Mining Incidents

Big Creek Surface Coal

Controlled by Ramaco Resources Inc
RICHLANDS, Tazewell County, VA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4407162

Big Creek Surface has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2013–2026
Latest incident
Apr 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
157
citations
39
significant & substantial
$78,687
proposed penalties
$43,551
paid to date
55% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $35,136 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2006
63
inspections on record
2,603
inspection hours
6.0
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.
157 citations across 2,603 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Big Creek Surface has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 5 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$79K
proposed penalties
$45K
current assessed
$44K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
149 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-20.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Big Creek Surface shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.11 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 252 samples.

Health sampling
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.
Respirable coal dust
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.
0.11
dust avg (mg/m3)
0.69
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
252
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-04.
Silica (quartz)
17.1
silica avg (%)
28.6
silica max (%)
12
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-11.
Noise
1%
over PEL
116
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-02.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, 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
2025 Q4 25,339 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 27,837 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 29,295 2 1 68.3
2025 Q1 29,896 6 0 200.7
2024 Q4 25,379 1 0 39.4
2024 Q3 28,911 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 30,813 1 0 32.5
2024 Q1 27,784 2 1 72.0
Show 53 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 23,992 4 1 166.7
2023 Q3 21,654 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 20,958 2 1 95.4
2023 Q1 21,868 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 20,578 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 21,643 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 22,693 5 1 220.3
2022 Q1 22,407 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 19,378 4 0 206.4
2021 Q3 13,550 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 1,728 2 0 1157.4
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 12,704 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 7,415 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 8,431 6 0 711.7
2018 Q1 11,228 1 0 89.1
2017 Q4 8,892 6 2 674.8
2017 Q3 12,062 1 0 82.9
2017 Q2 11,778 1 0 84.9
2017 Q1 11,066 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 6,326 3 0 474.2
2016 Q3 8,024 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,877 6 1 1230.3
2016 Q1 6,129 1 0 163.2
2015 Q4 8,896 5 0 562.1
2015 Q3 11,638 4 3 343.7
2015 Q2 15,662 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 0 9 3
2014 Q4 29,077 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 24,867 8 3 321.7
2014 Q2 25,431 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 24,659 6 1 243.3
2013 Q4 22,451 1 0 44.5
2013 Q3 25,284 22 7 870.1
2013 Q2 23,840 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 23,331 15 4 642.9
2012 Q4 12,526 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 19,591 9 2 459.4
2012 Q2 29,050 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 21,147 7 5 331.0
2011 Q4 10,755 1 0 93.0
2011 Q3 373 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 0 1 0
2008 Q2 0 0 0
2008 Q1 0 0 0
2007 Q4 360 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 0 1 0
2007 Q2 0 1 0
2007 Q1 0 0 0
2006 Q4 38 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 178 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 0 5 2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

16 on file

2026 · 1 incident

April 25, 2026 VA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was dismounting the front-end loader using the stairs on the rear of the machine when EE fell and slid down the machine's stairs. The employee continued to work until EE sought medical evaluation on 4-28-2026 and was removed by a physician.

2025 · 4 incidents

June 11, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

The employee was released by physician and returned to work on 6/9/25 from a previous injury. On 6/11/25 the employee was taken back out of work by physician when they reported continued back pain from the pre-existing injury which was preventing them from conducting normal mine work.

February 12, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver MACHINERY
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Flash burns (welding)

Employee developed welders flash (Photokeratitis) to their eyes when welding.

January 15, 2025 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was exiting the mine property in personal vehicle at the end of shift when employee collided with an empty coal truck that was traveling in the opposite direction on the mine haul road.

2024 · 2 incidents

October 12, 2024 VA · Coal water truck operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 10/12/24 employee was outside the water truck and was in the process of entering the truck and twisted knee. Employee continued to work until employee was taken out of work by a physician on 10/23/24.

January 26, 2024 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The employee slipped when dismounting the equipment and got EE's left pinky finger and ring finger caught between a lid, resulting in a laceration and strain to EE's fingers.

2023 · 1 incident

April 29, 2023 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Ramaco Resources Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee stated that EE was tramming the D9 dozer when the park brake inadvertently became engaged causing EE to jolt EE's back. The employee completed shift and as EE stepped onto the mantrip, EE stated EE felt pain in lower back. The employee was taken to the ER and determined EE had a strain. The machine was inspected, and no deficiencies were found.

2017 · 1 incident

July 18, 2017 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was placing a strap under a 36 inch corrugated drain pipe down in a ditch

2016 · 1 incident

November 1, 2016 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was welding on the bucket of a loader when felt a strain in lower back when ee went to re-position self.

2015 · 4 incidents

June 23, 2015 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Fall from machine

Employee slipped and fell to the ground when attempting to mount an excavator.

April 7, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

No narrative on form that was submitted.

March 31, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech OTHER
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Working under hood of Komatsu HM400 truck and sprained/strained his back

January 6, 2015 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Struck by flying object

Rish Employee was standing approximately 20' away from two other individuals whom were associated with another organization who were attempting to free the rollers on an excavator. One of the employee's associated with the other organization utilized a hammer to contact the roller and that is when a sliver of metal entered into our employees' upper torso area.

2013 · 2 incidents

April 28, 2013 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting off equipment to replace a grease tube on hammer. While he was exiting he slipped on track falling. He had a hold of hand rail and held on to try to stop his fall. His body weight was on one arm and he twisted around hurting rt. shoulder.

February 16, 2013 VA · Coal INUNDATION
Omega Surface Mining, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Dozer operator was widening the road in preparation for moving the Highwall miner when the cutting edge of the dozer blade contacted a low pressure polyethylene coal bed methane 8" gas line. This contact caused the cutting edge to puncture the line releasing methane. the dozer operator was the only EE in the area. He immediately contacted the foreman who accounted for all EEs.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Big Creek Surface

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.