Mining Incidents

Mine No 1Coal

PBS Coals, Inc. · Surface
Brotherton, Somerset County, PA · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3603328
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
54
Years on record
2000–2024
Latest incident
Aug 2024
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

54 on file

2024 · 2 incidents

Struck by flying object

As the track was being walked back onto the shovel, a piece of steel came off one of the rollers and struck an employee in the right leg just below the knee. The employee was standing approximately 20' away from the machine when the accident occurred. The employee had to have the fragment surgically removed.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was backing up a coal ramp to dump a load of coal. As EE was backing up, the sun was reflecting directly on the mirrors and EE lost their bearing and backed through the berm causing the truck to roll onto its side. The employee fractured 5 ribs as a result of this accident.

2023 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was using a prybar to reposition the oil tank on a dozer. EE's prybar slipped causing the employee to fall backward and hurt EE's lower back.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was swinging a sledge hammer to knock the pin out of a track and felt a sharp pain in shoulder. Employee continued to work employee's regular duties and was sent for an MRI. Employee was sent to Ortho 3/15/23 and was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and placed on light duty. Surgery is scheduled for 4/18/23.

2021 · 2 incidents

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

Employee was moving the forks on a skid loader. As EE was sliding the fork, EE pinched EE's finger between the fork and the carriage resulting in a small fracture to EE's left thumb.

Struck by flying object

Employee was using a hand-held grinder when a piece of metal got in EE's right eye. Employee was wearing a welding helmet and EE's prescription glasses when the accident occurred. Eye doctor removed the metal fragment from EE's eye.

2019 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee works as a mechanic on the surface and over the last 37 years has developed a repetitive motion injury (carpal tunnel) in hand. Employee underwent surgery on 8/5/19 to correct this condition.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee slipped on ice in the parking lot while walking to rock truck. Employee was diagnosed with a herniated disc in lower back. Continued to work until surgery date on March 28, 2019.

Struck by flying object

Contract employee was picking up motors at PBS Warehouse. The motor was frozen to the ground and when Ee attempted to lift it and hit the pallet to break it free, the hook came undone and struck employee above left eye causing laceration.

Fall from machine

Employee slipped going down ice-covered steps on Hitachi Shovel and fell, injuring back and neck. Employee continued to work normal job until ee was seen by orthopedic surgeon on 3/14/2019 and placed off work.

2017 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was loading nitrogen cylinder into service truck. While lifting the cylinder, the employee felt a sharp pain in lower back.

2015 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

A miner was injured while operating a CAT 375 excavator when the hoist cylinder failed and broke the side window on the cab. The broken glass contacted the operators right hand and caused a small laceration. The miner received two sutures.

2012 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The injured employee was unloading a piece of steel from the back of a delivery truck. Another employee was assisting him to unload it. The steel moved in an awkward way and stuck the injured person in the left knee.

2011 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

An employee was dismounting a D-11 dozer at break time. The environment was dry. The hand railing, foots steps and grab rails were all found to be in good condition. The employee remembers climbing down to the push arm of the dozer blade. He woke up lying on the ground. The height from the ground to the top of the push arm he was standing on is 36 inches.

2010 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down the ladder of a CAT 777 rock truck when his foot slipped on ice on the last step. The employee did have three points of contact and when his foot slipped off the step he pulled his left shoulder. PBS Coals, Inc. was notified that the employee will need surgery to repair his left shoulder. First day of work missed was December 21, 2010.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee injured his right shoulder while shoveling the tracks on a dozer. While removing the dirt from the tracks with a shovel, the shovel contacted a bolt and quickly stopped the shovel and injured the employee's right shoulder. The employee had surgery on his right shoulder on January 03, 2011 and he has been off work since that date.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was climbing down the ladder located on the side of the shovel. The lower steps have ridges on them for traction so your boots don't slip. While dismounting the machine, the wedding band on his left ring finger caught the ridge on the step and cut his left ring ringer.

2009 · 3 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE squatted and heard a pop in his right knee.

Fall from machine

Employee was mounting his machine when he slipped and fell to the ground injuring his left shoulder.

Struck by falling object

Employee dropped steel beam on left foot; was approximately 40-50 lbs, 6' long x 13' wide and 1/4"" thick.

