Mining Incidents

TWIN BRANCH NO 1 SURFACECoal

COAL-MAC LLC. · Surface
Controlled by John Mitch Potter
Myrtle, Mingo County, WV · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609075
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
52
Years on record
2013–2026
Latest incident
Mar 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

52 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was flipping the lid of a grid box when they felt a sharp pain in upper left arm. They requested help from company EMTs and was then transported to hospital. The hospital released them that night and advised them to follow up with Primary Physician and placed them off work until 4/4/2026. The employees Primary put them off work until they are cleared from Orthopedic.

Struck against a moving object

The Employee hit a rock in the road while grading, bringing the grader to an abrupt stop. EE continued to work but complained of pain in EE's neck, legs, and feet. Went to the hospital the next day, had X-Rays and issued Physical Therapy. The extend of EE's condition is unknown at this time.

2025 · 9 incidents

Fall from machine

While removing access stairway from RT62, with the top of stairs attached to a boom, and the bottom welded. The employee forgot to remove the top two bolts, they went back up the stairway and when they removed the bolts, the weld at the bottom broke and the stairs shifted causing them to fall to the ground. The employee suffered a fracture on the radius of their right arm.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The Employee was going to turn off the water valve after filling up the tank on EE's steam truck. The employees foot slipped and EE caught self, felt a sharp pain in lower back. Went to the doctor a few days later x-rays shown nothing, given time off with meds.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking on a drill bench and stepped into a drill hole felt a pop in right knee but continued to work. On 9/10/2025 the employee was taken off work by their doctor for torn Meniscus.

Fall from machine

After climbing up on to the track of a Dozer, the employee was attempting to latch the drop-down handrail when the handle broke and they lost balance and fell. The employee was taken to clinic, employee has fractured Spinous Process, given medication and rest for a week.

Struck against a moving object

The employee went to the hospital on 8/25/2025 suffering from numbness in left arm and leg. They told management that they were running tests for stroke and other possible issues. They stated getting jarred in an excavator on the 8/23/2025 but didn't feel it was related. Came back to work for three shifts and took off again for a strain in their neck and numbness in left arm.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving to the Coal pit and hit something in the road, EE was jarred and said EE's back and leg was hurting. Went to EE's Dr. and was given days off to rest.

Struck by falling object

Employee was changing a starter on a Rock truck; they had the starter placed on a step ladder. The starter rolled off and landed on their left foot behind the steal toe. Employee went to the doctor had a bad bruise told to rest.

Struck by falling object

Employee was working on a rock truck when a cordless drill fell from the top of the engine and landed on EE's right hand causing a fracture to the end of EE's finger. EE went to the ER and had a splint placed on EE's injured finger.

Struck against stationary object

The operator got off the PC5500 Excavator to relieve themself and when operator turned to walk back to the ladder, operator ran into the lube arm that was down for the service. The operator suffered a cut on the left side of head just above the temple.

2024 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was trying to flip a D11 cutting edge over and the crowbar slipped out of the cutting edge causing them to slip and fall on a strut that was laying on the ground.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was rolling up the grease line when EE lost control of the hose, the handle caught EE's hand and caused a strained tendon.

2023 · 8 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was working on a drill, EE slipped and fell in the walk way hurting EE's left ankle. Employee went to the hospital X-rayed and given time off to rest.

Flash burns (welding)

Employee was cutting bolts off a dozer blade when the hose connected to the torch ruptured and caused a flash fire. The employee had severe burns on EE's left arm and chest. EE was transported to Logan Hospital and later transported to Cabell Huntington burn unit for treatment.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was exiting EE's truck and missed a step EE said EE felt something pop in EE's left knee. EE went to a medical facility; had an X-ray and was given medications for a strained knee.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was coming out of the west cut through pit Loaded when the trailer unhooked from the tractor landing on the rear axle jarring the driver. The employee was taken to the hosptital and treated for neck and back pain.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was working at the new warehouse area near the Rock truck Parkup. Employee was laying a piece of metal down when employee felt a pull in lower back. Employee was taken to the Hospital and treated for a pulled muscle.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Pole was laying on side of berm. Pole was scotched. Turned auger and accidently hit pole. Pole rolled down hill and hit employee who sustained a leg injury.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee went out before the shift to help mechanic trouble shoot employee's grader. After helping a few minutes employee complained of chest and arm pain. The mechanic brought employee back to the portal area where first aid was given until paramedics arrived.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was in the West Pit area of the mine, when EE tripped over frozen mud. EE tried to catch self and hit hand on the ground, EE finished the shift and went to the hospital that night, the result was a fractured finger.

2022 · 7 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was replacing a starter on a Rock Truck. The employee stated it was a hard area to access. When EE lifted the starter, EE felt something in their back. The employee did not report until 11/28/2022 and did not go to the Doctor until 12/5/2022. EE has a pinched nerve in their back.

