Mining Incidents

LOCUST COVE MINE Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by USG Corporation
Smyth County, VA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4401926

MSHA record for LOCUST COVE MINE (mine ID 4401926). Fatalities, non-fatal incidents grouped by year, current operator and controller, and mine context.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
37
Years on record
1983–1998
Latest incident
Nov 1998
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
3
inspections on record
63
inspection hours
n/a
citations per 100 inspection hours
This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
Rate withheld: 63 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2001 Q1 0 0 0
2000 Q4 0 0 0
2000 Q3 2,791 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 3,954 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 13,996 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
January 4, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

EMP. WAS SCALING WITHOUT WARNING THE ROOF COLLAPSED. EMP DIED FORM INTERNAL INJURIES IN HIS CHEST.

Reportable incidents

36 on file (excluding fatalities above)

1998 · 3 incidents

November 30, 1998 VA · Metal/Non-Metal MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS CLEANING OUT MUD FROM AROUND THE #6 BELTLINE ON THE 8TH LEVEL WITH A BOBCAT. THE BOBCAT WOULDN'T GET ENOUGH TRACTION IN THE MUD SO IT WAS BEING PULLED BACKWARDS UP THE INCLINE BY A CASE BACKHOE WHEN THE BOBCAT RODE UP ON THE RIB AND TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE CAUSING THE EE TO STRIKE HIS ELBOW ON THE ROLL CAGE.

September 17, 1998 VA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

AT OR ABOUT 2:15PM THE EE WAS OPERATING THE CAT D6 DOZER IN THE MILL ROCK SHED WHEN HE BACKED OVER A PILE OF MATERIAL (GYPSUM)ABOUT 1FT HIGH. THIS CAUSED THE DOZER TO DROP SUDDENLY & UNEXPECTD ELY. THE EE FELT A JERK OR PULL IN THE LOWER RIGGHT SIDE OF HIS BACK WITH SHARP PAIN FOLLOWING THIS OCCURANCE.\

1997 · 3 incidents

December 26, 1997 VA · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CUTTING AWAY THE OUTER CASING ON A MULTIWIRE THERMOSTAT CABLE ON THE MILL FURNANCE WITH AN ELECTRICIAN'S KNIFE. HE WAS HOLDING THE CABLE WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND CUTTING TOWARD HIMSELF. T HE KNIFE SLIPPED AND SLID BACK OVER HIS LEFT THUMB, CAUSING THE LACERATION.

November 25, 1997 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ATTEMTING TO REPLACE A BROKEN DRILL BIT. AS HE STRUCK THE COLLAR HOLDING THE OLD BIT WITH A HAMMER TO LOOSEN IT, HE SMASHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN HAMMER AND DRILL. RT INDEX FINGER WAS FRAC TURED AND LACERATED.

September 20, 1997 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ON OR ABOUT 9-20-97 EE COMPLAINED ABOUT NUMBNESSIN LEFT ARM WHILE DRIVING HAUL TRUCK. EE WAS ROTATED TO OTHER JOBS BUT PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THE DR FELT THAT STRAIN AND VIBRATION FROM STEERING T HE HAUL TRUCK MAY HAVE RESULTED IN OVERUSE SYNDROME AND OR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF NERVE COMPRESSION HAS BEEN FOUND.

1996 · 4 incidents

August 23, 1996 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

EMP WAS RELOADING ROOF BOLTS INTO THE CAROUSEL WHEN ONE OF THE PLATES FELL OFF THE TOP OF THE CAROUSEL. AS IT FELL, THE PLATE HIT AND CUT EMP'S GLOVE AND HAND.

July 8, 1996 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
United States Gypsum Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE REPORTED AN ALLEGED RELATED ILLNESS OF ARTHRITIS IN BOTH KNEES ON 7-8-96. EMPLOYEE LAST WORKED ON 6-21-96.

