Mining Incidents

Blue Creek Mine No. 1: 1 recorded fatality Coal

Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Underground
Berry, Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, AL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0103448

Blue Creek Mine No. 1 has $500K in proposed MSHA penalties and $197K outstanding across 30 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
30
Years on record
2022–2026
Latest incident
Jul 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2022
848
citations
214
significant & substantial
$499,560
proposed penalties
$283,054
paid to date
57% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $216,506 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2012
133
inspections on record
7,252
inspection hours
11.7
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.
848 citations across 7,252 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2025-07-30.
On record since 2025.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Blue Creek Mine No. 1 has $500K in proposed MSHA penalties and $197K outstanding across 30 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.
$500K
proposed penalties
$480K
current assessed
$283K
paid to date
$197K
outstanding
638 assessments are final orders; 30 contested dockets.
Of $91K in penalties contested before the Commission, $71K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-13.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
25.5%
significant & substantial
4.6%
high negligence or reckless
25.5%
reasonably likely or greater
12.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 8.9% low, 86.4% moderate, 4.6% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
238 citations taken to the federal commission · 28% of citations on record
  • Settled 109 · 46%
  • Stood as issued 3 · 1%
  • Still open 126 · 53%
81%
S&S designation survived the contest
Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 42 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
22%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$91K proposed, $71K after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2026-07-22.
Contested penalties
A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
SE 2023-0110 Settlement 2023 $27K → $22K
SE 2025-0016 Settlement 2026 $15K → $11K
SE 2025-0045 Default Voisin 2025 $14K → $14K
SE 2025-0019 Settlement Lewis 2025 $11K → $5K
SE 2025-0137 Settlement Young 2026 $6K → $5K
SE 2025-0094 Settlement Young 2026 $6K → $5K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Blue Creek Mine No. 1 shows 98% of 1,083 respirable coal dust samples met the 1.5 mg/m3 standard.

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.

Last sampled: 2026-08-19
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
1,083
samples
2.16
dust max (mg/m3)
4
over MSHA ECV
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
253 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 830 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR408
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)347
  • LONGWALL OPERATOR (TAILGATE SIDE)64

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2026-08-11
4.3
silica avg (%)
70
samples
20.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR30
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)26
  • JACK SETTER (LONGWALL)3

Noise
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.

Last sampled: 2026-06-24
4%
over PEL
102
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR16
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)16
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)13
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Health sampling trend
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 by year
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2026 97% 464
2025 98% 497
2024 98% 99
2023 100% 6
2022 100% 17
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2026 3.9 29
2025 3.8 29
2024 5.2 11
2022 20.5 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 24
2025 4% 55
2024 11% 19
2023 0% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Blue Creek Mine No. 1 recorded 2.18 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
2.18
total case rate
2.18
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Alabama, coal mining averaged 3.32 cases per 100 workers that year.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
  1. Blue Creek Energy, Inc. 2012 to 2016
  2. Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC 2016 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Coal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.
Year Employees Coal produced (tons)
2026 266 2,577,886
2025 204 2,035,011
2024 192 208,760
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Blue Creek Mine No. 1 sits in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 0.9% of county employment.

Local economic context
County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama · Population 234,036
0.9%
Mining share of county employment
$63,947
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
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
2026 Q2 188,598 32 14 169.7
2026 Q1 181,759 63 10 346.6
2025 Q4 172,058 60 12 348.7
2025 Q3 158,271 238 48 1503.7
2025 Q2 125,012 112 34 895.9
2025 Q1 95,979 113 25 1177.3
2024 Q4 69,634 53 8 761.1
2024 Q3 16,951 25 2 1474.8

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
July 1, 2026 AL · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was discovered at shield 74. The employee was found caught between the shield resulting in a head crushing injury. Employee was transported to the surface and EMS performed CPR until time of death was called.

Reportable incidents

29 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2026 · 5 incidents

July 20, 2026 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was roof bolting in the face of #2 right on B TG when a piece of draw rock fell between bolts striking employee in the right lower arm.

June 4, 2026 AL · Coal longwall operator, chock operator, shear operator, plow operator MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was cutting towards the TG and a rock came off the drum and over the pan line and onto the employee's left foot resulting in 3 broken bones.

May 2, 2026 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was shoveling on A1 header bulkhead when EE stated EE slipped on a small hill before the belt line and went to catch self and when EE went to catch self EE caught EE's hand in-between the top roller and bracket.

February 11, 2026 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee had just finished servicing a location and was moving to the next location. In between downtime employee went to drink and have a snack. During this time a piece of 1-inch-thick dry rock fell and hit the employee in the left wrist causing a laceration.

February 7, 2026 AL · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

***summarized from attached letter*** Employee was lifting rebar in conjunction with other employees. In lifting and/or moving the rebar, the employee either injured or re-injured their back. The employee sought medical treatment that day and after treatment was released to work, without restriction, by the doctor effective February 9, 2026. (letter attached to original filing)

2025 · 11 incidents

December 20, 2025 AL · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was bolting in #2R and went to hang pink reflector on next to last row of bolts. Stepped up on the ATRS, as they were hanging the reflector, the bolting partner lowered the eye of the ATRS and pinched employees left foot resulting in a laceration to bottom of left foot.

November 21, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was moving scoop and while moving was trying to push air line out of the way without exiting the scoop and during this was struck on EE's right hand middle finger between the canopy of the scoop and a sand prop that the scoop knocked

October 29, 2025 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was working at mine site, and the weather had been raining. EE was walking to their truck in the wet red clay when left foot slid forward causing them to fall backwards. During the fall, the EE's right knee buckled, and they felt a pop in right knee.

