Mining Incidents

Davy Branch Mine Coal

Aracoma Coal Company · Underground
Logan, Logan County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609574

Davy Branch Mine has $385K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 13 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
25
Years on record
2021–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2020
695
citations
123
significant & substantial
$384,625
proposed penalties
$334,162
paid to date
87% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $50,463 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2020
57
inspections on record
6,664
inspection hours
10.4
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.
695 citations across 6,664 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Davy Branch Mine has $385K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 13 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.
$385K
proposed penalties
$340K
current assessed
$334K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
642 assessments are final orders; 13 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-03.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Davy Branch Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.41 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 4,988 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.
0.41
dust avg (mg/m3)
3.30
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
4,988
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-01.
Silica (quartz)
6.8
silica avg (%)
26.1
silica max (%)
282
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-02.
Noise
6%
over PEL
147
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-05-27.
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 66,443 29 6 436.5
2025 Q3 74,151 35 4 472.0
2025 Q2 70,886 30 4 423.2
2025 Q1 74,441 15 1 201.5
2024 Q4 63,190 16 1 253.2
2024 Q3 72,786 57 14 783.1
2024 Q2 79,942 25 10 312.7
2024 Q1 80,473 16 2 198.8
Show 16 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 74,898 20 2 267.0
2023 Q3 73,630 24 1 326.0
2023 Q2 74,462 30 3 402.9
2023 Q1 75,317 36 8 478.0
2022 Q4 64,284 26 8 404.5
2022 Q3 66,392 22 2 331.4
2022 Q2 66,171 26 4 392.9
2022 Q1 70,462 57 17 808.9
2021 Q4 58,140 39 10 670.8
2021 Q3 61,344 41 11 668.4
2021 Q2 59,903 22 6 367.3
2021 Q1 41,570 25 3 601.4
2020 Q4 30,938 26 2 840.4
2020 Q3 3,497 10 0 2859.6
2020 Q2 0 2 0
2020 Q1 0 1 0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
January 22, 2021 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by powered moving object

#2 shuttle car was traveling back toward #5 entry to turn down towards feeder, and the #3 shuttle car was already traveling this entry when the #2 car came thru the fly pad they contacted the operators compartment of the #3 car injuring the operator. The EE died on 2/21/21, autopsy results state EE died as the result of a thromboembolism.

Reportable incidents

24 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2026 · 1 incident

February 14, 2026 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Aracoma Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was moving a miner cable when EE tripped over a rock measuring 6"x12 " landing on EE's right hand and shoulder, EE hasn't missed any work due to this incident but started physical therapy treatments on 4/14/26 which makes it a reportable incident, EE has continued to experience pain on EE's shoulder since EE's fall

2025 · 4 incidents

October 13, 2025 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Aracoma Coal Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis on 10/13/25 by a B reader

September 29, 2025 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Installing a roof bolt in the corner of 3 left when the top rib rock came out striking them on left arm as they were inserting roof bolt into hole causing laceration requiring 6 sutures, rock measured 48 long x 32 wide x 3 inches thick , employee was taken to hospital and released back to work.

September 12, 2025 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was helping another employee remove the discharge shaft from the shuttle car conveyor reducer while the other employee was using slate bar to hold up the shaft, EE was prying with a bar when EE reach down to pick up the shaft it fell striking EE's rt foot big toe causing laceration and fractured big toe requiring 7 sutures

January 27, 2025 WV · Coal lw propman, propman helper, move crew if lw, move-up man, jacksetter, advanceman lw helper HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Aracoma Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was loading an argon tank onto a scoop when EE smashed the tip of EE's right index finger against the light housing on the scoop.

2024 · 2 incidents

October 24, 2024 WV · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Aracoma Coal Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis on 10-24-24. EE continues to work.

