Mining Incidents

Choctaw MineCoal

Parrish, Walker County, AL · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0100347
Fatalities
2
Total incidents
54
Years on record
2001–2022
Latest incident
Apr 2022

Fatalities at this mine

2 recorded
Fall from machine

Employee was climbing up ladder onto Rock Truck when his feet slipped out from under him causing him to fall to the ground.*** Note added Employee died 12/28/12 from complications related to this injury per fatal ruling/notification on 6/27/13 from MSHA.

Contact with hot objects or substances

The Service Truck Operator was refueling a drill rig when an ignition from an unknown source resulted in fatal burns.

Reportable incidents

52 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2022 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was watching as another employee was unloading drill steel off of the truck and placing them in a storage area. As the load shifted, the EE on the ground moved causing EE to fall back and hit head on the gravel lot and caused a cut to the back of head. The ground in the area where they were unloading was a slight grade which contributed to the fall.

2021 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was descending the stairs to the ground floor of the washer. As EE stepped to the bottom main floor, EE's ankle turned over causing a sprain to the right ankle. Nothing was on the steps or in the walkway.

2020 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking down the ramp to a low boy trailer when EE's feet slipped causing EE to fall onto the ramp

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The Employee was hooking up a fuel line to a bull dozer when EE twisted EE's body to turn around and felt pain in EE's lower back and leg.

2018 · 2 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

Employee was operating 988 loader, when one of the rock trucks was backing in to get loaded, got too close to the loader boom and caught it with the bed and turned the loader over. The loader operator radioed the rock truck driver, but no communication was received by the rock truck driver. Upon investigation, the external speaker in the rock truck had quit working.

Accident type, without injuries

Hitachi EX3600 excavator was loading trucks when the engine/hydraulic compartments on the rear of machine caught fire. Operator exited the machine safely and fire departments were called to help extinguish the fire.

2017 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

Employee was operating front-end loader in coal pit area when a rock became dislodged from the high wall and fell. The rock came through the right-hand door glass and struck the employee on the right hand. The results of the fall were the employee has 2 broken bones and a laceration on the palm of right hand.

2014 · 1 incident

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE was moving a caustic line when the line fell over and splashed the chemical in his eyes.

2013 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking on rocks and slipped falling down onto rocks breaking 5 ribs and his right elbow.

Struck against a moving object

While operating a loader, loose material dislodged striking the loader and jarring the operator's back. First aid treatment was rendered and employee returned to normal duties. The employee asked to visit a doctor the next day. The doctor did not give any specific medical treatment, but did authorize away from work for observation and rest with recheck scheduled.

2012 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING BRUSH AND SLIPPED AND CUT HIS RIGHT RING FINGER.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Rock fell from high-wall and busted into several pieces and one piece struck employee in back side of right arm just above the elbow resulting in laceration and subsequent stitches.

2011 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee exiting skid steer & lost balance, falling into equipment, resulting in two broken bones in right ankle/leg. Per Mis Mail 12/2/11 #1, two EE's were horseplaying and they described it as throwing rocks at each other resulting in injured EE falling down on his own and breaking his right leg. Both EE's were terminated from employment.

2010 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was ascending ladder on bulk truck when a bird attacked and startled him causing him to slip on the ladder and strain his lower back.

2009 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

After loading the holes to be blasted, the blaster went through the final check procedures when one of the loaded holes went off. There were no injuries to anyone and no equipment was damaged.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was checking oil in truck and slipped and fell backward caught right leg in bumper on the truck. EE fell backward had to have help on getting back upright.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Loading holes in water and stepped into a hole.

2008 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stemming holes with hand shovel, he strained low back.

Struck by falling object

Employee was removing the hyd. tank cover on the ex1800 Hitachi excavator. He dropped the cover on his left index finger. Fractured (small) to end of finger.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepping out of truck and right foot slipped on wet ground causing sprain to right foot.

2007 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was repairing the air conditioner on the PC1800 Komatsu excavator when his finger came in contact with the air conditioner fan blade.

Fall from ladders

EE stepped off a 6' stepladder onto a small mound of dirt.Lost his balance & sit (fall) down. Bruised his tail bone & lower back when he hit the ground. Ladder was level & placed properly.

Struck against stationary object

EE tripped on a rock while walking to his dozer. Fell & bruised his lower back. Walking to Dozer to start his shift.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was removing a fuel pump on the service truck. The pump slipped and mashed/cut his thumb between tank and pump. (This was a Lincoln air pump located in one of the fuel tanks on the service truck bed).

Fall from machine

Employee slipped and fell on the rear grating (walk) of the Mack service truck. Fell to the ground and bruised his back and the back of his head. Was fueling dozer #222. *Did not go to the doctor until 1/26/07.

2006 · 4 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was repairing the transmission on the 992-C loader. The cover slid and cut the top of his left index finger. (Required stitches).

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was changing the dust filters on drill #514. He failed to move his arm and the filter dropped out and struck his arm.

Struck against stationary object

EE stopped on south entrance ramp to fuel pump generator. He shifted gear to neutral. Brakes wouldn't hold & truck rolled approx 100-125' down ramp toward highwall. He was afraid truck would hit wall & jumped from cab. Spoil material stopped truck as he jumped(temp was about 20 deg) When tested, brakes worked, however system was inspected, cleaned & 1 slack adjuster replaced.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The 1300 BE Dragline had moved back six steps. The injured employee was moving the power cable back due to the move. He stepped in a hole and twisted his right knee.

