Buchanan Mine #1: 14 recorded fatalities Coal

The injured person was in the process of removing a ventilation tubing chain from the mine roof when the accident occurred. After lowering the chain, they stepped back and twisted their right ankle.

Replace Friction Drum liners on Horn Mountain Portal (9 Vent) Hoist

Employee lifting an 18' ventilation slider to line up to slide into a piece of 20' ventilation tubing, an employee in the back of the slider heard someone say push the slider and when EE did the foreman's finger was struck against the D-ring of the slider and the 20' tubing. Resulting in a fracture, and a laceration that required 2 sutures to the tip of EE's left middle finger.

The injured stated that they were operating the tail sider shearer on 16 East LW section, in the process of cutting bottom on the tail and during the cut out process they were struck by an object that was slung out by the tail side cutter drum, striking them on the upper torso, resulting in two fractured ribs.

Had to replace 2 blown fuses for the 8 Vent Hoist

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Job-related hearing loss. Pending Worker's Compensation Settlement.

The injured was drilling a hole in the roof at CC#32 on 5 North Mains, preparing to install a cable bolt. While drilling a piece of rock fall around drill steel. The injured inadvertently placed a hand on the bolt tray to attempt to move, when the rock fell striking them on the left hand that was on the bolt tray, causing a laceration which required 3 sutures to close.

A rock fall in the intersection of 5 North Mains at break #32 in the track and belt entry. The fall extended into the left crosscut.

The employee was attempting to move a piece of rock off of the tail drive on 16E Longwall, when a rock measuring approximately 10"x5"x5" fell from between shields #121 and #122 striking the tip EE's right middle finger between the rock EE was attempting to move and the rock that fell. Resulting in a laceration and fracture to the tip of EE's finger.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Scoop was tramming outby bucket first when the battery lift arm caught a piece of tubing that was stacked on the rib and shoved it into the back of the injured's leg causing a fracture on the inside of EE's right knee cap and outside of knee

Employee was struck on the right index finger by a sledge hammer that glanced off the knocker while they were inadvertently installing a speed loader onto the Flexco splicing board while a belt splice was being made. Resulting in a laceration that required 3 sutures to close.

The safety catches for the Production Hoist Columbia mini-Cage hoist would not work during a hoisting examination. The Safety Catches were repaired/replaced on 9/2/25 @ 3:30 PM and put back into service.

The injured was replacing a damaged belt rail and as EE was replacing the rail, the employees right middle finger was caught between the top structure and the belt rail, causing a laceration which required 7 sutures to close.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The Contrary Service hoist (8 Vent) PLC Controller program was corrupted and had to be reprogrammed.

The injured was attempting to cut a piece of mine belt to be used as skirting material. While using both hands on the utility knife, EE lost EE's balance and slipped, and while EE's arm was stretched out to catch self, EE's left wrist contacted the knife causing a laceration, which required 3 sutures to close.

Employee carried a 5 gal bucket of Power Train approximately 25 feet from the 8 vent bottom sand storage area to EE's tram and as EE lifted and twisted to get the can up to fill EE's tram EE felt a sharp pain in EE's lower back.

The injured was assisting to remove an impact roller from the 15 East belt run through. While attempting to push the roller on its side the injured felt a sharp pain in EE's lower back. Started missing work on 7/31/2025.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The injured was trying to remove a broken piece of conveyor flight on the Stage Loader tail sprocket inside the NDRE box and as EE was prying with a pry bar, the bar slipped causing EE to strike EE's right hand against the broken piece of flight. This resulted in a laceration to the ring finger knuckle which required four (4) sutures to close.

Employee was removing a bottom roller and when EE started to remove the hanger, the roller slipped out of EE's hand, striking EE on EE's right ankle. Resulting in a nondisplaced fracture of the Tibia.