September 4, 2024 WV · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by powered moving object

Employee was in process of installing a keeper on the left side tie rod end on a battery four wheeler, as EE reached up to get EE's channelocks , EE made contact with the foot pedal causing the machine to reverse striking EE's left leg & abdomen, EE continued to work until 9-16-24

2023 · 7 incidents

December 2, 2023 WV · Coal electrician, lineman MACHINERY
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was using a Milwaukee handheld grinder to cut a seized set screw on a light. While holding the housing with their left hand, EE was using right hand to operate grinder. It kicked back when contacting another screw. This caused a laceration thru EE's glove on left hand requiring 7 stitches to close the wound.

November 28, 2023 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Aracoma Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury roof fall occurred on the #4-A belt; #12 break, in the #4 entry (track entry). The fall measured approximately 40'x50' and 4.5 to 5' in height.

September 19, 2023 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee stated was in the process of cutting a piece of conveyor belt to prep for a move, as EE was cutting away from self EE's right arm came in contact with a frayed belt pin that was in an old splice next to where EE was cutting the pin. Caused a laceration requiring 5 sutures to close the wound

September 14, 2023 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Aracoma Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated: was lifting 1 bundle of roof bolter plates from the side of the bolter to the tray and felt pain in right shoulder. Went to ER, told to follow up with Ortho who placed employee off work for 2 weeks.

February 3, 2023 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Aracoma Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

Employee stated they were walking to the shuttle car and their foot got stuck in a hole or mud causing them to fall striking left knee on a rock. They finished the shift then went to the Dr on Sat, they were taken off work on Monday by a specialist for a bruise/contusion

January 20, 2023 WV · Coal scoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operator POWERED HAULAGE
Aracoma Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee stated employee was cleaning the face and was backing up scoop to set over, employee placed left hand on top of the operator door and got the deck into the rib smashing hand between rib and scoop door causing fractured thumb.

2022 · 3 incidents

March 23, 2022 WV · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck by falling object

EE stated EE and another employee was laying rail at the #4 head drive. The rail was raised up using a forklift they were attempting to pry the rail over when it slipped off the forklift, the slate bar and rail came down landed on front of EE's foot causing bruising, they said the chain they had secured the rail with came undone allowing it to fall

February 19, 2022 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Aracoma Coal Company · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee stated was spraying a stopping with a TC machine The wand clogged up and stopped spraying. As EE turned around to tell scoop operator to turn off machine, something hit EE in the left eye face. Employee stated was wearing safety glasses at the time. EE is off work for further medical treatment.

January 17, 2022 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Aracoma Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Night shift driver of 036 tractor at Davey Branch Mine was starting the engine on the bed treatment rack. EE's right hand came back and struck the container cage, peeling EE's skin off 3/4 to 1 inch across the top of the hand.

2021 · 7 incidents

December 30, 2021 WV · Coal electrician, lineman MACHINERY
Aracoma Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Removing 1 inch bolts out of offside tram gearcase while removing one of the bolts with the impact gun, when the bolt extracted EE's left middle finger was caught between a #12 90 degree JIC fitting coming out of the tram panel mashing EE's nail into the nail bed

October 22, 2021 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Aracoma Coal Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee took chest x ray on 8-3-21 and was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis, we was notified of EE's diagnosis on 10/22/21.

October 14, 2021 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Aracoma Coal Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

We was notified on 10/14/2021 that employee was diagnosed on 6/15/21 with occupational pneumoconiosis by a b reader and chest x rays.

August 25, 2021 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Aracoma Coal Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling on miner cable felt pain in abdomen, did continue to work from 08/25/21 until 7-25-22 when EE had to have the place repaired due to increased pain in that area.

June 8, 2021 WV · Coal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Aracoma Coal Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

We were notified on 6/8/2021 that employee was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis on 10/23/2020 by a b-reader

April 22, 2021 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Aracoma Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was using Channel locks to straighten up belt that was being racked up. EE's Channel locks slipped off the belt causing EE to fall backwards into the coal rib hitting EE's head, elbow. The height in the area was 79 inches.

March 18, 2021 WV · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Aracoma Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was hunched down against the wall of pump house, when employee stood up felt lightheaded and fell into the pump that was in front of employee, employee was supervising the ongoing work inside the pumphouse.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Davy Branch Mine

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.