date
81% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $6,828,610 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
14,413
inspections on record
688,170
inspection hours
6.7
citations per 100 inspection hours
This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
45,764 citations across 688,170 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
17
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2020-10-29.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Penalty disposition
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$35.7M
proposed penalties
$29.7M
current assessed
$28.9M
paid to date
$801K
outstanding
44,811 assessments are final orders; 1,125 contested dockets.
Of $18.4M in penalties contested before the Commission, $12.3M was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-03-17.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
22.6%
significant & substantial
2.6%
high negligence or reckless
22.9%
reasonably likely or greater
24.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.1% none, 19.3% low, 78.0% moderate, 2.6% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
Injury rate, 2024
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
1.05
total case rate
0.73
days-away rate
0.108
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.16 and the all-US-mining average was 2.08 cases per 100 workers.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2024 1.05 0.73 0.108
2023 0.87 0.58 0.000
2022 0.92 0.62 0.000
2021 1.54 0.99 0.058
2020 1.20 0.92 0.000
2019 1.20 0.59 0.000
2018 1.23 0.81 0.025
2017 1.91 0.83 0.000
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Health sampling
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Respirable coal dust
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.

Last sampled: 2025-01-13
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
95,018
samples
342
over MSHA ECV
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
25,972 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 69,046 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR27,641
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)15,859
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)15,231

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2025-01-22
4.8
silica avg (%)
5,816
samples
57.6
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR1,974
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)999
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)663

Noise
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.

Last sampled: 2025-01-08
13%
over PEL
7,512
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)877
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR737
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)604
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
6,684 citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
  • Settled 6,370 · 95%
  • Stood as issued 291 · 4%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 12 · 0%
  • Still open 11 · 0%
81%
S&S designation survived the contest
Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 3,809 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$18.3M proposed, $12.3M after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2026-04-22. Vacated and withdrawn citations are removed from the file this view attributes through, so that outcome is slightly undercounted here.
Contested penalties
A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this controller contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
WEVA 2015-0792 Settlement Paez 2016 $375K → $143K
WEVA 2013-343 Settlement Moran 2014 $235K → $136K
KENT 2017-0035 Settlement Paez 2018 $205K → $153K
WEVA 2014-0870 Settlement Moran 2015 $203K → $98K
WEVA 2014-0947 Settlement McCarthy 2015 $163K → $111K
WEVA 2014-0509 Settlement Feldman 2015 $158K → $47K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

Top causes

Incident timeline

2025
1
2024
79 (4f)
2023
81
2022
56
2021
78 (2f)
2020
64
2019
86
2018
87 (1f)
2017
133
2016
106 (2f)
2015
118
2014
150
2013
134 (2f)
2012
205 (1f)
2011
223 (2f)
2010
120 (1f)
2009
154
2008
184 (1f)
2007
173 (1f)
2006
239 (1f)
2005
102
2004
92 (1f)
2003
104
2002
119
2001
94
2000
90 (2f)
1999
125
1998
136
1997
102 (2f)

Operators under this controller

Mines on record

Fatalities under this controller

23 recorded
September 28, 2024 WV · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · MACHINERY
ICG Tygart Valley · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was standing on 172 shield and advancing 173 shield towards the face. The employee was found with an injury to the back of the head at 171 shield.

September 6, 2024 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Mingo Logan Coal LLC · Struck by falling object

The employee received a fatal injury after being struck by falling rock.

August 11, 2024 CO · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. · Fall from machine

Employee was shoveling coal off a conveyor belt, belt moved forward causing miner to fall down transfer chute onto belt conveyor that transferred EE to stacker tube where EE fell onto coal pile.

August 5, 2024 WV · Coal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
ICG Tygart Valley · Struck by powered moving object

Employee received head injuries while attempting to re-rail a Longwall electrical power car using air lifting bags in the 10 Headgate-16 block spur.

November 1, 2021 WV · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Mingo Logan Coal LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

A fatal incident occurred while traveling the external slope on a rubber tired four wheeler.

July 21, 2021 WY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC · Struck by falling object

A Millwright drove the pins out of a 200-ton crane boom to change out a section and the boom fell on employee.

February 6, 2018 WV · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Wolf Run Mining LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object

The victim was servicing/working on the C/M around the scrubber motor area when a piece of the coal rib measuring approx. 3'L x 2'H x 15"T rolled out crushing the victim against the machine.

May 16, 2016 WV · Coal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
ICG Tygart Valley · Struck against stationary object

Diesel Motor operator was found on the motor unresponsive, the exact cause of death is unknown at this time.

March 25, 2016 KY · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Lone Mountain Processing LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object

While workers were cleaning up material that was removed from a new coal transfer borehole using a continuous miner, a section of rib/brow fell from the inby portion of the entry and continued outby pulling rib bolts. The material rolled down the rib and struck the miner operator causing fatal crushing injuries to chest and abdomen.