The injured was carrying a roof bolter tram chain when they stepped on a piece of coal/rock causing a fracture to the 5th metatarsal bone in left foot. Started Missing work on 7/2/25

The ABB VFD Controls were damaged during a thunder and lightning storm

The injured was sliding the air lock doors open at the bottom of 9 Vent and smashed EE's right little finger between the door handle and the frame of the door. Causing a laceration the require 4 sutures to close and fracture to tip of EE's little finger.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Employee states that as they were walking toward 4 North #1 belt take-up, they tripped on a piece of old belt that was sticking up in the walkway along the track and as they kneeled down to splice the conveyor belt, they felt a pain in left knee. The employee did not report the incident until 5-19-25 when they started missing work.

While using 1 Ton Chain Hoists (both inby and outby) to position a 22'x 63' Spiral Roller with an 83' shaft into place down an 11-degree grade with a narrow walkway, when the outby chain hoist came loose causing the tail roller to move forward 3-4 feet striking an employee on the right ankle. Causing a Fracture.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The injured was helping to adjusting the forks on a mini-trac when the tip of their left index finger was caught between the forks & mast.

Replaced the Leveling Sensor

The injured was loading high voltage cable in #3 entry on 15 East Brk #15. As EE was lifting a loop of cable onto the car, a piece of rock fell from the mine roof, striking EE on the right wrist area, causing a laceration. The Laceration was closed with medical glue.

The injured positioned self on the walkway of the walk thru bolter, to allow EE's partner to pull a rock. When the rock was pull it came down landing onto the bolt tray striking a piece of drill steel causing it to flip up and strike the injured just behind the pinky finger on EE's right hand causing a fracture to the pinky finger.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Construction worker, While installing Q decking, the employee fell through an opening in the floor resulting in injuries.

The injured was lifting a 5 gallons can of diesel fuel when EE felt a sharp pain in EE's lower back. The injured started missing work on 3/24/25.

The right side Drum bearing for the friction hoist failed and was replaced.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Injured picked up a trash bag loaded with empty rock dust bags and attempted to throw the bag into a chain box @ the 16 East supply hole and felt a pop in lower back. The trash bag was less than half full. The employee was diagnosed with a herniated disc.

The employee was attempting to get a flat car off of 8 vent cage when a piece of ice fell from the shaft wall and struck the employee on the left side and back. The strike resulted in a hematoma just above the left elbow.

Injured was in the process of spinning the drill steel out of the hole, when a piece of rock came loose from the top and struck EE on the left pinky finger causing a laceration/contusion.

The injured was drilling a hole to install a roof bolt on the 3 South Head Gate Panel, when a piece of rock measuring approximately 6" W X 5-1/2" L X 1/4" fell from the top and struck the injured's drill pot and a piece broke off and bounced up striking the injured just above the bridge of the nose. Causing a laceration that took one suture to close.

The Brake Solenoid would not release and had to replace 2 analog input cards on the PLC controller and reprogram.

The employee was pre-shifting when they noticed an air pump wasn't pumping. While traveling the 6" line toward the pump to determine the problem they lost their balance. As employee was falling to the ground they reached their arms behind them to catch their fall and in the process received an apparent dislocation of the left shoulder.

Exposure to coal mine dust

Hoist House lost power due to a storm passing. Knocked power at Sub Station. The power has been restored.

The injured was cleaning in the sump under the skips. When finished cleaning EE traveled up 3 sets of ladders to the skip load level, when arriving at the skip load level landing, EE stepped off with left foot first onto the landing, EE felt a pain in right knee. The injured was diagnosed with a torn ACL on 12-12-24.

Job-related hearing loss. Pending Workers Compensation Settlement

Two employees were mucking in the shaft when the Mucker operator noticed a second bucket coming down and hit the hose tender.

Employee was getting a Pin out of a Rock Duster when it shot out, hit the Rock Duster, bounced and hit employee's foot. It landed above employee's steel toed boots.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Using crane to lift deslime screen parts into plant. Discharge lip had been set inside of building and unhooked from crane. Employee pulled lip off of concrete curb and it fell on their left-hand fingers. Heavy metal screen part smashed their fingers between it and concrete floor. Injury occurred from employee's failure to follow proper company PPE policies.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust.

Hoist down more than thirty minutes due to # 2 drive motor fault.