2005 · 9 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

THE 1300 BE DRAGLINE WAS DOWN FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE, EMPLOYEE WAS PREPARING TO GREASE THE DRAG CABLE DEFLECTOR SHEAVE. HE SLIPPED & STRUCK HIS RIGHT KNEE AGAINST THE SHEAVE PEDISTAL. THE SHEAVE IS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRAG TROUGH.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee were setting a new reel of drag cable dragline cable with a 992 c loader into the cable stand. As reel was lowered into stand employee got his left hand caught between the pipe holding the reel and the cable stand. Pinched palm of left hand.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was moving the power cable feeding the 1300 BE dragline in order for the machine to walk back on the bench. He bent over to hook the cable to the machine & strained his lower back. *Did not go to Dr. or loose time until 12/02/05.

Accident type, without injuries

Security guard discovered fire. No employees were at the site. Fire of unknown origin destroyed the control room. Control room was constructed of wood and tin. Control room was the point of electrical feed into plant.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEES WERE REPLACING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS GUIDING THE MOTOR ONTO THE MOTOR STAND (FRAME) AND CAUGHT HIS RIGHT HAND BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND STAND. LACERATION REQUIRED 2 STITCHES. (EMPLOYEE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WORK 11-5 AND 11-6).

Over-exertion in lifting objects

During dragline repair, employee was lifting a metal house roller pin, strained abdomen. Later determined to be abdominal hernia. Did not loose time until 8/29/05 for hernia repair.

Fall from machine

EE WAS DISMOUNTING 777 ROCK TRUCK. SLIPPED AND FELL FROM FRONT STEP. MUD HAD ACCUMULATED ON STEP. BRUISE TO LEFT SIDE AND RIBS

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE HAD SERVICED THE EX800 HITACHI BACKHOE. HE DISMOUNTED AND STEPPED ON A ROCK TWISTING HIS LEFT KNEE

Struck against a moving object

Employee was riding in the GI 6x6 truck when the driver ran over a rock causing him to bounce in the seat. He suffered a jar (strain) to his lower back.

2004 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was conducting pre-shift exam on loader. he was on the ground and turned around striking his left elbow against the side of loader.

Fall onto or against objects

INJURED WAS HELPING SURVEY THE AMERICAN & NICKLE PLATE COAL SEAMS. HE WALKED UP THE RAMP TO THE NICKLE PLATE SEAM, TOOK ONE SPOT & MOVED UP THE PIT TO LOCATE THE NEXT SPOT. HE WAS HOLDING THE SURVEY ROD WHILE THE OTHER ENGINER POSITIONED THE CROSS HAIRS ON THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT. EE FELL BACKWARDS STRIKING THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing off of a ladder and stepped off, straining his back.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling on a 15/16 combination wrench and strained his left shoulder.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS AT THE SOUTH END OF PIT TO HELP MOVE A WATER PUMP. HE WAS WALKING NEAR THE REAR OF PUMP WHEN HE SLIPPED & FELL ON HIS RT. ARM, CONDITIONS WERE WET & MUDDY.

2003 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

DISMOUNTING RR250, CAME DOWN LADDER AND RT KNEE STRUCK PLATFORM ON THE MACHINE.

Struck by falling object

ROCK FELL FROM WALL BROKE SIDE GLASS AND STRUCK OPERATOR ON LEFT ELBOW (LACERATION REQUIRED 6 SUTURES). LACERATION WAS APPROXIMATED 1 1/2"".

2002 · 5 incidents

Fall from machine

TRUCK DRIVER TO CLIMB OVER SIDE OF TRUCK BED TO SPRAY INSIDE OF BED TO KEEP FROM FREEZING TO BED. SLIPPED AND FELL TO GROUND. FRACTURED HIP AND RIBS.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STEPPED AWKWARDLY OFF LADDER- TWISTED. REPORTED TO SUPERVISOR NEXT DAY, KNEE SWOLLEN. WENT TO DOCTOR ON 7/12 - TOLD TO ICE KNEE FOR SWELLING. SEEN AGAIN ON 7/19- NO APPARENT CHANGE- SEEN AGAIN ON 8/2- CONTINUED TO WORK. ON 8/2 DETERMINED ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY NEEDED TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY ON 8/7/02. NO MISSED WORK UNTIL 8/7/02.

Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING DOZER AND DURING BACK UP, TRACK STRUCK A ROCK CAUSING OPERATOR TO TWIST BODY CAUSING LOWER BACK STRAIN.

Struck by falling object

GEOLOGICAL CONDITION, NOT VISIBLE BY OBSERVATION, CAUSED SECTION OF WALL TO FALL ONTO DOZER. OPERATOR SUFFERED MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUSES AND DOZER HAD MODERATE DAMAGE.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS LOADING BLAST HOLES WHEN A ROCK FROM THE HIGHWALL FELL AND HIT EE IN THE SHOULDER.

2001 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

EE WORKING ON TRUCK, WIND BLEW HOOD ONTO EE BACK.