Fall onto or against objects

The employee was hauling a load of coal on a road being worked, after being stopped for a couple of minutes they proceeded on the road. They traveled a short distance when the front tire of the truck encountered a soft area it turned over on the right side. When the employee released their seat belt, EE landed on their right shoulder before exiting the truck.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a Bit and Ring on Highwall Drill, after opening the left side of the ring EE struck the right side of the ring with a Mallet. The ring came around the drill steel and struck EE in the mouth damaging a tooth requiring dental procedures and causing a laceration on EE's lower lip requiring stitch. Employee had no lost work days and returned with no restrictions.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was running excavator in shot and when EE dropped the bucket into the shot it jarred EE. The sudden jar caused a tear in EE's perineum and it started to bleed. EE also complained of back pain. EE went to the ER and was released to see EE's family doctor. No stitches.

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

Oiler was changing dust filters on highwall drill HD29. Due to the filters being wet they were heavier than normal. While changing the third filter EE's left hand was under the filter and when the filter dropped it was too heavy to hold and caught EE's hand between the dust box and filter. EE suffered a broken left pinkie finger with lacerations.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was replacing brakes on a Komatsu 730E Rock Truck using a chain ratchet. When EE moved the handle on the racket, EE's hand hit a sharp burr on the brake rotor cutting finger. EE was taken to the ER. The cut required three stitches to close the wound. EE had on jersey gloves. EE came back to work the same day and continued to work.

Struck by flying object

Employee was using a 3/4"" drive ratchet to tighten a brake pack on a Rock Truck. The ratchet slipped off the bolt and hit them in the face. The resulting injury was a broken nose and six stiches to their nose.

2021 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was removing a tire from the rim on a fuel truck with a metal bar. EE was prying down on the bar when EE felt a pop and resulting pain in EE's left shoulder.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Changing a tire on a Komatsu 830E Rock truck, employee was using a tire boom truck with hydraulic arms wrapped around the tire. EE was pulling on the tire with the arms when they slipped off and the tire hit the employee on the shoulder causing bruising to EE's right shoulder.

2020 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

Employee was exiting s mechanic truck to get on the ground and slipped and fell landing on their left side.

2019 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While putting wheel unit on left rear of a 777F truck had the wheel group hanging in the air from a crane- employee was using a bar to line the brake disc up when the bar slipped coming back and hitting EE on the left check causing a laceration

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

Removing sack stand that was wrapped in chains from hand truck the load shifted and thumb got caught between chain & stand.

2018 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Employee was chopping coalburg rider in the left cast pit when they experienced a sudden sharp pain in the lower back extending down the left leg.

2017 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Attempting to remove hoist cylinder. Lifting strap broke. Boom hook came back and hit employee in the head above the left eye.

2016 · 3 incidents

Fall from machine

Employee said, when EE was dismounting rock truck, EE slipped on the first rung of the ladder and fell on left side. Under Investigation.

Struck against a moving object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A 785C ROCK TRUCK DOWN A HAUL ROAD WHEN EE RAN OVER A ROCK. THE IMPACT BETWEEN THE ROCK AND THE ROCK TRUCK JOLTED EE, RESULTING IN NECK AND BACK PAIN .

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Security officer went to use porta potty located on site. While stepping in floor was covered in ice causing the officer to slip and fall, causing a sprain in EE's back and hip.

2015 · 6 incidents

Flash burns (welding)

Welding on Metal and received Flash Burns to Eyes

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE attempted to mount, Cat 789C, Rock Truck, when the second step on the access ladder broke. EE held all his weight with his right arm, he felt a pull in his right shoulder and pain down his right hip & leg. EE felt at the time he didn't need medical attention. ON November 6, 2015 EE having difficulty with his neck, shoulder and lower back, sought medical treatment.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Walking toward equipment to services and stepped in a drill hole.

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

While adjusting rear brakes on Mack Lube truck, the air pressure dropped low enough to engage parking brake causing sudden shift of slack adjuster pinning right pinky finger between slack adjuster and rear axle mashing finger causing laceration.

Fall onto or against objects

While employee was working on a rock truck, he climbed down and the oil on the bottom of his boots caused him to slip and hit his knee on the rock truck.

Struck by flying object

Grinding on a piece of metal when a piece of metal few in his right eye.

2014 · 7 incidents

Struck against a moving object

While backing up the Cat D10T dozer he pulled the left steering clutch which jerked the operator resulting in lower back pain.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

He was holding a piece of metal for Guyan Heavy equipment employee when the crane operator made a sudden move and the plate shifted weight.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE repairing the A/C on a Cat 789C rock truck when he attempted to ascend the equipment ladder he felt a pull in his left shoulder, no medical attention was given & EE finished his shift. *EE worked until 8/20/14 when he began missing due to a non-work related illness. Upon release from his illness he was unable to RTW. It was determined to be related to the incident of 7/8/14.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was following a Tractor Trailer on the haul road and was temporarily blinded by sun glare causing him to contact the tractor trailer in the rear end.

Fall from machine

Employee was dismounting from equipment ladder on the 8795 DML drill when his hand slipped from handrail causing him to lose balance and fall 4 feet to the ground.

Fall down stairs

Injured was walking into portal building, slipped on first step and fell to the ground landing on his left hip.

Fall from machine

I was trying to find an oil leak on a D10T while climbing down front of left track my feet slipped on snow & ice on track & I fell straight down & landed on Rt leg hurting my lower back from the landing.

2013 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The injured was behind mechanic truck #651 when the 854 G push-cat struck the mechanic truck and pushed it into 789 C rock truck #597 injuring his right forearm that was caught between the mechanic truck bumper and the wheel of the rock truck.