We had another smoker start up and we have all our rubber tire dozers down. We are waiting to get a tire replaced on a rubber tire dozer then it will go out and put the smoker out.
Buckskin MineCoal
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 122
- Years on record
- 2000–2025
- Latest incident
- Sep 2025
Reportable incidents
122 on file2025 · 2 incidents
We had a Smoker on our Anderson coal seam bench. We got our RTD working on getting them out.
2024 · 12 incidents
Contractor left their master switch on and it caused a fire to their motorgrader. No one was operating the machine and it was away from anything that could burn. No one was hurt, the blade was burnt up. They took it off site.
We have a couple of smokers on our A seam and C Seams of coal. We are trying to get to them to put them out. Our pit is very muddy. We are going to bury them as soon as we get to them.
We have a smoker on our A-Seam in the Northwest cut. We are digging it out and pushing material over to get it put out. Lots of rain is hindering us from getting it out in a timely manner.
Found we had 2 smokers on our Canyon coal seam and 2 smokers on our Anderson coal seam that flared up this morning around 7:15am. We are working on getting them all put out, it is just going to take longer then 30 minutes.
We have a Coal Smoker on our west end of the Canyon Coal Seam. We will Not have it out in the 30 minutes. We did not have anyone on night shift because of a winter storm, We are getting crews out to get the smokers put out.
We have a couple of smokers in our Anderson coal seam. We are needing more time to put them out because of where they are located. We have a dozer in the process of getting the smokers put out.
Had some smokers flare up on us that we were not able to get it out in the proper time. We are pushing material over on to the smoker to snuff it out. It was on our Canyon coal seam.
Coal fire that started from spontaneous combustion and wind in the north C 1-2 face.
East A1/2 catch bench has a coal fire burning that was caused by windy conditions and spontaneous combustion of the coal. The catch bench is hard to get to so it will be 5 to 6 hours before a piece of equipment will be able to get to the fire to dig it out.
Smoldering coal which was started by the high winds and spontaneous combustion was noticed at 12:00 PM in the North A1/2 face and it was going to be several hours before a rubber tire dozer could get to it to bury it because of the shovel trailing cable across the road. A cable duct was put in place and a rubber tire dozer was able to cross the cable and bury the hot spot.
Small coal smoker that started by spontaneous combustion in the north A1/2 face couldn't be distinguished with in 30 minutes. Took 2-2 1/2 hours to dig smoker out.
Coal smoker (which started by spontaneous combustion) at the toe of the west A1/2 bench was not able to be put out with in 30 minutes. Dozers were sent to the location and will have smoker out within 2 hours.
2023 · 10 incidents
Employee was using a 3 step ladder to inspect area on front of haul truck bed. The bed was off the truck, on the ground, being worked on. When they stepped down from the last step of the ladder, to the ground, their ankle rolled.
Employee was carrying sample retains to storage building, tripped on step into storage area, caught self and sprained right hip.
Smoker noticed in the coal/parting berm on the #4 access ramp above c-seam. This was not on the edge of the highwall. Smoker was cable locked by the 4100 shovel cable, and needed to be relocated to gain access. Smoker was out within 1 hour of discovery.
A Technician was removing an axle from a haul truck. As the axle became free from the final, it swung and impacted a forklift and the employee's hand, requiring nine sutures to close the wound.
Smoker was noticed in the IBO cut above the c-seam. Rubber tire dozer was tasked with snuffing it out by means of burial. It took approx 42 minutes to extinguish the smoker from when first identified.
Smoker in coal seam in s/w corner of mine. Bottom of A-Seam coal on the backfill 4 bench.
Smoldering coal at the toe of the south west A1/2 bench. High winds and spontaneous combustion started the smoldering coal.
The operator was traveling down a muddy slick road. The truck slid and tipped over.
Smoker was noticed in the SW corner of the A-Seam on panel B at the toe of the coal seam at the backfill 4 elevation. Smoker will be extinguished by means of dumping dirt, and pushing over the berm with a rubber tire dozer. Expected time to extinguish is less than 2 hours.
Coal smokers caused by spontaneous combustion in the south west A1/2 face.
2022 · 9 incidents
Fire in coal seam ""C"". Location is hard to access. Access ramp under construction to gain access. Fire will be dug out from coal seam, and will be buried.
