Mining Incidents

Piney Woods Preparation Plant Coal

Alabaster, Shelby County, AL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0102976

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2002–2018
Latest incident
Jun 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
267
citations
92
significant & substantial
$76,977
proposed penalties
$67,786
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 Q2 2,154 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 1,560 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 1,560 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,560 2 0 1282.1
2024 Q2 1,560 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,560 1 0 641.0
2023 Q4 2,782 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 2,750 0 0 0.0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

16 on file

2018 · 1 incident

June 26, 2018 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Jesse Creek Mining, LLC · Contact with heat

Employee was working in the upper levels of the preparation plant and ended up suffering from heat stress requiring IV hydration therapy at a medical facility.

2016 · 1 incident

May 19, 2016 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Jesse Creek Mining, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a piece of metal with a torch when the piece fell on one end. The opposite end moved upward and hit EE in the knee, causing a laceration. Employee was taken to American Family Care where the wound was cleaned and closed with 2 stitches. Employee was given a tetanus booster.

2015 · 1 incident

October 8, 2015 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Jesse Creek Mining, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was assisting welder when a hot piece of welding debris had gone down his waistline at his belt/lower back. Welder was above him on a ladder when the debris fell causing burns to his lower back/upper buttocks. Employee went to American Family Care where the 2nd degree burn was cleaned and dressed. The employee was given a tetanus shot and prescription antibiotics.

2012 · 2 incidents

May 21, 2012 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Changing screens in the power screener - felt a burn in his arm when he picked up hammer to swing. Employee refused to go for medical treatment. He said it would be fine. On 6/4, he said his arm was still hurting, worse and decided to seek medical treatment after all.

January 10, 2012 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Replacing a bearing on the tail roller. Worker was bent over hammering on the bearing and noticed a pain in the lower back when he stood up.

2011 · 2 incidents

October 6, 2011 AL · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Motor grader was cutting pad. In doing so, it was creating uneven places in the yard. The loader operator ran over one of these after the loader shifted into 2nd gear, which caused the loader's speed to increase and bounce, resulting in his injury.

April 14, 2011 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting water when right foot was placed on ground. His right ankle rolled and twisted, causing swelling and pain.

2010 · 2 incidents

May 5, 2010 AL · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was pulling a water hose when the hose gave way. Employee hit his right elbow against a handrail.

March 20, 2010 AL · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor STRIKING OR BUMPING
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was coming down steps and accidently bumped into beam.

2009 · 3 incidents

August 26, 2009 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was removing hydraulic pump from Mack Truck, the pump was suspended by a rope which broke allowing pump to fall on EE's fingers (2) on right hand.

March 17, 2009 AL · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee's were taking top of screen bowl. The chain attached to the cover slipped letting the cover hit the employee on top of his foot.

February 14, 2009 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was working inside a screen with limited space to work. He pulled hard with a long handle rachet, he felt something pull in his left shoulder.

2008 · 2 incidents

December 16, 2008 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was in a manlift installing a camera line. He tripped over his lanyard and grabbed handrail w/his left hand and started to grab it w/his right hand also (which he was holding a box cutter in) and cut his left index finger, which required some stitches.

December 6, 2008 AL · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Tacoa Minerals, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Chute feeding the scalping screen had plugged causing a few rocks to fall on floor below. The individual had cleared the chute and was going back to bottom floor of structure. The laborer did not have time to get to spill at this time. The individual stepped on one of the rocks causing him to fall onto the floor grating.

2003 · 1 incident

August 29, 2003 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator NO VALUE FOUND
New Century Mining, Inc. · No Value Found

THE INJURED STUCK A PRY BAR INTO THE VALVE OF A SUMP, TRYING TO BREAK UP THE MATERIAL. HIS HAND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE VALVE AND THE PRY BAR RESULTING IN INJURY.

2002 · 1 incident

August 13, 2002 AL · Coal FIRE
New Century Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

VANDALS BROKE INTO LOAD-OUT, RAN COAL THROUGH BELT SYSTEM, DROPPED LOAD-OUT CHUTES TO SPILL COAL ON RAIL TRACKS. CONTROL ROOM WAS SET ON FIRE. SHERRIFF DEPT. & FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATED SAME. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. FACILITY USELESS NOW.