Mining Incidents

RICH HILL UNDERGROUND MINE & PLANTMetal/Nonmetal

Connellsville, Fayette County, PA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3608864
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2009–2025
Latest incident
Oct 2025
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

16 on file

2025 · 1 incident

Accident type, without injuries

A large piece of rock fell from the ceiling at an intersection. Some of the rock struck the drill. There were no injuries associated with this incident.

2020 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Tech was climbing step on left rear of wheel loader, reached for grab handle with left arm, took hold of grab handle and pulled self up. As EE stepped up, EE felt a pain between shoulder blades. Right hand was on grab handle on battery box.

2017 · 5 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While preparing the bulk truck to load a floor shot, the IP stood below the auger boom and attempted to connect a flexible loading hose to the auger boom. The loading hose uses a 4"" camlock as the connector. As the IP attempted to make the connection IP lost control and the hose fell with the camlock striking the IP in the mouth causing damage to lip and teeth.

Struck against stationary object

Driller smashed right ring finger while using a hammer to loosen the bit from a drill steel. The hammer had a glancing blow, allowing driller's hand that held the handle to strike against the bit.

Struck against a moving object

Loader operator was mucking out a shot when a rock fell from the roof and struck the top of the loader's ROPS, jostling the operator. EE suffered a broken rib and was hospitalized. There were no life threatening injuries.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Worker got cut on the head when a piece of 2""x2""x1/2""x30"" angle iron employee was attempting to bend back into position as railing swung back at employee and knocked off employee's hard hat grazed across employee's head.

Struck against a moving object

While operating haul truck, employee got jostled in cab when running over pothole. Later, employee began to experience pain in lower left hip that radiates down the left thigh. Employee was diagnosed with sciatica and referred to chiropractor.

2016 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

Climbing down from the Anfo Loader, lost footing, fell backwards, hurt left wrist.

2015 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

Sutures were applied to a plant worker's right elbow for treatment of a laceration received when he struck against a hose clamp located along a water line. The employee was cleaning the plant's magnet at the time.

2013 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

Loading holes when a high pressure blast of air forced the loading hose out of the hole forcing his hand into hand rail of loading basket.

2012 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

On 4/22/12 worker struck his right knee against a tow-hitch on a pickup truck & refused treatment. On 5/4/12 worker requested and received medical treatment; initial medical diagnosis was contusion. On 5/17/12 a different doctor diagnosed fracture of right knee.

2011 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Worker received a sprained right ankle as he was stepping down onto a catwalk at the 5x16 screen. The catwalk was clean & free of debris.

2010 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee felt sudden sharp pain in lower back when shoveling spillage of rocks and fines at the tail end of surge tunnel conveyor.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Worker's thumb got pinched between portable air compressors that resulted in a laceration.

2009 · 2 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Employee operating a yard loader backed into a triaxle truck. Employee waited days later before reporting injuries to supervisor and was assigned to restricted duty beginning 10/26/2009.

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

Operator was getting back in cab. The wind was very strong. The wind blew the door shut on operator's right hand ring finger causing the fingernail to come off. Damage was only to the end of one finger.