Hoisting system was down more than thirty minute due to Motor failure. Motor was replaced. All personnel were on surface.

Employee was in the process of changing out brake caliper, when the hoist operators foot slipped off pressure switch, causing brake caliper to close pinching finger.

The injured was installing eye bolt. They had finished drilling the hole. They put the glue & eye bolt in the hole & started to raise the paddle wrench to the eye bolt. They dropped the eye bolt into the wrench & started to spin it. The eye bolt came out of the hole & struck them in the right side of the chest. Causing a laceration that had to be close with medical glue.

Injured got off the manbus to throw the track switch, they signaled the manbus operator to come forward thru the switch and the bottom frame of the manbus ran over their left foot, causing a fracture to the end of their big toe.

The Main Hoist coded for overheating

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to coal Mine Dust.

A roof fall was discovered by the weekly Examiner on Grassy Mains between SS #15044 and 15190 and between seal # 15 and #16. The dimensions of the fall is estimated to be approximately 6' H x 80' L x 20 W. This area was mined in 8/1996. The fall occurred between the pillars and not in the intersection.

Job-related hearing loss. Pending Workers Compensation Settlement.

Faulty Interlock door switch on the bottom inner elevator car. The faulty switch was located on the coal level

The employee was putting a sinking Hammer onto drill steel when the drill slipped, causing employee's right Finger to get caught between the drill and drill steel. The injury was treated as a first aid situation, and later that evening, the employee went to the ER and received stitches.

Exposure to coal mine dust

Job-related hearing loss. Pending Workers Compensation Settlement.

The injured stated that they lifted a 5 gallon can of diesel fuel to fill their Tram and as they sat the can on the Tram they felt a pain in their groin area. The employee was diagnosed with an Inguinal Hernia.

While operating Jumbo drill, EE had just finished drilling out quad, EE intended to assist others with their quad, when a hose came loose striking EE in the head.

The problem started with the brake solenoid would not release on the Hoist and while working on that the Main PLC Controller went down and had to be replaced and reprogramed.

Exposure to coal mine dust

Exposure to coal mine dust

Employee was removing the belly pan off of 630 Mucker. Once bolts were unloosened, the pan fell smashing hand and finger.

The injured was helping to put the production belt back together and as they tried to pick up the end of the belt to keep it from hanging up in the belt structure, they felt a pain in their upper left arm and bicep area. The employee started missing work on 6/3/24 to have surgery to repair a torn bicep.

The injured was pulling miner cable cathead, by hand, by the power center when EE stepped in the mud causing EE to twist EE's foot/ankle causing a fracture the 5th metatarsal bone. EE injured this foot 1 year ago prior to coming to Buchanan and had surgery to repair this injury.

The injured was removing a female end of a quick connect coupling off a scoop PTO. When the injured pulled the coupling off, the coupling struck the injured in the upper left lip causing a laceration. Requiring 4 Sutures.

Employee was carrying a block and tripped and fell to the ground accidentally hitting wrist against another block causing injury.

The injured was struck by a small piece of metal that broke off a bit lug as the miner operator was installing bit inserts into the lug. The small piece of metal struck EE's stomach area, causing a small puncture wound. The injured was positioned approximately 10-15 feet away the miner

The injured was installing a bit insert into a bit lug and as they were driving the insert into the lug with a hammer a small piece of metal from the bit clip dislodged and embedded in in the left leg above the keep.

Exposure to coal mine dust

The injured was attempting to pin the bottom holes of a battery lift cradle. As EE leaned over the cradle to check the hole alignment, one of the crib blocks that was placed under the load toppled over from underneath the cradle, which caused the cradle to become unbalanced and fall striking EE's left foot.

Had to change out the analog input card and reprogram the PLC on 8 Vent Hoist. This hoist is a Siemag 30 ton Friction hoist with GE Genius 90-70 PLC Controls. The hoist was back in operation at 2:10 AM.