Contract employee (Standard Lab) called a mayday on self, was having problems breathing and wasn't feeling well. Employee stated has had congestive heart issues in the past. Mine rescue team responded and contract employee was taken to local hospital for examination. Employee was released from hospital and given instructions that EE could return to work.
Warehouse EE was attempting to pull a box off top shelf of pallet rack onto a pallet While EE was attempting to pull the box EE felt a slight discomfort in EE's bicep EE reported the hurt and the EE was put in contact with company Teladoc
Smoker/fire was noticed during the morning pit tour between the Anderson (A-Seam) and the IB-1 Dirt Seam. The location was challenging to access safely, so the fire took approx. 4hrs to put out. Track Dozer buried the fire with parting material pushed down from the OB-1 bench.
Coal fines started on fire at the toe of the A-1/2 bench from wind gust, working on covering the fire with dirt to put it out.
The technician was using a ""RAD"" gun to torque bolts when the torque gun slipped, crushing the tip of the tech's middle finger on right hand.
Hot and dry conditions, coal spontaneously will combust and the fire wasn't put out with in the 30 minutes. Fire was put out within an hour.
EMPLOYEE WAS EXITING BULK TRUCK AND TWISTED AND SPRAINED AN ANKLE.
Employee reached out with left hand to stop a large filter housing from falling. The housing landed on EE's left hand cutting the webbing between the ring and middle finger. Employee need stitches to close the wound.
2021 · 2 incidents
Small smoker started in the north C1/2 coal face, spontaneous combustion started the smoker, wind picked up last night and fanned it into a fire. Going to take couple shifts to get it covered with overburden material because of where it is located.
Wind caused power lines to slap together and tripped out power to the mine when the power came back on a electrical fuse sparked and the sparks caused a grass fire in the train rail loop. Only took the recue team 45 minutes to extinguish the fire.
2020 · 2 incidents
Utility person went to get the rope ready to drop the cable down from the cable tree. Employee was taking the last wrap of rope off the hooks and the rope slipped roughly one foot through the break. EE had left hand under the break grasping the rope, when it slid, EE's hand was pulled up into the break pinching the left thumb.
While retrieving a cardboard box employee stepped out of the back seat of a pickup and rolled left ankle on a ~ 3"" piece of scoria.
2019 · 3 incidents
A small coal fire flared up due to combustion and had not been buried within the 30 minute time frame in the south east corner of the Canyon seam.
A coal fire was started by high wind conditions and spontaneous combustion in the north high wall face. High wall is in an area that no active mining is going on at this time.
There was not a specific incident and no structural fires. Buckskin had several coal smokers in the pit that were causing smoke to hang over the west portion of the mine and then drift toward some homes located west of the mine. Due to the smell of the smoking coal a home owner called in to MSHA.
2018 · 1 incident
Employee was walking on a downward grade on loose ballast, (small rocks along railroad tracks) the ballast slid causing the employee to fall backwards, as employee was falling employee put right arm out to brake fall, impacting hand and breaking right wrist.
2017 · 3 incidents
Shift supervisor noticed a small smoker in coal face while doing on shift inspection at 5:00am, when crew got to the coal pit the smoker had some small flames starting, small fire was due to spontaneous combustion of the coal. Overburden will be used to cover the fire.
As a loaded train was leaving the mine a grass fire was started on the rail loop, fire pushed north onto private property. Fire was started on Buckskin rail loop so fire was called in on 7/13/2017 to MSHA. No hurts or equipment/structure damage. Campbell County Fire department extinguished the fire.
Employee walked from a OB drill to pick-up at the end of shift and called a may day due to losing eye sight and being disorientated. Rescue team responded and found the employee in extreme discomfort. Rescue team started assessment and CPR when employee went unconscious. 911 was called and employee was loaded on a gurney and transported to the hospital.
2016 · 3 incidents
Mechanic was attempting to take a winch line drum off a overburden drill and when the drum dropped, the mechanics left ring finger tip got lacerated due to poor hand position.
