The injured was fatally struck by a hydraulic cylinder. An investigation is on-going. The causes are unknown.
Blue Creek Prep Plant Coal
Blue Creek Prep Plant has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 11 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 1
- Total incidents
- 18
- Years on record
- 2009–2025
- Latest incident
- Mar 2025
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This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.Blue Creek Prep Plant has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 11 contested dockets.
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Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.MSHA sampling at Blue Creek Prep Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.17 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 210 samples.
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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 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.ⓘ
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.| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q4 | 9,743 | 2 | 0 | 205.3 |
| 2025 Q3 | 10,747 | 2 | 0 | 186.1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 11,521 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 12,377 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 8,340 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q3 | 11,323 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q2 | 8,901 | 1 | 0 | 112.3 |
| 2024 Q1 | 12,129 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 65 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Q4 | 10,390 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q3 | 11,638 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q2 | 12,054 | 1 | 0 | 83.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 12,129 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 9,722 | 2 | 0 | 205.7 |
| 2022 Q2 | 11,413 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q1 | 9,809 | 2 | 0 | 203.9 |
| 2021 Q4 | 6,983 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q3 | 7,972 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q2 | 8,550 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q1 | 8,750 | 1 | 0 | 114.3 |
| 2020 Q4 | 9,072 | 1 | 0 | 110.2 |
| 2020 Q3 | 11,878 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q2 | 10,630 | 2 | 0 | 188.1 |
| 2020 Q1 | 10,519 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q4 | 14,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q3 | 16,614 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q2 | 16,606 | 2 | 0 | 120.4 |
| 2019 Q1 | 17,271 | 3 | 0 | 173.7 |
| 2018 Q4 | 15,836 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q3 | 17,604 | 1 | 0 | 56.8 |
| 2018 Q2 | 16,947 | 1 | 0 | 59.0 |
| 2018 Q1 | 16,135 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q4 | 14,895 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 16,360 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 18,107 | 4 | 0 | 220.9 |
| 2017 Q1 | 16,054 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q4 | 14,218 | 3 | 0 | 211.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 9,629 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q2 | 5,329 | 2 | 0 | 375.3 |
| 2016 Q1 | 14,460 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q4 | 18,739 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 22,934 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 21,495 | 8 | 2 | 372.2 |
| 2015 Q1 | 22,232 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 18,223 | 16 | 0 | 878.0 |
| 2014 Q3 | 19,583 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q2 | 19,321 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 24,562 | 1 | 1 | 40.7 |
| 2013 Q4 | 19,769 | 15 | 2 | 758.8 |
| 2013 Q3 | 18,096 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q2 | 16,127 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q1 | 16,902 | 1 | 0 | 59.2 |
| 2012 Q4 | 13,889 | 1 | 1 | 72.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 15,385 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 9,878 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 10,300 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q4 | 6,191 | 3 | 3 | 484.6 |
| 2011 Q3 | 4,327 | 2 | 1 | 462.2 |
| 2011 Q2 | 4,091 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q1 | 5,030 | 6 | 0 | 1192.8 |
| 2010 Q4 | 157 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 100 | 13 | 0 | 130000.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q1 | 932 | 4 | 0 | 4291.8 |
| 2009 Q4 | 160 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 160 | 1 | 0 | 6250.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 75000.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 5,434 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 166666.7 |
| 2008 Q1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Fatalities at this mine
1 recordedReportable incidents
17 on file (excluding fatalities above)2025 · 2 incidents
After notching a tree to be cut, EE started boring into the tree and the saw kicked back and ran through EE's chaps and into EE's leg.
Teammate was attempting to open a door at the Blue Creek Loadout. When the employee pulled on the door with EE's left hand EE felt a pop in EE's left arm. During treatment the employee was diagnosed with a full tear of EE's left bicep.
2022 · 1 incident
Employee was turning drive sheave to set the thrust on heavy media pump when EE's glove got caught between the sheave and the drive belts resulting in a fracture of EE's right ring finger and 11 sutures and 3 sutures on EE's left pinky finger.
2020 · 2 incidents
Employee stated that while in the process of removing bolts from the scalping screen in the crusher building. EE was using a pick hammer to knock the bolts out of it so they could be removed. In the process of striking the pick hammer, a small splinter of metal flew off of it, and punctured the employees left middle finger.
Employee came out of the restroom and stepped the wrong way and slipped and fell hurting a hand.
2018 · 1 incident
Employee stated that ee was operating the 30 ton crane on the top floor of the prep plant that was hooked to the metal bin. In the process of operating the crane to empty the metal bin, it swung and caught arm between the separator and the bin.
2017 · 2 incidents
Employee stated their right eye turned red and they found a small particle in the eye. Employee tried to wash it out but could not dislodge the material. Employee could not pinpoint work activity that caused the debris to irritate the eye but believed it could have been around the time they were working on some screens.
Employee stated EE was using a cable spool hand crank to clean on magnet. The cable had built up tension. The employee hit the release with a miner bit and the handle came around and struck employees right forearm causing an avulsion. Employee needed stitches to close wound.
2016 · 2 incidents
The injured was using a chipping hammer to clean the weld when EE got a piece of slag in eye. The injured was wearing safety glasses with side shields at the time of the incident. EE flushed eye out immediately, but the irritation persisted. EE went to the doctor on 9-15-16 where they removed a small piece of metal.
Occupational Illness. Operator was notified on July 7, 2016 that employee submitted a workers compensation claim for Coal Workers Occupational Pneumoconiosis.
2015 · 1 incident
Employee was assigned to close a chute flop door. As the employee was positioned on a ladder to begin ratcheting with the chain ratchet, he slipped off the ladder and fell to the ground. Approx 4 foot fall, but in the process of falling he struck his left knee on metal flooring. The impact caused a fracture to his tibula bone near the knee.
2013 · 3 incidents
The injured picked up one side of a roll of typer to throw it out of the way and felt a pain in his left elbow. He went to his family chiropractor on 04/06/2013 who referred him to an orthopedic specialist on 04/19/2013. The orthopedist diagnosed him with a torn bicep tendon and scheduled him for surgery on 04/25/2013. The injured didn't start missing work until 04/25/2013.
The injured was struck by an unknown object. An investigation is still on-going. The causes are unknown.
The injured was cutting a piece of screen buffer rubber with a razor knife and cut two fingers on his left hand.
2009 · 3 incidents
Welding slag got between his boot and leg, burning his leg on or about 4/8/09. Employee treated it with a burn ointment at home, no injury was reported to a supervisor. The following week his leg and knee began to swell. Employee went to the hospital and on 4/16/09 the doctor said the swelling was from infections in the leg due to the burn.
Employee states he felt a sharp pain in his lower back when he bent down while assembling a roof truss. Employee taken off work by ER physician.
EE states that his back gave out after bending over to pick up a piece of angle. As EE was bent over, he twisted to pick up ac-clamp. When he stood up he suffered muscle stain to his lower back. EE worked light/restricted duty for 3 days and returned to full duty 2/27/09.
The full compliance file on Blue Creek Prep Plant
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.