Injured employee was traveling inby on 4 North in the passenger compartment of bus 56, sitting on the belt side facing forward. A piece of 2" pipe struck the injured on the right forearm and right shoulder fracturing the right radial bone in the forearm.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The injured was pre-shifting 4 North, 7 Left switch and stepped on a flat rock causing EE to lose EE's balance and fall to the ground, resulting in pain to EE's left shoulder. The injured started missing work on 4/8/24 due to having surgery to repair EE's left rotator cuff.

The injured was using a booster pack to start a diesel welder/Generator. After starting the welder, EE attempted to unhook the jumper cables from the battery terminals. One of the jumper cable leads got into the cooling fan blades, the blades broke off and a piece of the plastic blade struck EE's left index finger, resulting in a laceration which required 2 sutures.

Injured was checking to see what was fouling a rail from being loaded on the rail car. The rail was fouled by the rails to be loaded on the bottom and the rail shifted, causing the rail to strike their left foot. Resulting in 3 broke metatarsal bones in their left foot.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The employee tripped over a crib block. As they were falling the employee put out a hand to break their fall left hand to catch themselves, striking the track rail causing a fracture to the fifth metacarpal bone.

Exposure to coal mine dust.

Employee was pinned against the rib with a Fairchild scoop # 414 at crosscut #52 in the #2 entry of 15 East development section, amputating EE's right Leg blow the knee.

Job-related hearing loss. Pending Workers Compensation Compromise Settlement.

An Unintentional roof fall at break 17 on 14 East longwall section Headgate.

The injured was drilling for the outside bolt in the #3 entry of 2 South Tailgate When a piece of rock fell from an approximate height of 8.5 feet from the mine roof and struck them on left forearm causing a laceration that required 8 sutures to close.

Injured was dusting idle entries on Grassy @ Brk 57. While walking from the duster to the tram EE stepped on 6" water line and foot slipped causing left knee to buckled.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Employee was installing a safety bar to hold up bucket for Eimco 630 Mucker, when EE's hand slipped off control lever, letting bucket come down on safety bar, pinching employee's thumb.

Injured was using a slate bar to free a stuck impact bed, when it broke free the slate bar slipped, rolling their hand and slate bar on top of impact bed, causing them to strike their hand between the impact bed and frame of run-thru, causing a laceration/Fracture of the right ring finger.

Employees were attempting to secure a vertical member of a truss wall with chain hoists. While EE was tightening the AMH 2-1/4 ton chain hoist a chain link failed. When it failed, the chain hoist mechanism came back and hit EE on the right foot. EE was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with two broken toes.

The employee stated that as they threw the track switch for the 5 N back track, they felt a pop in their right shoulder and a burning sensation. The employee started missing work on 2/9/24 to have surgery to repair a torn rotor cuff.

Exposure to to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The employee was assisting in replacing the feed box on the 286 screen. While attempting to maneuver the new feed box into place, the feed box shifted suddenly, striking EE's foot/ankle into the concrete curb causing a contusion.

The injured was drilling the last rib bolt on 2 South Headgate #1 entry. When EE finished drilling the hole, EE was pulling the drill pot back when EE caught EE's right ring finger between the dill mast slide & frame of drill mast.

While hoisting, the hoist operator observed thru their camera, A wire strain had been damaged on the work deck rope located at top of head frame, while dumping muck bucket. They stopped work Immediately.

The injured was raising the drill steel to the roof in preparation to drill the last roof bolt in the row when a rock measuring 9"L x 12"W x 2"ZT fell and struck them on the right foreman causing a small laceration and fracture to their lower right forearm.

The injured was helping to push the mono-rail winch down by hand when the filter housing for the remote controlled hydraulic valve chest for the winch got caught on the rib mesh (in a tight area) causing the hydraulic valve chest end to kick sideways cutting EE's right little finger requiring 5 sutures to close.

Replaced a faulty trackside mine level gate latch and tightened a loose connection on the gate lock switch on the terminal strip on the Contrary Portal 8 Vent Siemag Friction Hoist.

Employee came in contact with a bolt on the filter screen resulting in a laceration and fracture on the right forearm.