Fire due to high temperatures (90+ degrees) high winds and combustion in the coal face. There was no equipment or personnel in the area of the fire, closes piece of equipment was an OB shovel 4 benches up and half a bench to the west approximately 2,734' away. The fire was washed down with water trucks and dug out with a track hoe and the material was buried in backfill.
Mechanic broke left middle finger tip when the wind caught the door of a JLG man lift slamming it on the finger tip. Mechanic's hand was placed on the hinge side of the door frame and the mechanic was wearing leather work gloves.
2015 · 2 incidents
Operator of 854 rubber tire dozer was doing a clean-up for the electric shovel when he backed over a chunk and jarred his shoulder. Operator stated that he ran over a rock while backing up causing the rubber tire to bounce around. While bouncing the operator felt a small pain in his shoulder and it didn't go away for about a half hour.
While torqueing strut bolts on a 797B with a Rad gun the mechanic holding the backup wrench was struck in the face by the torque wrench reaction arm when the socket turned off the nut. The force of the blow cut the mechanic just below the lower lip. The cut required three stitches to close.
2014 · 5 incidents
Lightning strike caused a grass fire on the far west end of the mine property, no buildings or equipment with in several miles of the fire. Local fire department was on site and they determined it would be best to let fire burn out itself this is why fire lasted as long as it did.
Engineer stepped out of pick up on reclamation project, he stepped into a low spot and fell a twist in he knee. He did not recline the step was going to be as low as it was.
Employee tripped and fell when a plywood walkway at ground level shifted. She landed on her right shoulder and hand. Hospital confirmed no fractures and prescribed pain medication. Shoulder specialist diagnosed it as bone contusion on shoulder and prescribed physical therapy and pain medication. Unable to use arm 6 to 12 weeks to heal.
A laborer was checking the toolbox on the lowboy trailer for chains and binders just before loading a D-10 track dozer. While climbing off the ladder on the front of the trailer, his right foot came in contact with the ground and he felt a pain in his right heel.
Mechanic was attempting to adjust the forks on a fork lift and felt a pain in his stomach. After several visits with several doctors it was determined that he had a hernia and he needed to have surgery, surgery was performed on the 31st of January. The employee will be able to come back to work on his next scheduled shift the 5th of January.
2013 · 3 incidents
PM tech was attempting to tighten a transmission filter on a 797F truck. While hitting a hammer wrench with a hammer he hit his left hand causing a contusion between the thumb and index finger which required two stitches.
Grounds person was attempting to move a table, while doing so he tripped on a 5 gallon water bottle dropping the table and falling at the same time, he then hit his eye brow on edge of table causing a cut that was glued together at the Campbell County walk in clinic.
Utility person was setting up an air compressor to pig a discharge line on a sump. He stumbled on a piece of scoria rock and fell down against the sump sign marking the sump. His left knee contacted the corner of the base of the sign and cut his knee. The safety supervisor and a rescue team member transported him to the emergency room.
2011 · 12 incidents
Employee was attempting to hook up the safety tie down cable on the bed of a 793 CAT haul truck when he felt a pain in his right shoulder.
Production Supervisor was helping move trialing cable, while throwing 1"" nylon rope off of stand he stood up releasing brake with his shoulder, with cable falling he grabbed brake with his left hand and rope with his right. Rope lacerated his right thumb causing need for stitches.
Mechanic was hauling hydraulic filter down a ladder and slipped. Falling backwards off the ladder his watch caught on a bolt causing a laceration of his left wrist,
While pulling pin from the frame of a truck, individual pinched his hand between the ram and the backing plate, requiring sutures.
Electrician doing pm on shovel. He went to step off a step and missed, he hit the left side of his head on a steel beam causing a laceration along his eye brow. Individual needed stitches to close the laceration. He was released back to work with no restrictions.
While installing a minor bogie pin on a D-10 dozer EE was striking the bogie with a sledgehammer and his fifth digit on his right hand was struck between side frame and the hammer handle.
While swinging a hammer, employee felt pain in abdominal region, which was later diagnosed as a hernia.
Employee was reloading bulk products into the vehicle he was operating when he stood up and turned around at the same time bumping his forehead on a support beam. The employee received a small laceration and a bruise on his forehead and later experienced dizziness and a stiff neck. The employee was placed on restricted duty for two days.