June 13, 1996 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by flying object

EE WASDISASSEMBLING TRACVTOR BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND REAR DRIVE TRAIN. THE FRONT SECTION WAS CRIBBED UTILIZING 12" X 12" OAK BLOCKS. THE REAR SECTION WAS CRIBBED UTILIZING A 3 TON HYDRAULIC F LOOR JACK. EE STATED THAT HE WAS CLEANING UP AND PUTTING AWAY HIS TOOLS WHEN SOMETHING STRUCK HIM ON THE HARD HAT, THAT BEING THE ROLL BAR OF THE TRACTOR, WHICH HIT THE GROUND, STRIKING EE.

1995 · 4 incidents

November 10, 1995 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CHECK SCALING A MINE HEADING. HE WAS USING A BAR TO PRY LOOSE ROCK OFF THE SIDE OF A WALL. WHEN HE DISLODGED THE SLAB, A ROCK FROM ABOVE HIS HEAD CAME DOWN STRIKING HIM ON THE BAC K OF HIS HARD HAT.

June 29, 1995 VA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS USING A PIPE WRENCH TO BREAK DRILL RODS AS THE WRENCH GRABBED IT CAUGHT HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE WRENCH & THE BOOM OF THE DRILL THE EMPLOYEES LEFT MIDDLE FINGER WAS CUT REQUIRIN G 5 SUTURES

January 31, 1995 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by flying object

WHILE INSTALLING AN AIRLINE, DUST BLEW AROUND SAFETY GLASSES INTO EE'S RIGHT EYE. A DR. REMOVED A FOREIGN OBJECT FROM HIS EYE. HE WAS GIVEN A ONE DAY LIGHT DUTY RESTRICTION.

January 25, 1995 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WHILE REMOVING BOLTS FROM BOTTOM BAR ON LOADER USING A 1" IMPACT WRENCH, THE WRENCH SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT AND THE WEIGHT OF THE WRENCH PINNED EE'S FINGER BETWEEN THE WRENCH AND THE CONCRETE FLO OR. FRACTURED RING FINGER ON THE LEFT HAND JUST ABOVE FIRST JOINT.

1994 · 3 incidents

April 13, 1994 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against stationary object

THE EMLOYEE WAS GETTING OFF THE HAUL TRUCK AND STEPPED ON A ROCK. THE ROCK CAUSED THE EMPLOYEE TO LOSE HIS BALANCE AND HE TWISTED HIS ANKLE. HE SPRAINED HIS LEFT ANKLE. THE EMPLOYEE WAS GIV EN A THREE DAY RESTRICTION BY DR.

February 22, 1994 VA · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

THE INJURED EE AND A CO WORKER WERE REMOVING AN ELECTRICAL CABLE FROM THE ROOF OF THE 8TH LEVEL. AT THAT TIME, ANOTHER EE PROCEEDED AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEADING AND BEGAN PULLING DOWN T HE CABLE. THE PULLING PRODUCED A DOMINO EFFECT, BREAKING THE CABLE FASTENERS AND CAUSING THE CABLE TO FALL 20 FEET, STRIKING THE EE ON THE HAND.

February 22, 1994 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

THE INJURED EE AND A CO WORKER WERE REMOVING AN ELECTRICAL CABLE FROM THE ROOF ON THE 8TH LEVEL. AT THAT TIME, ANOTHER EE PROCEEDED AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEADING AND BEGAN PULLING DOWN T HE CABLE. THE PULLING PRODUCED A DOMINO EFFECT, BREAKING THE CABLE FASTENERS AND CAUSING THE CABLE TO FALL 20 FEET, STRIKING THE EE ON THE WRIST.

1993 · 2 incidents

October 30, 1993 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ASSISTING WITH THE LOADING OF 2INCH DIAMETER X 21 FT LENGTH VICTRAULIC PIPE ONTO THE VENTILATION SERVICE TRACTOR. THE PIPE WAS NEW AND IT SLID OFF THE TRACTOR AND STRUCK THE EE S LEFT F OOT BEHIND THE STEEL TOE CAP.