August 16, 2013 WY · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The technician was assisting in moving a 2800 P&H shovel when the machine lost propel capabilities. The machine then rolled in reverse striking the pickup driven by the technician causing fatal injuries.

August 6, 2013 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Lone Mountain Processing LLC · Struck by flying object

While conducting retreat mining on 6-Left Panel off B-4 Mains, a coal/rock outburst occurred inby break #35. The outburst involved the continuous miner operator who suffered fatal blunt force injuries to his head, chest, and legs.

July 31, 2012 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
ICG Beckley LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

While the injured was attempting to change the batteries on the # 8 scoop, the # 11 scoop was traveling outby and impacted the # 8 scoop causing it to move and pin the victim against the coal rib.

August 15, 2011 WV · Coal lw propman, propman helper, move crew if lw, move-up man, jacksetter, advanceman lw helper Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Mingo Logan Coal LLC · Struck by falling object

The employee received fatal injuries when he was struck by a rock that fell from the mine roof. He was involved with longwall shield recovery and was building wooden cribs in an area where a shield had been removed. While in the process of constructing the cribs, he was struck by falling roof material.

June 9, 2011 CO · Coal miner, prospector, nec Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. · Fall onto or against objects

Working on a structure 15' high & was safely tied off to structure, when he completed his work, instead of stepping onto platform from beam he was standing on while tied off - he untied and then stepped and fell 8' onto another 5 1/4" beam with his chest. He walked to the company truck and sat down ambulance arrived, got in and died in route to the hospital.

June 16, 2010 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Lone Mountain Processing LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While directing activities to re-support ribs in an intersection, a rib roll struck a standing roof support which in turn struck the foreman in the head causing fatal injuries.

January 8, 2008 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Cumberland River Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Hauler backed over the outslope. The hauler traveled approximately 150 feet down the spoil pile. The operator was ejected from the cab of the hauler. Operator was a contract worker.

September 16, 2007 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mingo Logan Coal LLC · Fall down raise, shaft or manway

Victim, experienced miner working inside fan structure with another ee using grinder 8-10 ft from secure barrier to protect from shaft area. While grinding, other miner noticed ee missing. After search, his body was discovered at shaft bottom. Incident didn't involve non-compliance w/MSHA rules/regs. Investigation ongoing, but appears victim voluntarily jumped to his death

April 21, 2006 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Lone Mountain Processing LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was found pinned between the #4 mobile bridge unit and the section lo-lo conveyor belt structure. He was apparently troubleshooting a report of weak tramming on the left side of the mobile unit. There were no witnesses to the accident.

January 3, 2004 UT · Coal longwall operator, chock operator, shear operator, plow operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Canyon Fuel Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM WAS HELPING MOVE AN IRON-BOUND SHIELD ON THE 3LPE LONGWALL FACE. CHAIN SLINGS WERE CONFIGURED TO ATTACH THE IRON BOUND SHIELD TO THE CONVEYER. THE VICTIM GOT ONTO THE IRON-BOUND SHIELD AND ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE A FUNCTION. AS PRESSUREWAS APPLIED, A HOOK ON THE CHAIN ASSEMBLY FAILED, AND THE CHAIN SLING ASSEMBLY HIT THE VICTIM. MASSIVE HEAD TRAUMA AND FRACTURED NECK.

April 10, 2000 UT · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Canyon Fuel Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE OFF-STANDARD CAR OPERATOR IN THE 7 LEFT SECTION WAS FOUND FATALLY INJURED, PINNED BETWEEN THE CAR CANOPY AND THE RIB. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT THE FEEDER BREAKER FOR THE SECTION. AN INVESTIG ATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE FURTHER INFORMATION.

July 29, 1997 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer Fatality · MACHINERY
Stollings Trucking Co., Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS ON EXCAVATOR. HE WAS IN LOOSE ROCK ON HILLSIDE. HE LOST CONTROL WHEN TRACK GOT ON ROCK. THE EXCAVATOR ROLLED PINNING THE EE UNDERNEATH.

May 20, 1997 UT · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Canyon Fuel Company Llc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM WAS DRIVING A WAGNER DIESEL POWERED SCOOP OUT OF THE MINE WHEN FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE SCOOP TRAVELED BACK DOWN THE SLOPE AND THE CANOPY STRUCK AN "I" BEAM ON A OVERCAST WHICH CAUS ED THE CANOPY TO DEFORM, STRIKING THE VICTIM, INFLICTING FATAL INJUIES.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

Where Arch Resources Inc stands on silica, penalties, and injury rate

MSHA's standard limits respirable silica to 50 micrograms per cubic metre, but MSHA publishes dust and quartz as separate files and never the silica figure itself. We derive it per sample, score it against the limit, and set the operator's injury rate against a benchmark built from the full MSHA operator record. With the 26-year penalty trail, contest posture, and fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.

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