Warehouse tech was pulling wrapping paper out of freight box. When paper came undone, he stepped backwards and tripped on pallet causing him to fall. Contusion on right hip.
Pre-existing condition from military accident. Operator was out of cab & stretching when his knee cap slipped from proper position then back in. Operator has an artificial knee cap. Took operator to Dr. to make sure knee was OK. Operator is released with brace on knee & is going to follow up with doctor on 3/14/11. Considered to be natural causes, medical condition
Employee turned heater on got dust in left eye, tried to rub out. End shift had it flushed out. After sleeping woke up with irritation. Optometrist found nothing embedded in eye. Minimal scratch.
2010 · 3 incidents
Operator of haul truck cut webbing between the thumb and index finger. Caught it on an engine compartment door latch.
Two machinists were machining the bores on the front hoist case. Machinists were standing on opposite sides of the hoist case and one asked the other if he was ready. The other EE then pushed the boring bar through before his hand was clear, pinching his ring finger between the bar and the bore of the bearing, cutting off the end of his finger between the fingernail and knuckle.
C-clamp & impact wrench used to position & bolt pre-fabed handrail section into mounting bracket. Force applied rapidly moved rail into place, clamp moved with section, pinching employee's index finger against trigger of wrench. Tip of right finger bone fractured.
2009 · 6 incidents
Injured employee was operating haul truck which was being loaded with a loader. Second bucket of dirt had large rock and truck driver was shook violently. Truck operator called shift supervisor later in shift and stated that her arm was getting tingly and going numb. We took operator to emergency room.
Employee was performing housekeeping and removing a heavy piece of cast iron. Employee lost control of the material and fell forward trapping his hand under the metal object. The employee suffered a fracture to his right hand, first metacarpal. Prognosis is full recovery.
Individual was hanging sheet metal when it slipped out of his hands, lacerating his wrist. He was treated at the hospital and given stitches.
Nose cone pin on truck broke causing the rear frame of truck to start separating from the front frame. Truck was empty and traveling across dump when this happend. Operator of truck was jarred and complained of sore lower lumbar, so we took him to see doctor. X-ray was taken and showed no damages to back, operator returned to work same day.
Electrician was pulling on extension cord, trying to pull a cord cap off and his knee buckled on him.
1st load from 2047 Loader had large chunk of frozen material that hit back of haul truck box. When this happened operator was shaken violently. Operator said her neck was sore.
2008 · 4 incidents
Extension cord was run from laboratory through hallway and plugged in by water cooler. A large floormat was placed over the extension cord to use for a safe walking path. The technician walked around the floor mat where the extension cord was exposed, stepped on extension cord, rolling her foot. Technician fell backwards hurting her back and bumping her head.
Loose grip on grinder-grinding tack weld to finish weld crack on truck dump box, disk caught in crack, kicked grinder back, knocked PPE off, grinder struck chin, lip, nose & left side of face. 1 1/2"" cut chin to lip-10 stitches, abrasion left cheek, broken nose-will need surgery to align, many fractures to cheek bone-no further medical unless complications occur.
At the time of the incident the technician was trouble-shooting an electrical problem on an articulated lube truck. As the technician repeatedly climbed up and down ladders and stairs to gain access to various areas of the truck he began to experience pain in his right knee.
Employee was walking across some hard troweled snow covered concrete when he lost his footing and slipped and fell strking his left shoulder.
2007 · 3 incidents
Employee, off duty, driving personal vehicle on access road slid on ice and struck guard rail. Accident investigated by Campbell County Sheriff.
Technician bent down to lift pan of coal and injured back.
Technician lifted bucket of coal weighing approximately 20 lbs. and pulled muscle in her right shoulder area.
2006 · 5 incidents
After reaching the pit bottom the operator of Cat truck #24 realized something was wrong with his steering, next he saw that the right side of the engine compartment was on fire. The fire is believed to have started from a leak in a steering fluid line, but is still under investigation. The haultruck's engine and cab sustained severe damage. no injuries.
A summer worker was waiting in the pickup truck while her partner was helping pin a tailgate on a dump truck, so the truck could be parked for the day. One of the other co-workers made a motion that she thought was a signal for help. While exiting the pickup truck she shut the door on her finger.
