Mining Incidents

Hazleton ShaftCoal

Hazleton, Luzerne County, PA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3608766
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
22
Years on record
2004–2025
Latest incident
Dec 2025

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While cleaning raw coal material from on top of the locked out Raw Coal Stacking Conveyor, the Miner was standing on the conveyor ahead of the conveyor feed chute. The belt and material moved backwards, sweeping the Miner into the chute and covered Miner with material.

Reportable incidents

21 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 2 incidents

Fall from machine

Weather

Fall down stairs

While descending the steps from the top level of the plant, the Miner slipped with wet boots causing EE to hit head below EE's hardhat strap. When EE reported the incident to the Foreman, EE became ill and vomited. The supervisor called emergency services.

2024 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

A contractor entered the site during non-working hours to retrieve a personal car spring from EE's personal storage trailer. A guest that was accompanying the contractor heard a thud as back was turned towards the trailer. The guest turned and found the contractor lying on the ground with head injuries.

2023 · 3 incidents

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

While working from a scissor lift stationed on the plant concrete floor, the Miner reached from the basket to access and replace a rubber boot. The shift of the Miner's weight caused the basket to shift and pinched the right hand of the Miner between the basket and the structure causing a fracture of the 5th metacarpal.

Struck by flying object

While seated on a stool, the Miner was cutting an overhead piece of metal with an angle grinder equipped with a cutoff wheel. The wheel caught on the edge of the metal causing the grinder to be ripped from the Miner's hands. The grinder struck the Miner's left leg causing a laceration that required stitches.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

On 1/11 Miner maneuvered a leaf spring set onto a dolly in the shop. On 1/12 the Miner experienced pain in the groin area and went to the ER following work. An X-ray was taken and EE was diagnosed with a strain. After several weeks the Miner was still experiencing pain and had it reevaluated. On 3/13 it was diagnosed as a hernia and received corrective surgery on 03/23.

2022 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While replacing a punch plate deck on the bull-screen, the Miner positioned self above the screen chute at the top of the rubber wear material. As the Miner was maneuvering the screen, EE perceived from EE's view that EE was going to take a step up, but was actually stepping down. The unexpected step down and resulting jolt caused the Miner's knee to twist.

2021 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

While opening a bag of flocculant with a utility knife, dust particles of the flocculant blew under the miner's glasses and into the miners eye. The eye was immediately flushed as per the instructions of the MSDS and the miner was taken to an eye specialist for examination.

2020 · 1 incident

Contact with hot objects or substances

While servicing the S190 Portable Screen, the Miner removed the cap of the radiator to check the coolant level. The Miner received burns to hand when the coolant ran into Miner's glove.

2019 · 4 incidents

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

After changing a deck screen, the Miner was crawling out from between the screen deck and misplaced their footing causing them to dislodge the board placed as a safeguard over an opening. The Miner fell through the opening and struck their head.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

While responding to an electrical problem EE heard on the radio, the miner turned to rush toward the plant. EE tripped over a piece of steel pipe at the welding shop and fell to the ground where EE struck EE's head on a piece of steel and scraped EE's upper right arm.

Struck by falling object

While pressure washing the interior of the preparation plant, the miner pulled the hose to gain more slack. The hose caught an a loose piece of metal on the floor above the miner causing it to fall and cut the miner's left arm.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While walking around the front of the loader to talk to the foreman, EE collapsed. No trip, slip or fall was attributed to the collapse. An ambulance was called and it was later learned that EE's hip was fractured and that EE has been experiencing pain for at least one month prior to the incident.

2015 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was readying bulk ANFO truck in preparation for loading blast holes. A hydraulic line ruptured at the hand controls. The employee raised his arm and stepped back tripping in a frozen tire rut and fell to the ground. The fall caused strains and contusions (lumbar, left hip, left knee, common peritoneal parenthesise).

2014 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Contractor employee stated he brought the John Deere backhoe to the bag hours and was waiting form co-worker to return. He noticed water droplets coming from the discharge end of the rotary air valve. He went to investigate. He reached up into the discharge opening of the rotary air lock valve that was running and injured two fingers on his right hand.

2013 · 1 incident

Fall down stairs

EE fell down the steps of the processing plant. EE fell straight down on his back broke 2 vertebrae and 1 rib.

2010 · 1 incident

Accident type, without injuries

The plant operator stopped the plant feed belt to make a repair. The operator & another ee, the plant runner forgot to turn off a torch on the plant feed belt that he left unattended. The belt caught fire and was put out in less than 10 min. 2 ee went to the hosp to be checked out for smoke inhalation and returned to work in a few hours.

2009 · 1 incident

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

Mechanic was installing a motor in a water truck. Upon installation, the motor got stuck in the engine compartment. The mechanic was prying on the motor to free it when the motor shifted pinning his hand between the motor and frame. He received 7 stitches in his right hand.

2008 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cleaning floor with a wheelbarrow and pulled his back when the wheelbarrow tipped to the side with material in it and he tried to stop it from upsetting.

2005 · 1 incident

Fall onto or against objects

Employee exited the loader cab and tripped over the fuel cap on the deck outside the cab and struck his knee on the rail/deck. Employee was taken to the hospital for x-rays and has not returned to work as of this date. Carelessness of the employee contributed to the injury.

2004 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ASSISTING ELECTRICIAN INSTALL A NEW MOTOR AT THE FLOOR SUMP PUMP. WHILE THE ELECTRICIAN WAS LOWERING THE MOTOR WITH CHAIN FALL, INJ EE WHO WAS STANDING APPROX 3FT AWAY, RUSHED OVER TO THE MOTOR AND PLACED HIS FINGERS BETWEEN THE MOTOR & ITS BASE FOR NO APPARENT REASON.