Mining Incidents

#3: 26 reportable incidents Coal

Whitaker Coal Corp · Surface
Controlled by Sunoco, Inc.
Avawam, Perry County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1506919

MSHA record for #3 (mine ID 1506919). Fatalities, non-fatal incidents grouped by year, current operator and controller, and mine context.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
1983–1993
Latest incident
Apr 1993
Ownership history
  1. Ray Coal Company 1974 to 1983
  2. Whitaker Coal Corp 1983 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.

#3 sits in Perry County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.3% of county employment.

Local economic context
County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Perry County, Kentucky · Population 27,847
3.3%
Mining share of county employment
$45,261
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

26 on file

1993 · 1 incident

April 12, 1993 KY · Coal outside foreman, leadman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO UNSTOP A NOZZEL ON A SEEDER TRUCK BY PASSING A STEEL ROD IN & OUT OF IT.

1992 · 1 incident

May 26, 1992 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE

1991 · 1 incident

February 19, 1991 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TRYING TO PRY DRILL STEEL BACK INTO ITS RACK WHEN BAR SLIPPED BAR FLEW BACK STRIKING HIM ON THE FINGERS THE STEEL ROLLED OUT OF RACK HITTING HIM ON THE FOOT.

1990 · 1 incident

December 13, 1990 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Whitaker Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING WITH A MABIL DRILL. WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED ON FINGER.

1989 · 1 incident

September 5, 1989 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Whitaker Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS TURNING OFF A PUMP ON A HYDROSEEDER,HIS AHND SLIPPED AND WENT INTO THE FAN.

1988 · 1 incident

February 20, 1988 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Fall from machine

HE WAS OPERATING DOZER & STOPPED TO GET OUT. WHEN HE DID THIS HE SLIPPED & FELL STRAINING HIS BACK. THIS STRAIN IS AN AGGRAVATION FROM A PRE-EXISTING INJURY THAT OCCURRED ON 10-24-83.

1987 · 7 incidents

December 23, 1987 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck against stationary object

HE WAS STEPPING3OVER A GUARD RAIL WHIL DOING THIS HE SLIPPED AND FELL STRIKING HIS LEFT LEG AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL. THE GROUND WAS WET AND MUCCY

October 21, 1987 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STEPPING OFF TR5CTOR.FELT STING IN LOWER BACK.

August 26, 1987 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS PULLING3HIMSELF UPON THE DOZER WHILE DOING THIS HE STRAINED HIS CHEST MUSCLES

August 22, 1987 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

HE WAS CLEANING3INSIDE OF DOZER CAB WITH A AIR HOSE WHILE DOING THIS A PIECE OF FOREIGN OBJECT GOT IN HIS LEFT EYE

August 14, 1987 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS HELPING 9EMOVE A4 INCH WATER PUMP.WHILE DOING THIS THE SUCTION HOSE CAME OFF STRIKIONG HIM IN THE MOUTH.

June 19, 1987 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

HE WAS CLEANING3A FUEL FILTER WITH AIR HOSE. WHILE DOING THIS A PIECE OF FOREIGHN OBJECT GOT IN HIS LEFT EYE.

April 13, 1987 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

HE WAS CHANGING3HYDRAULIC LINES ON D9L DOZER WHILE DOING THIS A FOREIGN OBJECT GOT CAUGHT IN HIS RT EYE

1986 · 4 incidents

May 7, 1986 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

WHILE OPERATING3ROCK TRUCK HE TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE FAN BLEW A PIECE OF OBJECT INTO HIS EYE.

May 6, 1986 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck against stationary object

HE WAS GREASING3BOOM TRUCK WHILE WORKING ON BOOM TRUCK HE HAD CLIMBED ONTO THE TRUCK TO HOOK A OIL DRUM ONTO TRUCK & GOT CUT BY A SHARP JAGGED PIECE OF METAL ONT HE TRUCK BED.

March 27, 1986 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE STARTED WALK3NG OVER TO POWDER TRUCK WHEN HE STEPPED INTO A SMALL HOLE CAUSING HIM TO STRAIN HIS LEFT KNEE

January 28, 1986 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Fall onto or against objects

GETTING INTO CA6 OF ENDLOADER FOOT SLIPPED AND KNEE HIT CORNER OF CAB FRAME WHICH HAD JAGGED EDGE.LEFT KNEE STRUCK JAGGED EDGE OF FRAME.

1985 · 3 incidents

June 26, 1985 KY · Coal drill operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CHANGING ROTARY DRILL BITS & STRUCK THE BIT WITH HAMMER CAUSING A SMALL FRAGMENT TO COME OFF & GO INTO HIS EYE.

June 24, 1985 KY · Coal driller, highwall operator, highwall drill operator FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

I.NAME & I.NAME SITTING IN CAB OF POWDER TRUCK SWAITING FOR ELECTRICAL STORM TO PASS WHEN LIGHTENING STRUCK 2 TREES ABOVE THE HIGHWALL.LIGHTNING CHARGE WENT DOWN BOTH TREES INTO ROCK STRATA CA USING BLOWOUT OF ROCK THAT SHOWERED THE TRUCK AND BREAKING WINDOW ON ONE SIDE PIECE OF ROCK CAME THROUGH WINDOW AND STRUCK I.NAME ON EAR.

April 18, 1985 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS USING CHAIN SAW TO CUT DOWN A TREE & GOT SAW AGAINST HIS KNEE

1984 · 3 incidents

September 5, 1984 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

AMINTENANCE WORK ON D-9 DOZER DRIVING A BEARING ON TRUNNION METAL FRAGMENT CAME OFF AND STRUCK HIM IN THE LEFT SIDE OF NECK.

June 21, 1984 KY · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitaker Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPL PRYING IDLER PULLEY DOWN TO PUT ON FAN BELTS ON DOZER WITH LONG SCREDWDRIVER WHEN SCREWDRIVER SLIPPED AND CAUGHT LEFT THUMB BETWEEN BELT AND PULLET,RESULTING IN TIP OF THUMB AND NAIL BEIN G TORN OFF.

March 10, 1984 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

RUBBED HIS HAND ACROSS THE EYE & GOT A PIECE OF FOREION MATERIAL IN IT . ALSO STATED IT WAS VERY WINDY AT THE TIME.

1983 · 3 incidents

November 1, 1983 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitaker Coal Corp · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS ILL WITH THE FLU STARTED TO GET DOWN FROM TRUCK, BECAME DIZZY & FELL ON HIS WRIST.

September 14, 1983 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitaker Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

ADJUSTING BRAKES ON FUEL TRUCK WHEN FOREIGN BODY FELL INTO HIS EYE.

January 3, 1983 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ray Coal Company · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STEPPING DOWN FROM TRUCK STEPPED IN A HOLE & TWISTED HIS KNEE. CONTINUED TO WORK THRU 1-10-83.