Mining Incidents

Dobbin Ridge Prep Plant Coal

Vindex Energy LLC · Facility
Controlled by Arch Resources Inc
Mt. Storm, WV, Grant County, WV  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4607837

Dobbin Ridge Prep Plant has $34K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
39
Years on record
1990–2017
Latest incident
Jan 2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
174
citations
104
significant & substantial
$34,396
proposed penalties
$24,933
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $9,463 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
91
inspections on record
2,375
inspection hours
7.3
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.
174 citations across 2,375 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Dobbin Ridge Prep Plant has $34K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K 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.
$34K
proposed penalties
$32K
current assessed
$25K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
170 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-04-12.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Dobbin Ridge Prep Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.37 mg/m3 (96% compliant) across 204 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.
0.37
dust avg (mg/m3)
4.84
dust max (mg/m3)
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
204
samples
Most recent sample: 2018-04-24.
Silica (quartz)
0.7
silica avg (%)
1.2
silica max (%)
7
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-08-10.
Noise
6%
over PEL
88
samples
Most recent sample: 2018-04-12.
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
2018 Q3 4,744 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 6,894 1 1 145.1
2018 Q1 6,097 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 3,666 2 1 545.6
2017 Q3 6,709 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 5,645 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 3,266 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 1,971 0 0 0.0
Show 64 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2016 Q3 1,761 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 1,454 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 1,588 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 2,227 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 1,526 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 1,865 6 1 3217.2
2014 Q3 2,178 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 2,419 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 2,830 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,554 1 1 281.4
2013 Q3 2,394 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 169 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 2,700 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 7,038 11 11 1562.9
2012 Q3 9,354 9 7 962.2
2012 Q2 11,962 17 14 1421.2
2012 Q1 14,041 6 5 427.3
2011 Q4 13,641 4 3 293.2
2011 Q3 12,969 9 6 694.0
2011 Q2 12,378 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 8,010 12 9 1498.1
2010 Q4 2,564 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 1,509 5 4 3313.5
2010 Q2 598 6 5 10033.4
2010 Q1 1,009 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 1,039 2 0 1924.9
2009 Q3 1,052 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 513 3 0 5848.0
2009 Q1 438 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 1,765 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 1,540 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 1,612 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 842 5 0 5938.2
2007 Q4 453 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 360 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 738 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,210 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 925 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 0 0 0
2006 Q1 10,542 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 18,160 2 0 110.1
2005 Q3 19,669 7 1 355.9
2005 Q2 17,610 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 19,422 21 14 1081.2
2004 Q4 18,630 6 2 322.1
2004 Q3 18,005 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 15,774 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 16,708 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 15,273 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 18,686 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 15,290 7 3 457.8
2003 Q1 15,156 2 2 132.0
2002 Q4 13,971 9 4 644.2
2002 Q3 13,592 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 13,722 5 1 364.4
2002 Q1 11,198 5 1 446.5
2001 Q4 8,109 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 8,999 6 5 666.7
2001 Q2 9,000 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 9,300 2 0 215.1
2000 Q4 9,000 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 8,100 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 3,770 1 1 265.3
2000 Q1 7,200 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

39 on file

2017 · 1 incident

January 18, 2017 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vindex Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was moving a piece of plywood and smashed finger between it and concrete causing a small fracture and cut to little finger.

2012 · 1 incident

August 22, 2012 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Vindex Energy Corporation · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Worker was cleaning debris from roller on raw coal belt. Belt was locked out and tagged. As debris was removed, stored tension caused the belt to move trapping the workers right hand and arm between the roller and belt up to his shoulder. Initial injury report is a cracked ulna bone with possible torn ligaments. Further test and injury results pending.

2011 · 2 incidents

November 28, 2011 WV · Coal security guard, watchman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vindex Energy Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE heard a noise in the truck shop so he unlocked it & went inside to check it out & a man came full force at him. Employee pushed him away & then the man punched him in the nose. EE hit him 2 or 3 times in the face with his fist & the man landed on the floor. EE put his knee on his back & heard footsteps behind him then was hit in the head. He was unconscious for about 40 minutes

November 14, 2011 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vindex Energy Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking through the plant and stepped in a hole causing him to sprain his left ankle.