October 23, 1993 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS TRAMMING #7 FACE DRILL DOWN AN INCLINE WHEN HYDRAULIC HOSE TO TRANSMISSION RUPTURED THE DRILL HIT RIB CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO BE BOUNCED IN HIS SEAT EMPLOYEE STRAINED HIS MUSCLES IN HIS CER VICAL & THORACIC SPINE

1992 · 1 incident

September 25, 1992 VA · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING #4 HAUL TRUCK WHEN ENGINE STALLED AND AIR BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. THE UNIT ROLLED DOWN ON INCLINE AND HIT A WALL HEAD ON. THE EMPLOYEE SUSTAINED ABRASIONS AND A CONTUSION T O THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. HE ALSO HAD A SMALL CUT TO THE SIDE OT HIS HEAD.

1991 · 6 incidents

October 29, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING THE START OF AN OVERHEAD HOLE USING A ROTARY DRILL. THE EMPLOYEE USED HIS LEFT HAND ON THE DRILL STEEL TO GUIDE THE DRILL TO THE HOLE TARGET. THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT GLOVE W AS CAUGHT BY THE ROTATING DRILL STEEL, THEREBY WRAPPING HIS FINGERS AROUND THE DRILL STEEL AND SPRAINING HIS LITTLE FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND.

October 10, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A PIECE OF LODGED DRILL STEEL USING AN AIRDRILL. THE DRILL CHUCK AND STEEL WERE OUT OF AILIGNMENT ABOUT 1/4". EMPLOYEE PUSHED ON STEEL TO ALIGN. THE DRILL CAM E OFF OF THE STEEL AND PINCHED THE EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT HAND BETWEEN THE SIDE OF THE DRILL STEEL AND THE DRILL CHUCK. THE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED 5 SUTURES. THE EMPLOYEE WORE LEATHER GLOVES. X-RAYS WER

June 8, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS TRAMMING 5 ROCK TRUCK IN HAULWAY AT 8-G-143. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN TRUCK RAN OVER A ROCK 12 INCH IN DIAMETER AND BOUNCED THE OPERATOR ON HIS SEAT. THE OPERATOR SHIPPED SIDE OF FRONT TOOTH.

April 29, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

ROCK FELL FROM ROOF IN SECTION 5 N 137.LHD BUCKET HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROOF AND MAY HAVE LOOSENED THE ROCK.EMPL WAS OPERATING ROCK HAULAGE TRUCK WHEN ROCK STRUCK RIGHT RING FIN GER AND OUTSIDE HAND CAUSING CONTUSION & STRAIN

April 4, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE DRILLING A HOLE FOR AN ANCHOR BOLT FROM A RAISED TRACTOR BASKET. THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO HOLD A JACKLEG STEADY WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK (APPROX. WEIGHT 75 LBS) BROKE LOOSE, STRIKING EMPLOYEE ON SHOULDER AND FOREARM. EMPLOYEE SUFFERED A CONTUSION TO THE SHOULDER AND SLIGHT ABRASIONS TO FOREARM.

February 5, 1991 VA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE ALLEGES THAT INJURY TOOK PLACE WHILE LIFTING A 20HP MOTOR. THE MOTOR WAS MOVED BY TWO EMPLOYEES WHO SUSPENDED MOTOR FROM A BAR. THE EMPLOYEE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A SORE MIDDLE BACK . EMPLOYEE WAS TREATED ON THE AFTERNOON ON 2-6-91 AND RETURNED TO RESTRICTED WORK ON 2-7-91. FULL DUTIES WERE ALLOWED ON 2-20-91.

1990 · 1 incident

April 25, 1990 VA · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner FIRE
United States Gypsum Company · Contact with hot objects or substances

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE WORKING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY REBUILDING A PUMP STAND INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HOLDING MATERIAL WHILE THE OTHER WAS CUTTING IT FREE WITH A TORCH WHEN THE EMPLOYEE WITH THE TORCH MO VED TO REPOSITION FLAME PASSED BY THE OTHERS SIDE HEATING HIS COVERALLS WHEN EMPLOYEE PUT HIS HAND ON HIS SIDE IT PRESSED A SYNTHETIC SHIRT INTO HIS SIDE SHIRT MELTED 2IN ROUND SECOND DEGREE

1989 · 6 incidents

December 13, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE SAID HE WAS DRIVING #2 WAGNER TRUCK DOWN THE INCLINE TO THE 7TH LEVEL. HE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 8MPH. AS THE INCLINE LEVELS OFF, THE EMPLOYEE SAID HE BOUNCED IN HIS SEAT BECAUSE OF A SLIG HT DIP IN THE ROAD. EMPLOYEE SAID HE INJURED HIS LOWER BACK.