2008 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using hard control settings to move main pump out of O&K shovel, EE was caught in machinery between the lifting boom and front bed of truck. Employee was air lifted to Conenaugh Hospital.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking through field, tripped over a root and fell on knee. Went to doctor on 10/28/08, at which time he went off work.

2007 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Twisted left knee slipping off steps of lube truck. Employee reported injury on 1/4/07. A second opinion by an independent physical on Feb 5th put employee off work on Feb 5th 2007.

2006 · 3 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was cleaning D-11 tracks; he slipped & fell injuring his left knee.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Pulled muscle in right shoulder while installing turbo in a rock truck when it slid and he tried to stop it. He recently on Aug 17, 2006 was diagnosed with a torn rotor cuff and went off on Aug 18th to prepare for surgery.

Struck by falling object

Employee was helping dismantle a D9 dozer when the left push arm fell from the dozer strking his right leg and foot.

2005 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A HYDRAULIC FIRE WAS DETECTED ON THE D-11 DOZER ON JOB 234 AT 1:30 AM. THE FIRE WAS FIRST DETECTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MACHINE UNDER THE CAB AREA. CREW USED ALL POSSIBLE MEANS TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH NO SUCESS. THE BERLIN VFD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH CHEMICAL FOAM. OPERATOR HAS 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE - 12 YEARS ON D-11.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee dismounted machine at end of shift and stepped on a large stone twisting his right ankle.

Struck against stationary object

Employee dismounted water truck and stepped onto a rock and twisted his ankle. Went off work on 8-23-05.

2004 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was uncoupling quick start coupling from 777B rock truck when he stepped on an uneven area of frozen ground, he lost his balance and twisted his left knee that had previously had problems.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS ENTERING THE CAB OF THE DOZER AT START OF SHIFT WHEN BUMPED HIS HEAD ON THE DOOR FRAME (FOREHEAD AREA) CAUSING A LACERATION.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was outside of 7820 dragline checking dragline walls for weakness when he slipped and fell.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE STATED HE WAS RAISING HIS DRILL SEAT TO ADJUST HEIGHT. HE FELT PAIN IN BACK. THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER TEST TO VERIFY IF IT IS JOB RELATED.

2003 · 6 incidents

No Value Found

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A PUMP ON A 988 DOZER WHEN HE FELT NUMBNESS IN HIS RIGHT ARM. INITIAL REPORT WAS MADE TO COMPANY AND WAS NOT REPORTABLE UNTIL MARCH 1, 2004 WHEN EMPLOYEE WENT OFF WORK (AFTER SEEING A SPECIALIST).

Struck by flying object

INJURED PERSON WAS SITTING IN A ROCK TRUCK WITH WINDOW DOWN SLIGHTLY. HIS LEFT EYE SUDDENLY STARTED HURTING. DIRT WAS FOUND IN HIS EYE AT A PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE. HE RECEIVED EYE DROPS AND MISSED TWO DAYS WORK.

Struck against a moving object

INJURED PERSON WAS OPERATING A ROCK TRUCK AT A STRIP SITE. ABOUT 6 HOURS INTO HIS SHIFT HE NOTICED THAT HIS BACK WAS HURTING PRETTY BAD. HE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BACK PAIN WITH GRADE1 SPOND YLOLISTHESIS. HE WAS GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION AND TOLD TO WEAR A BACK BRACE.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BLOWING DIRT OUT OF CORE FOR AIR CONDITIONER WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON SWITCH TO ACTIVATE A 4"" PLASTIC FAN IN THE CAB OF TRUCK. THE FAN STRUCK HIS FINGER CAUSING A LACERATION.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE DISMOUNTED THE D-9 DOZER AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER RIGHT LEG. EE NOTIFIED COMPANY THAT HE WAS GOING TO THE CHIRO ON 3-28-03. CHIRO REFERRED HIM FOR MRI. MRI TAKEN ON 4-2-03. IMPRESSION FROM MR I SHOWS DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE NOTIFIED OFFICE THAT HE HAD SEEN A M.D. ON 3/24/03 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO STAY OFF WORK FOR ONE WEEK. EMPLOYEE STEPPED FROM DRILL TO GROUND LEVEL AND FELT PAIN AT THE BALL OF HIS FOOT.