2008 · 1 incident

February 11, 2008 WV · Coal FIRE
Vindex Energy Corporation · Accident type, without injuries

A contractor was reteiving some drag line parts from an abandon truck shop. One of the contrator employees was attempting to disengage a parts rack with a cutting torch. Sparks from the torch caught the back wall on fire. The fire quickly spread to the roof and was immediately out of control. Local fire departments were summoned, but the building was a complete loss.

2005 · 5 incidents

November 28, 2005 WV · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a pry bar in an attempt to remove a final drive when he felt something give in his back.

November 18, 2005 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was fabricating steel bars for a breaker when a piece of steel lodged in his right eye.

November 7, 2005 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee was lowering a drill cylinder to the ground when the choker cable slipped and released the cylinder. The cylinder fell on top of him and pinned him to the ground.

February 17, 2005 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE was in the process of dumping a tri-axle load of coal when the truck tipped over. the ee suffered a laceration to his right ear.

January 31, 2005 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

Unloading tri-axle dump truck when the hoist broke through the bed causing the employee to bounce into top of the cab.

2004 · 3 incidents

November 23, 2004 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PREP PLANT WHEN HE STEPPED INTO A FLOOR SUMP AND BRUISED HIS SHIN AND KNEE.

September 13, 2004 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN A TRUCK TAILGATE TO SEE IF ALL THE COAL HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BED. THE WEIGHT OF THE TAILGATE PULLED HIM FORWARD AND PINNED HIS RIGHT HAND BETWEEN THE TAILGATE AND THE BODY OF THE TRUCK.

May 22, 2004 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP A CHUTE WITH AN OVERHEAD CRANE WHEN THE CHUTE MOVED AND PINCHED HIS LEFT THUMB BETWEEN THE CHUTE AND SEPARATOR.

2003 · 3 incidents

September 23, 2003 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Fall from ladders

EE WAS CLIMBING UP LADDER AND HIS LEFT LEG MISSED A RUNG ON THE LADDER CAUSING ALL OF HIS WEIGHT TO BE PLACED ON HIS RIGHT LEG. EE STATED THIS CAUSED HIS RIGHT KNEE TO BE INJURED

August 25, 2003 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CHANGING AN AIRLINE ON A 769 C CAT TRUCK. HE WENT TO REACH UPWARD TOWARDS THE AIRLINE AND FELT PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK.

June 24, 2003 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKER WAS HANDLING A HYRAULIC CYLINDER BY HAND AND IT ROLLED OVER AND PINCHED HIS LEFT ARM AGAINST OTHER CYLINDER.

2002 · 3 incidents

December 7, 2002 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS PULLING ON A WRENCH WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING POP IN THE LITTLE FINGER OF HIS RIGHT HAND. HE FINISHED HIS SHIFT AND WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM THE NEXT DAY WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BR OKEN FINGER.

April 1, 2002 WV · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON A RAILROAD CAR BRAKE WHEEL FOR THE PURPOSE OF RELEASING IT WHEN HE FELT A PULL AND STRAIN IN HIS LEFT UPPER ARM.

February 24, 2002 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by flying object

EE WAS USING A RED DEVIL COME-ALONG TO LIFT AND HOLD A STEEL PLATE WHEN THE CABLE BROKE CAUSING EITHER THE HOOK OR HANDLE TO STRIKE HIS RIGHT LEG.

2001 · 2 incidents

January 23, 2001 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE WAS CUTTING BOLTS OFF SCRAPER AND INHALED FUMES.

January 18, 2001 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

A PIECE OF SHARP RUSTY GRATING SLIPPED AND FELL AGAINST HIS LEFT FOREARM.

2000 · 3 incidents

November 8, 2000 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS USING A WRENCH TO REMOVE A BOLT WHEN THE WRENCH SLIPPED & MASHED THE END OF HIS MIDDLE FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND BETWEEN THE WRENCH & A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON

October 24, 2000 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

TWISTED BACK WHILE LOGOING HYDRUALIC PUMP AND PRESS UNIT.