The employee was in the process of drilling a test hole and as EE was adding EE's pusher steel a piece of rock fell from the mine roof and struck EE on the left forearm causing a laceration that took 3 sutures to close

Employee complained of chest pains and having trouble breathing. An ambulance was called and employee later died in the hospital

The injured was bolting in the #6 Heading on South Mains Section. The Injured was installing a rib bolt in the 3rd Row of the heading and had EE's left hand on EE's tray when a rock measuring 1-1/2' W X 2' L X 1/4" thick struck EE on EE's left ring finger.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The Injured was in the process of installing an eight foot Dywi-Dag bolt into the mine. There was a small portion of the bolt in the roof and as Injured attempted to pull/push the bolt into the bolt hole, it became dislodged striking Injured on the right part of the collar bone.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The employee was working in a bin, above the co-workers were handing down material to EE when they knocked off a piece of 3" x 22" steel flat bar. The flat bar struck EE on the head causing a 1" laceration.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

EE was working at Coronado Buchanan #1 Prep Plant. EE was on knees replacing the brake filters on a 777F JRP02706. While under the left side, EE was re-installing the brake canister, approximately 7 lbs spinning the housing when EE felt a sharp pain in right upper arm and felt the muscle roll down arm.

Employee was removing strands of string from belt roller with a knife and the knife accidentally slipped causing injury to employee's hand.

The loop control card went bad on the Page Service Hoist. This is a Friction Hoist.

The injured was setting bits on the tail side of the shearer, when a rock fell from jack 14-16 striking EE on the back leaving a laceration on the left lower side of EE's back approximately 10 inches long requiring sutures to close the wound.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

Injured was putting oil in MT-13 Lo-Trac. EE was in the process of cutting a plastic bottle to make a funnel, when EE's razor knife slipped and cut EE's left index finger thru EE's leather work gloves. The cut was not deep, but the injured was on blood thinners and was taken to the hospital to control the bleeding and surgical glue was applied to close the wound.

The injured was loading a case of drinking water into a pickup truck with the tailgate down and as EE started to lower the water into the truck, EE felt pain in EE's right shoulder. The injured started missing work on 1/5/2023 and had surgery to repair a torn bicep and Arthroscopy surgery to repair EE's rotator cuff.

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The employee was in the process of welding bit lugs on the Shear, head side drum on 11 East. Employee was chipping slag in between weld passes when a small piece of slag, entered underneath the bottom of safety glasses and struck them in the right eye.

A loaded muck bucket fell from the main hoist sinking hook to the bottom of the shaft. The muck bucket was entangled in hydraulic hoses and tugger cable. When attempts were made to free the bucket by moving the work deck. The hook became disconnected from the bucket causing it to fall to bottom of the shaft.

The injured was attempting to advance shield #67. The hydraulic pressure to this shield was turned off and they turned the hydraulic pressure on the shield to advance it manually, the shield advanced and they lost their footing and a relay bar caught their right foot, causing a fracture of the second metatarsal bone.

The injured was installing rib bolts on the off side of the walk thru bolter. As EE was reaching for the pusher steel, EE stumbled over some gob and caught self with left hand and EE's hand landed in the inner mast assembly and was caught between the inner mast assembly and the carriage assembly resulting in a laceration and 2 cracked bones

Exposure to Coal Mine Dust

The injured was helping to move power on the LW and was waiting on Trams to pull up to the High Voltage car. As the trams approached, the injured stepped to the left and stepped in a groove/trench that was left in the bottom after the waterline was pulled back. This caused the injured to twist their body around and fall resulting in a broken leg .

Injured was bolting in the #1 entry on 1 South. They pulled up to start the third row of bolts in the cut. EE sounded the roof with EE's steel and placed the steel in the drill pot. A rock measuring 10"x10"x2" fell causing a laceration to the right forearm, requiring 3 sutures to close.