November 14, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal driller operator POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Struck against a moving object

INJ RIDING IN REAR SEAT OF UTILITY TRAILER #738 COMMONLY USED AS PERSONNEL CARRIER.HIT BUMP IN ROADWAY,THROWN INTO THE AIR.WHEN HE CAME DOWN,BACK HIT BACK SEAT RAILING.DIAG AS STRAINED BACK MU SCLE.EST SPEED OF VEHICLE 10 MPH.

June 8, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

THE INJURED WAS CONNECTINGCAPS TO THE DETACORD ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE FACE. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS INSERTING LOADING TUBE IN A TOP HOLE OF THE FACE. AS THE COMPRESSED AIR WAS TURNED ON AND THE ANFO STARTED, A ROCK (APPROX 15 LBS) FELL OFF THE FACE STRIKING THE INJURED ON TOP OF THE RIGHT FOOT. THE ROOM WAS VISUALLY CHECKED UPON ENTRY BUT NOT PHYSICALLY CHECKED WITH A SCALING BAR.

June 3, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE INJURED WAS SCREWING A CASING WING BIT #5 ON FLETCHER DRILL. HE WAS SUPPORTING THE BIT FROM UNDERNEATH WITH 3 FINGER OF LEFT HAND. THE INDEX AND THUMB WERE RESTING ON THE AXIS PARALLEL TO THE SIZE A DRILL STRING. THE DRILL HEAD MOVED BACKWARDS CAUSING THE INDEX FINGER TO GO UP INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DRILL AND CASING SNORKLE. DRILL HEAD HYDRAULICS BLEED OFF ALLOWING HEAD TO

April 19, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED WAS SCALING THE ROOF USINGA SCALING BAR HE WAS WORKING ON A ROCK WEIGHING ABOUT 100LB AS HE SAW THE ROCK BRA EKING FREE HE LET THE PROBE SECTION OF BAR DROP WHILE HOLDING ON TO THE OTHER END ROCK FELL ON THE END OF THE PROBE CAUSING HAND-HELD END TO STRIKE & BRUISE THE UPPER RT LEG NEAR THE GROIN FORCE KNOCKED HIM DOWN THE RT LEG SUSTAINED A BRUIS

January 4, 1989 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS SCALING WITHOUT WARNING THE ROOF COLLASPED EMPLOYEES LEGS WERE COVERED WITH ROCK HIS RT ANKLE WAS CRUSHED

1988 · 1 incident

May 31, 1988 VA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by flying object

DURING WORK TIME I.NAME ADN 3 OTHER MINERS WERE SHOOTING RUBBER BANDS AT EACH OTHER PLAYING A GAME I.NAME PULLED BACK A RUBBER BAND IN ORDER TO SHOOT IT THE RUBBER BAND BROKE STRIKING HIM ON THE RT LOWER EYE LID CAUSING A BLOOD BLISTER ON THE OUTSIDE AND INTERNAL HEMORRAGING

1987 · 1 incident

December 29, 1987 VA · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE INJURED WAS3ATTEMPTING TO SCALE LOOSE ROCK FROM THE HIGHWALL WITH A 20' SCALING BAR. THE SCALING BAR BROKE LOOSE FROM THE ROCK HITTING THE INJURED ACROSS THE LEFT EYEBROW. THE METAL EAR PI ECE HINGE ON HI8 SAFETY GLASSES MADE A ONE INCH CUT IN THE EYEBROW.

1983 · 1 incident

August 8, 1983 VA · Metal/Non-Metal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by flying object

AS AIR PRESSURE WAS BEING RELEASED FROM ONE END OF THE WATER WAGON TANK THE FILL PLUG ON THE OTHER END OF THE TANK BLEW OFF AND HIT THE INJURED ON LEFT CHEEK INJ RECEIVED A CUT ON LEFT CHEEK AND FRACTURED ORBIT BONE AROUND THE LEFT EYE

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on LOCUST COVE MINE

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.