January 24, 2000 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND SLIPPED ON THE ICE TWISTING HIS RIGHT KNEE.

1998 · 3 incidents

December 27, 1998 WV · Coal refuse truck driver, backfill truck driver, stock pile truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A COAL TRUCK OPERATOR (CONTRACTOR) WAS HAULING REFUSE MATERIAL FROM THE PREP PLANT TO THE REFUSE SITE. AFTER DUMPING A LOAD THE DRIVER WALKED TO THE REAR OF TRUCK TO SE IF BED WAS EMPTY. A MAS S OF FROZEN MATERIAL SLID FROM THE TRUCK BED AND STRUCK THE DRIVER, AFTER THE DRIVER WAS EXTRACTED IT WAS OBSERVED THAT HIS LEFT LEG WAS AMPUTATED BELOW THE KNEE.

June 10, 1998 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS ASSISTING IN LIFTING ON ENGINE WHEN THE CHAIN BEING USED SLIPPED ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO SLIDE. THE ENGINE PINNED HIS MIDDLE FINGER BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND THE EQUIPMENT FRAME .

January 23, 1998 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WENT TO PULLOPEN THE LID ON TOP OF THE POWDER TRUCK DUE TO ICE BUILD-UP ON THE DOOR IT DID NOT OPEN AND THE EMPLOYEE PULLED HIS BIECEP MUSCLE.

1997 · 2 incidents

November 21, 1997 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

LOADER RAN OVER LUMPS OF COAL AND ROCK CAUSING A QUICK SHIFTING MEVEMENT OF THE CAB RESULTING IN A LOWER BACK STRAIN.

February 3, 1997 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

GPF-5%AWARD FROM WV WORKERS COMPENSATION.

1996 · 1 incident

October 10, 1996 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CUTTING A RUBBER HOSE WITH HIS POCKET KNIFE. THE KNIFE WENT THRU THE HOSE AND CUT HIS LEFT SMALL FINGER ALMOST 1/2 WAY OFF.

1994 · 6 incidents

December 9, 1994 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Fall from machine

CLIMBING UP ON REAR ENGINE OF PAN WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL TO THE FLOOR IN THE SHOP BUILDING.

September 19, 1994 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

CUTTING INT EH AIR, SPARK FLEW AND FELL INSIDE OF SHIRT SLEEVE, AND BURNT THE RIGHT ELBOW.

August 15, 1994 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Fall from machine

THE BRAKES LACKED ADEQUAT E HOLDING POWER ONCE THE RAIL CARS WERE LOADING UPON REALIZING THIS THE EMPLOYEE JUMPED FROM THE CAR INJURING HIS LEG

June 13, 1994 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE STEPPED DOWN OFF A RAILROAD CAR & TURNED HIS RT ANKLE

May 4, 1994 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS TILTING A DRUM OF LIQUID ASND IT SLIPPED BACK AGAINST HIM CAUSING LOW BACK PAIN. EMPLOYEE DID NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR. THE NEXT DAWY HE CAME DOWN WITH THE FLU AND WAS NOT ABLE TO W ORK DUE TO THE FLU. ON MONDAY HE WENT TO THE DOTOR BECASUSE HIS BACK BOTHERED HIM.

March 9, 1994 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING TO JOB LOCATION WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL ON HIS RIGHT KNEE.

1993 · 1 incident

May 19, 1993 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING EQUIPMENT ONTO A REPAIR STAND AND STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK.

1992 · 1 incident

April 27, 1992 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ABOUT 4 TO 7 FEET OFF THE GROUND GERTTING COAL SAMPLES AND FELL OFF ON MY BACK.EMPLOYEE WAS NOT CAREFUL IN FOOT PLACEMENT AND SLIPPED.FELL ONTO GROUND.

1990 · 1 incident

October 26, 1990 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Buffalo Coal Company Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE STANDING ON DOZER TRACK, LOST HIS FOOTING AND HIS LEFT HAND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TURBO HOUSING RESULTING IN BURNS TO HIS HAND.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Dobbin Ridge 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.