October 16, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Fall from ladders

Approximately 11PM on October 16, 2025 worker was on a ladder about 2 feet off of the ground. EE was removing a 50-60lb chain fall. Had excess chain sitting on EE's upper back. Once the chain fall was removed the weight distribution made EE lose balance and EE fell off ladder and hit head on a piece of steel structure directly in front of EE.

August 29, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was loosening a concrete pipe coupler to clear a plugged concrete pipe. When the IE pulled the latch on the concrete line coupler the pressure build up caused the coupler to unexpectedly blow off the line causing the flex line that was coupled to the hard line to strike the employee on top of the right foot causing a laceration and a fracture.

August 28, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee to restore suction to the left side of the roof bolter that was damaged. A loose piece of middleman (4'longX20"wideX10"thick) broke loose between the boom and last rib pin, hitting the drill then rolling towards the employee. The rock struck the employee in the upper groin area, rolling down right leg then pinning ankle to the mine floor. employee has broken foot bone.

July 23, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a 3lb hammer to drive a grounding rod when they struck their left index finger after missing the grounding rod and striking their finger with the hammer. They received 2 stitches to close the wound.

March 24, 2025 AL · Coal steel worker, iron metal worker, iron worker HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was connecting a beam, one side was hung on a column. As employee started to bolt one end of the beam the other end freed up pinching employee's hand with the beam. The employee received a laceration on the middle finger. Employee was taken to Urgent Care where the laceration was cleaned. A finger splint was placed on the finger, no stitches.

March 8, 2025 AL · Coal electrician, lineman ELECTRICAL
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Contact with electrical current

Employee is the continuous miner sections electrician and was called to the miner for an error code of "MCT Top' code. When the employee arrived at the miner, employee knocked the breaker panel & the inner breaker panel. Began opening the left side panel box. Employee was looking around inside that location & then an arc flash occurred, & employee had received an electrical shock.

February 20, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Rubbed or abraded

Employee slipped off ladder scraping upper thigh between the 2nd and 3rd step of the ladder. Came to work to be seen by initial doctor visit on scrape and was sent to ER due to picking at their skin and wife wrapping the area too tight cutting oxygen off to affected skin area.

February 19, 2025 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler STRIKING OR BUMPING
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Was walking outby the section to de-trash the HG section. While walking person tripped on a rock in travelway and twisted their ankle. Continued working whole shift and asked to be taken to the doctor because it hurt to put pressure on ankle. Ankle was confirmed broken at doctor.

2024 · 7 incidents

November 29, 2024 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was working on installing a belt feeder. EE accidentally got their finger caught between the wear plate of the feeder and the scaffolding rail causing injury.

August 19, 2024 AL · Coal steel worker, iron metal worker, iron worker HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was in the process of unstacking wall girts when the incident occurred. As EE was lifting one off the stack, EE rolled it over and the sharp edge of the girt lacerated EE's right arm, 4 inches below the wrist. The EE received first aid treatment and was taken to a local Urgent Care where EE was evaluated, treated, and released to return to work with no restrictions.

July 8, 2024 AL · Coal steel worker, iron metal worker, iron worker HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was bolting up a cyclone. Employee was prying with a bar, the bar slipped and employee stumbled causing knee to twist.

May 9, 2024 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

An employee suffered an injury to left hand while replacing a damaged steel set along the slope. The walker was working with employees attempting to remove bolts from the steel set leg. The scoop operator was instructed to turn the scoop, and the Employee's left hand was caught between the scoop bucket and the leg of the steel set.

March 18, 2024 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EE was working on a vertical wall hanging rebar in an elevated position. EE was using a full body harness, two self-retracting lifelines & a positioning chain for fall protection. When the EE needed to change work positions, EE disconnected the lifelines & positioning chain. Upon moving, EE lost footing & fell to ground level.

March 1, 2024 AL · Coal miner, nec MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

employee was climbing off of roof bolter, when they placed their left hand on Boom mast. Bolter operator didn't realize their hand was there as they lowered the drill pot, which resulted in their hand being pinched between the mast and drill pot.

January 10, 2024 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

While backfilling a 500' deep ground well in a substation with grout, employee lit a cigarette and caused an ignition, burning their left hand.

2023 · 4 incidents

December 19, 2023 AL · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Bolter helper was installing a 6' bolt in the mine roof. As the helper was raising the blot using the Cobra drill, the bolt slid off the chuck causing the chuck to shoot upwards towards the mine roof striking the right index finger of the bolter helper and pinching it between the chuck and mine roof.

September 9, 2023 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was operating mucker, EE just sent full bucket out and was aligning other bucket, As EE was going around other bucket, EE went to turn left and pinched self against bucket.

August 6, 2023 AL · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was on a ladder hanging wire on brow, when a rock fell and struck employee on their thumb, smashing against ladder.

May 27, 2023 AL · Coal outside foreman, leadman FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Struck by falling object

An employee was injured when a hammer fell through the collar doors as they opened. The employee was on the work deck cleaning up after a concrete pour. The hammer struck the employee on the right shoulder causing a laceration and fracture.

2022 · 2 incidents

December 3, 2022 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was loading jackleg into drill basket and got finger in between jackleg and basket.

September 23, 2022 AL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Employee was in the process of getting onto work deck, when EE slipped and fell onto floor grating, causing laceration to knee