2002 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE REPORTED ON 12/9/02 AN ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL. HE INFORMED COMPANY ON 2/21/03. HE WILL BE HAVING SURGERY ON 2/28/03. EMPLOYEE SAID HE WAS REPAIRING THE ENGINE ON A ROCK TRU CK WHEN HE FELT SHARP PAIN AS HE RAISED HOOD OF ROCK TRUCK.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS INSTALLING GRADE STAKES. WHEN HE FINISHED INSTALLING THE LAST STAKE HE LOST HIS BALANCE ON UNEVEN GROUND SURFACE FALLING GROUND LEVEL TO THE GROUND. WHEN HE FELL HE TRIED TO BREAK FALL WITH LEFT ARM. ALL PRESSURE FROM FALL WAS TO LEFT ELBOW CAUSING A CHIP IN ELBOW FROM BODY WEIGHT.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TEAM MEMBER WAS TIGHTENING A BOLT ON THE ALTERNATOR OF THE OK 120 SHOVEL. HE EXTENDED HIS RIGHT ARM IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO REACH IN AND TIGHTEN BOLTS WHEN HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN RT. SHOU LDER.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REMOVING BOLTS FROM THE U JOINT OF, BOLTS, THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM THE WATER TRUCK. EE FELT PAIN IN UPPER RIGHT SHOULDER AS HE LOOSENED BOLTS.

2001 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS MOUNTING D-11N DOZER CAT WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE HE GRABBER THE HAND RAIL AND ALL HIS BODY WEIGHT PULLED ON HIS RIGHT ARM.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A TEAM OF MAINT. WAS FORMED TO COMPLET MAINT. ON THE 7820 DRAGLINE. TEAM WAS PULLING DOORS OPEN AT COUNTERWEIGHT AREA WHEN EE STUMBLED. EE WAS ON LEVEL SMOOTH DRY COMPACTED SOILS. WHEN EE STUM BLED HE TURNED RIGHT ANKLE.

Fall from machine

PRYING WITH PRY BAR ON BOOM OF 992-C. LOST BALANCE SLIPPED AND FELL, INJURING MIDDLE AND LOWER BACK.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS EXITING MACHINE. AS HE OPENED THE DOZER DOOR HE PULLED HIMSELF FROM THE SEAT AT THE DOOREDGE AREA. THE WIND BLEW THE DOOR SHUT ON HIS FINGERS.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BURNING A CROSS MEMBER ON A BELT STRUCTURE THAT WAS ON THE GROUND. AS HE BURNED THRU THE LAST WELD POINT THE METAL BRACE LET LOOSE AND STRUCK HIM IN THE FACE.

2000 · 6 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE GOT OFF MACHINE TO GO TO SHOP AREA. IT WAS A COLD FREEZING DAY. EMPLOYEE SLIPPED AND FELL IN PARKING LOT STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE INNER EDGE OF HARD HAT AS THE HARD HAT CAME OFF HIS H EAD ON THE GROUND.

Struck against a moving object

OPERATOR WAS ESTABLISHING A BACK UP BEAM ON THIS OPERATOR'S 2ND TRIP HE BACKED BEYOND THE AREA. HE WENT TO EDGE OF DUMP AREA. THE EDGE GAVE WAY AND THE ROCK TRUCK WENT OVER THE EDGE.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS CLIMBING ONTO 77B ROCK TRUCK (ENGINE AREA). A PLATE WAS LOOSENED ON THE FLOOR AND EE STEPPED ONTO PLATE THEN INTO THE AREA PLATE COVERED.

Fall from machine

AT END OF SHIFT EE WENT TO CRUSHER TO CHECKBELT AND CHECK HYDRAULIC LEVEL OF TANK. EE CHOOSE NOT TO USE WALKWAY WITH HANDRAILS AND SLIPPED AND FELL TO GROUND.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION OF HAND POSITION WHILE CLOSING A TAILGATE OF SITE TRUCK AND CLOSED GATE ON RIGHT HAND.

Fall from machine

EE LOWERED THE BOOM ON A 25D NORTHWEST DRAGLINE AND WAS COMPLETING SERVICE OF HOIST ROPES AND LUBRICATION POINTS WHEN HE SLIPPED TO THE GROUND APP 3 1/2 FEET. THE CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AND SLI PPERY DUE TO RAIN AND LIMESTONE MIXTURE.