A haul truck driver was extending the antenna bracket for the satellite radio antenna when the upper portion of the bracket slipped and retracted, pinching her thumb. Her thumb was smashed and she received 15 stitches to close the laceration.
EE, mining tech.,was stepping out of the lube truck, when she stepped wrong injuring her right foot. X-rays revealed a small fracture in her right foot. She came back to work on restricted duty and no work days were lost.
EE got upset at the job and pushed open the exit door, south end of the ground floor hallway at Buckskin mine. This action resulted in an injury to his forearm, a laceration which was stitched up at the hospital.
2005 · 4 incidents
Sometime between 5:50am and 6:30pm the operator of the Letourneau loader felt that he had a foreign object in his left eye. He may have gotten it blowing out the cab with compressed air or while digging in the hard coal face. The object in his eye was removed at the emergency room along with a rust ring. He returned to work his next scheduled shift.
Employee was trouble shooting a propel/retarder problem on a Euclid R 170 end dump truck. When he reached in the control cabinet to check for voltage on the 24 volt terminals, the contactors set this allowed 1300 volts to go through a buss bar he had his body against. He received a shock.
EE overturned a piece of equip. (backhoe) & damaged his knee by an unknown cause. Possible torn acl in left knee. EE was seat belted in. (REPORTABLE AS OF 7/20/05: PHYSICIAN ORDERED KNEE BRACE FOR EE TO WEAR; EE ON RESTR. DUTIES. EE WILL PROBABLY HAVE REPAIR SURGERY IN JULY. INCIDENT HAPPENED AT RAILROAD CONSTR. AREA - WILL FILE AMENDED REPORT IF NOT MSHA JURISDICTION.)
EE, mining tech. was attempting to cut a piece of 1/2"" nylon rope with a utility knife. He was pulling on the knife when it slipped causing a laceration to the middle finger on his left hand. The laceration required 10 stitches to close.
2004 · 5 incidents
Technician was lifting crusher bucket containing coal up to riffler. Turned and lifted bucket, felt sharp pain below shoulder blade. Pain went up into neck area.
EMPLOYEE WAS PUSHING ON A SOCKET WRENCH. THE SOCKET SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT HEAD AND EMPLOYEE'S HAND SLAMMED INTO THE MOTOR GRADER FRAME.
Technician confused 5% Nitric Acid bottle with distilled water bottle. Put 5% on tissue and wiped right eye. Technician rinsed eye with eye wash assisted by ERT member. Technician taken to ER for further treatment. Technician treated with eye drops and irrigation. Eye drops given and pain med script, if needed. Technician released, no duty restrictions, and returned to work.
EMPLOYEE WAS USING A BENCH MOUNTED BELT SANDER AND A VERY SMALL METAL PARTICLE FLEW INTO HIS EYE. THE EYE CLINIC REMOVED THE OBJECT WITHOUT COMPLICATION.
EE WAS PULLING AND PUSHING ON TWO WRENCHED AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE FITTING LOOSENED SUDDENLY, HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL HELP UNTIL APRIL 9TH AND DID NOT MISS WORK UNTIL TODAY.
2003 · 4 incidents
EE OPERATES LARGE HAULAGE EQUIPMENT, MOTOR GRADERS, ECT. THIS CONSTANT REPEATED MOTION BOUNCING,VIBRATION, ECT., MAY BE CAUSING PROGRESSIVE DISCHERNIATION.
EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING BESIDE A SHOVEL BUCKET AND HIS ARM BRUSHED AGAINST THE BUCKET. THERE WAS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL STICKING OUT AND CAUSED A LACERATION TO HIS ARM.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING A RUBBER TIRED DOZER. HIS FEET SLIPPED ON THE LADDER (LOWEST RUNG) AND HE LANDED HARD ON THE GROUND - STRAINING HIS KNEE.
EE WAS PULLING ON MOTOR GRADER CUTTING EDGES WHILE IN A TWISTED POSITION. HE FELT LOWER BACK PAIN.
2002 · 2 incidents
EE WAS OPERATING A HAULAGE TRUCK AND BEING LOADED AT THE SHOVEL. THE SWINGING SHOVEL BUCKET HIT THE TRUCK BED CAUSING A JERKING MOTION TO THE OPERATOR.
EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING TRUCK TIRES INTO HIS SERVICE TRUCK WHEN HE STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK.
2001 · 10 incidents
EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING THROUGH SHOP AND FELT RIGHT KNEE PAIN. HE REPORTED NO ACCIDENT, SLIP, TRIP, OR FALL.
MOVING FROM NOSE OF LOCOMOTIVE TO CONTROL STAND, HIT HEAD ON LOW CLEARANCE PAD.
EE WAS REACHING FOR SUPPLIES IN THE BED OF A SERVICE TRUCK, AND BUMPED HIS RIGHT KNEE ON THE TRAILER HITCH.
EMPLOYEE WAS KNEELING TO CHECK ELECTRICAL BRUSH-ES ON A CROWD MOTOR AND STRAINED HIS KNEE.
EE WAS INSTALLING HAND RAIL ON HAULAGE TRUCK. HE STEPPED ACROSS OPENING AND MISJEDGE DISTANCE. HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND GRABBED THE LOOSE HANDRAIL. HE AND THE RAIL FELL AND THE RAIL CAUSED A LA CERATION ON HIS HEAD.
EMPLOYEE WAS RIDING FORKLIFT AROUND THE MAIN SHOP WHEN A FORK VIBRATED AND FELL OFF. THE EMPLOYEE QTTEMPTED TO PUT FORK BACK ON THE MACHINE AND WHILE DOING SO THE FORK PINCHED RIGHT PINKY FING ER CAUSING A LACERATION OF ONE INCH LONG REQUIRING 5 STITCHES.
EE WAS REPLACING BUCKET LATCH BAR ASSEMBLY ON A P&H SHOVEL. A BLOCK WAS BEING USED TO HOLD THE 300 LB LOAD. NEAR THE END OF THE TASK, THE BLOCKWAS REMOVED BUT THE LOAD WAS STILL HELD BY A CHA IN. HE REACHED INTO A PINCH POINT AREA. THE LOADSHIFTED AND DROPPED 6"" MASHING HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER.
EE WAS CUTTING WATER HOSE WITH A KNIFE. THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND HE RECEIVED A LACERATION TO THE OUTSIDE OF HIS LEFT LEG.
EE WAS RIDING IN A MANTRIP PICKUP TO LUNCH. HE STATED THE PICKUP HIT SOME MUD BUMPS AND HE FELTBACK PAIN.
EE WAS WALKING OVE ROUGH FROZEN & SLICK GROUND. HE SLIPPED ON SOME ICE AND STRAINED HIS RIGHT KNEE.
2000 · 7 incidents
EE WAS OPERATING SCRAPER UNIT 432 WHEN SCRAPER UNIT 439 WHILE PASSING BY LOST A STEERING HOSE CAUSING IT TO REAR INTO UNIT 432 AND COLLIDE.
EE WAS CLIMBING A FOUR FOOT STEP LADDER TO ACCESS THE ENGINGE AREA OF A 190 TON TRUCK. THE LADDER FELL UNDER HIS WEIGHT AND THE EE FELL ONTO THE LADDER WITH HIS LEFT SIDE, BREAKING TWO RIBS.
EE WAS OPEARTING A MTR GRADER THE RIGHT HAND DOOR CAME OPEN & A WIND GUST BLEW DUST INTO HIS EYESCRATCHING EYE LENS
EMPLOYEE WAS WINDING JUMPER CABLE LEADS ONTO A REEL. NEAR THE END OF THE TASK, THE MALE END HIT HIM IN THE FRONT TEETH.
WAS WORKING IN AXLE BOX AREA OF TRUCK; WHILE COMING OUT ALONGSIDE OF FRAME, TOOK A LONG STEP TO GET OUT AND MISSED THE ANGLE IRON BRACKET HE WAS USING AS A STEP. HE CAUGHT IT WITH HIS HEEL, C AUSING HIM TO HIT HIS ANKLE ON ANGLE IRON.
BUMPED LEFT ELBOW WHILE PREPPING COAL SAMPLES, GOT INFECTED & I HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
EE WAS USING A GRINDER AND A SMALL PIECE OF COAL CAME UNDER THE FACE SHIELD INTO HIS LEFT EYE.