Friendsville Mine: 210 MSHA citations Coal

While operating a Caterpillar D-10 bulldozer during road maintenance tasks involving rock patching on a haul road, an employee sustained back strain after inadvertently backing over a rock.

On June 25, 2026, an employee twisted an ankle on a rock while assisting water pumping. They reported to the Night Shift Foreman and was ok and only wanted to report it, then continued working. Off during mine shutdown June 28-July 6. On July 5, ER visit gave foot brace; released to return July 13.

While dismounting a D-11 the employee's foot slipped causing them to strike a knee on the step of the tilt cylinder on the push arm, after dismounting the employee checked their knee to find it was lacerated. Employee was taken to the hospital and received 8 sutures.

Haul truck was waiting to be loaded when a hyd hose blew causing fire. Miner jumped from ladder while exiting haul truck causing injury to left leg and right wrist.

Employee was performing repairs to 988B Loader. According to the employee, at just before 12:00 pm, employee was attempting to reposition the fan on the engine. When the employee stepped back, there was no surface area and the employee fell approximately 5 feet to the ground.

SETTING UP CRANE WEAR PADS ON OUTRIGGER SMASHED RIGHT THUMB FINGER.

Employee was standing in the bed of the flatbed supply truck. While bending over to tighten a wratchet strap EE slipped and fell in the bed of the truck. While falling EE tried to use left arm to embrace self causing injury to EE's left shoulder.

The mechanic was dismounting the bottom step of the Hitachi 1900 shovel. When EE slipped and fell to the ground

Employee was stepping off the school bus at the start of the shift when employee stepped sideways and rolled left ankle.

Employee lacerated left thumb while changing out a cab filter on the Komatsu #1500 haul truck. The framing of the cab filter has thin metal edges lacerating thumb.

Employee was working walking through heavy sticky mud when a foot got stuck. Employee twisted upper body to pull foot out and felt a strain in knee.

Employee was attempting to dismount the Cat 785D haul truck. When employee's foot slipped off the bottom step and fell 2' to the ground.

IE claims they bent down to pick up a small piece of grating stuck in mud. They felt a pop in their arm. IE was seen by doctor on 9/10/19 after it was reported to safety department, and was diagnosed with a bicep tear.

While dismounting the fuel truck, IE stepped down and rolled EE's ankle, resulting in a sprain. IE saw a company doctor on 06/26/2019 and was placed on restricted duty until follow up appointment.

IE was dismounting from Co# 10-12 D11 dozer when they slipped and fell landing on the tracks of the dozer. EE was taken to local emergency room, follow up visit on the 17th with company physician indicated acute nondisplaced fracture of the L4 vertebrae.

Fire on Company #10-11 D11 R dozer was reported by the operator to the Pit supervisor @ 8:35 p.m. fire fighting efforts by the company and local fire department was unsuccessful, MSHA was notified at 8:50 p.m. when it was observed that the fire would not be extinguished within the 30 minute window.

IE was supervising a planned explosive detonation. When the shot was detonated, a stray piece of rock came through the door of the drill, which had been left open, striking the IE in the back of the legs. This resulted in a distal fracture of the left fibula, and an occult fracture of the right 3rd metatarsal.

IE states that they were bitten by a spider or insect while at work.

EE exited EE trailer when he slipped on a patch of ice on the ground. He landed on his left side. X-rays of shoulder negative, placed on restrictions w/1st follow up to be on 1/24/14. RTW on 24th and L hand was swollen, X-ray was negative. Placed on restrictions: light finger work only with L hand and no operating company vehicles. Follow up apt 1/31. Reported due to restrictions.

Two EEs lowered a hydraulically driven pump into a tank. The pump was suspended from a 2 ton crane mounted on the back of a welding truck & the pump's discharge hose was tethered to a fork truck. EE was on top of the tank to manage the position of the pump. The static thickener rake pulled the pump discharge hose which caused the crane boom to spring & hit EE's leg.

EE was assembling the breaker gear box. The puller bar was supporting two 3' threaded rods, which were attached to the drive coupler for the gear box. EE was in process of removing the bolts from the bottom of the treaded rod, the puller bar shifted causing it to slip out of the nylon strap, falling approx 2' striking EE's left hand. Sutures to R little finger/restrictions.

A rain storm with lightning moved over the mine. The foreman with two miners began dragging pump hose with pickup trucks to the pump site to remove the water. They had the wrong end of the hose tied to the truck. EE got out to unchain the hose. He was holding the chain in his hand when he was shocked by stray current from a nearby lightning strike.

EE stated he was in the process of turning the fire hydrant on to fill the steam cleaner. As he was walking next to the hydrant he tripped over the main shut off valve pipe that extended 6" above ground level He fell on his left shoulder. The injury became reportable on 8/1 when he was issued a prescription medication and released to work with restrictions.

EE changed the fuel filter on the dozer. He practiced proper dismounting procedures by using 3 points of contact. However, as he took his final step to the ground, his right foot contacted a piece of shale. (Approximate size: 4"x6"x4" thick). This caused his right foot to roll laterally. X-rays determined he had a very minute chip in the bone on the right foot.

Two employees were in the process of replacing refuse flume screen panels. They lowered the panel (2' x 4', 150 lbs) to the deck by hand. At this point, the middle and ring finger of his left hand were caught between the deck and the screen panel. He was referred to an orthopedic surgeon where it was determined he had incurred fractures to the tip of both fingers.

Employee was dismounting anfo truck when he stepped on uneven ground causing a twisting motion to his right ankle. This resulted in a sprain. He returned to work with restrictions. Limit standing/walking to 15 min per hour 2 hours per chift.

The employee was attempting to turn 773 cat. water truck around on wet haul road. As he turned the truck skipped on wet road. When the truck contacted a dry section of the road it caused the water in the truck to shift and caused the truck to turn over on his left side. He was wearing a seat belt which prevented a more serious injury.

EE ALLEGES HE SLIPPED ON THE BOTTOM STEP OF #2664 VOLVO TRUCK WHILE MOUNTING TO BEGIN HIS SHIFT. HE COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN THE RT. FOOT & WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SPRAIN. HE WAS RELEASED TO WORK WITH RESTRICTIONS.