Employee had just finished drilling the hole for the second bolt in the last row. While reaching to get the steel out of the hole, a piece of rock measuring 16 inches long, by 10 inches wide, by 1 quarter inch thick struck EE on the arm, just above the glove, causing a laceration approximately 3 inches long, requiring 2 Sutures to close

diagnosed with pneumoconiosis

The injured was installing the first bolt in the second row. As EE was putting the bolt in the hole and started to straighten it EE felt pain and burning in EE's right shoulder. The injured started missing work on 1/6/23 and had surgery to repair a rotator cuff

The employee was firebossing on 11 East and stopped at Brk 28 to swap out mantrips. While waiting they helped pick up pallets that were in the roadway and after stacking several pallets, a board broke on one and exposed a nail that struck them under their chin that caused a laceration which required surgical glue to close.

The injured was installing an articulation jack on the 1755 coal hauler on the 14 East section in the #2 heading and was using a pry bar to raise the jack up, the bar slipped causing the jack to slide down pinching the employee's right middle finger against the frame of the cylinder housing causing a laceration to the tip of the finger which required sutures and a fracture.

Injured was in the process of spotting a bolt in #4 Entry of 13 East, 5 rows outby the face. EE drilled a hole, let EE's head down and EE's steel was out of alignment. EE took EE's right hand and pushed EE's steel towards the drill chuck. The injured thought it was in the chuck, turned loose of the steel it kicked out and struck EE in the on the right thumb causing fracture.

As the examiner was doing the weekly Hoist check at the 11 Vent shaft hoist EE noticed damage to the hoist rope.

There was an unintentional roof fall in front of the #4 seal on 2 East. The fall was discover by the weekly examiner.

The injured was helping to change out the 11 East LW head Drive power unit and as EE checked to see if head motor and hub would clear the drive housing the winch rope moved suddenly, jarring EE's left hand causing pain and swelling. On August 31, 2022, the injured was diagnosed with a fractured bone in EE's left hand and was given a wrist brace to wear.

The injured was bolting in #1 entry on 0 South Section. EE started to drill EE's first hole in the third row and pushed EE' steel against the roof and hit the rotation, a piece of rock measuring 21" long x 8 1/2" wide x 2-5" thick fell and hit EE' hand driving it in to the drill pot, causing a laceration to EE' ring and pinkie fingers. (Sutures were required in EE' pinkie finger)

Unintentional roof fall at Brk #49 in the #2 entry of South Mains Section. Breaker support and danger signs were set at all approaches.

While riding as a passenger on Bus # 41 on the opposite end of travel and as the manbus approached the S-Curve Between 5 north and 1 west another bus entered the block and collided with the outgoing bus. This resulted in pain to employee's head and neck area

While riding as a passenger on Bus # 41 on the same end of travel and as the manbus approached the S-Curve Between 5 north and 1 west another bus entered the block and collided with the outgoing bus. The employee braced for impact by putting in left foot on mantrip frame. The employee's fractured the left lower Tibia bone (at Ankle)

The employee and supervisor were attempting to lift a bottom roller and place it on the track side belt rails on the 3 North belt at Crosscut #7.5. As they were lifting the roller the employee's right foot slipped in some mud causing employee to twist Right knee, causing pain.

The employee injured left shoulder dragging slickline on 8/2. Continued to work unrestricted until 9/18. Began missing work 9/19. This incident did not involve any aspect of compliance with rules and regulations; mine equipment or mining system; job skills and miner proficiency, training and attitude; or protective items relating to clothing, or protective devices on equipment.

Employee was riding on a mantrip going through a track switch and the mantrip jarred them causing injury to the tailbone area.

The injured was installing the last bolt in 2 Right Crosscut on 12 east section. While drilling they reached for a pusher steel and dropped it, as they reached down with left hand to pick it up. A piece of rock fell from the roof measuring 16"X 9"X 0-3" thick fell 7 1/2' to the ground striking them on left hand. Resulting in an laceration which required 10 sutures to close.

Temporary employee was pulling on a hydraulic line that was pinched between the crosshead and the bleeder. When the hose came loose the crosshead came to rest on the work deck catching employee's hand between the work deck and crosshead. This caused a thumb fracture on the right hand and laceration to the top of right hand and 2 fingers.