Mining Incidents

Laurel Branch Surface Coal

Clintwood JOD, LLC · Surface
Controlled by JOD Holdings LLC
Hurley, Buchanan County, VA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4407199

Laurel Branch Surface has $432K in proposed MSHA penalties and $74K outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Laurel Branch Surface.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
36
Years on record
2008–2026
Latest incident
Jan 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
706
citations
253
significant & substantial
$431,668
proposed penalties
$342,773
paid to date
79% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $88,895 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2007
91
inspections on record
5,909
inspection hours
11.9
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.
706 citations across 5,909 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Laurel Branch Surface has $432K in proposed MSHA penalties and $74K outstanding across 12 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.
$432K
proposed penalties
$417K
current assessed
$343K
paid to date
$74K
outstanding
696 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-07.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Laurel Branch Surface shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.15 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 576 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.
0.15
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.69
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
576
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-11.
Silica (quartz)
17.6
silica avg (%)
45.3
silica max (%)
61
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-03-24.
Noise
2%
over PEL
167
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-03-04.
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 49,222 3 0 60.9
2025 Q3 51,549 15 7 291.0
2025 Q2 69,792 17 2 243.6
2025 Q1 70,080 34 8 485.2
2024 Q4 66,794 1 0 15.0
2024 Q3 77,967 28 8 359.1
2024 Q2 69,764 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 72,433 0 0 0.0
Show 67 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 68,470 13 3 189.9
2023 Q3 87,602 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 83,880 27 10 321.9
2023 Q1 69,868 15 6 214.7
2022 Q4 74,986 2 2 26.7
2022 Q3 63,016 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 77,644 22 13 283.3
2022 Q1 66,190 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 70,255 16 4 227.7
2021 Q3 55,583 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 62,521 20 3 319.9
2021 Q1 52,384 5 1 95.4
2020 Q4 49,743 5 0 100.5
2020 Q3 30,458 6 1 197.0
2020 Q2 51,257 16 6 312.2
2020 Q1 44,240 19 4 429.5
2019 Q4 35,442 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 28,592 32 11 1119.2
2019 Q2 26,783 1 1 37.3
2019 Q1 26,911 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 32,062 16 6 499.0
2018 Q3 29,875 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 34,095 20 9 586.6
2018 Q1 31,589 20 1 633.1
2017 Q4 31,261 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 29,421 16 8 543.8
2017 Q2 25,470 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 29,658 5 0 168.6
2016 Q4 33,269 3 0 90.2
2016 Q3 33,927 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 26,254 14 4 533.3
2016 Q1 32,443 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 31,116 20 6 642.8
2015 Q3 36,850 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 38,597 11 2 285.0
2015 Q1 34,354 18 5 524.0
2014 Q4 36,956 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 49,239 26 12 528.0
2014 Q2 48,545 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 49,487 16 10 323.3
2013 Q4 43,642 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 47,739 9 5 188.5
2013 Q2 49,061 9 3 183.4
2013 Q1 39,688 16 11 403.1
2012 Q4 40,526 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 43,470 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 45,795 15 7 327.5
2012 Q1 49,290 36 22 730.4
2011 Q4 48,613 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 41,954 10 4 238.4
2011 Q2 45,923 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 44,630 14 4 313.7
2010 Q4 44,023 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 45,517 20 7 439.4
2010 Q2 43,758 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 44,909 29 14 645.8
2009 Q4 28,789 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 28,386 18 8 634.1
2009 Q2 28,002 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 30,105 32 10 1062.9
2008 Q4 28,533 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 29,377 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 34,388 6 1 174.5
2008 Q1 25,009 4 3 159.9
2007 Q4 0 0 0
2007 Q3 0 4 1
2007 Q2 2,882 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

36 on file

2026 · 1 incident

January 2, 2026 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS HOLDING PIN KNOCKER WHILE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS USING SLEDGE HAMMER AND THE SLEDGE HAMMER STRUCK THE PIN KNOCKER AND IT GLANCED OFF STRIKING EMPLOYEE ON WRIST

2025 · 2 incidents

November 21, 2025 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WENT TO GET IN ROCKTRUCK PLACED A FOOT ON BOTTOM STEP AND BOTH HANDS ON HANDRAIL TO PULL THEMSELVES UP LADDER, FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK, PUT FEET BACK ON GROUND AND FELL BACK ON THEIR BACKSIDE BECAUSE OF PAIN THEY FELT IN LOWER BACK

July 31, 2025 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING LOAD A DOZER ROLLER FRAME ONTO ROLLBACK AND WAS STANDING AT WINCH SPOOL ON BED OF TRUCK WHEN CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED THE WINCH CABLE TO RECOIL BACK STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE LEFT HAND

2024 · 2 incidents

July 31, 2024 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Fall from machine

Operator of coal truck was descending off 28 hill. Appears driver lost control and exited the truck, struck head on the ground and truck overturned below where driver exited the truck

April 23, 2024 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING FROM WATER TRUCK TO WATER TANK TO TURN WATER VALVE ON, SAW THAT THE ROPE TO TURN VALVE ON WAS BROKEN, EMPLOYEE WENT TO FIX IT AND STEPPED BETWEEN ROCKS AND TWISTED ANKLE. RESULTING IN FRACTURE TO FIBULA.

2023 · 2 incidents

November 14, 2023 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING LOADER WHEN THE BUCKET TOOTH CAUGHT A ROCK AND WHILE LIFTING BUCKET, THE BACK WHEEL CAME OFF GROUND AND THE TOOTH SLIPPED OFF ROCK ALLOWING LOADER TO HIT GROUND, COLLASPING OPERATOR SEAT AND RESULTED IN HURTING EMPLOYEE'S BACK.

April 20, 2023 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING INSTALL ENGINE ON DOZER, SAID THEY LOST FOOTING AND FELL APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ON THEIR BACK ONTO TRACK / PUSH ARM OF DOZER AND FELL TO GROUND.

2022 · 2 incidents

December 6, 2022 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Fall from machine

Operator was descending incline while loaded, attempted to change gears, truck wouldn't go in gear, operator made decision to exit the cab causing injury when operator jumped

June 25, 2022 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer OTHER
Clintwood JOD, LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was Dozer Operator, started shift at 6:00am. Employee was found around 8:00am unresponsive from apparent cardiac arrest.

2021 · 1 incident

March 17, 2021 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Climbing into cab of D11R had right hand on a hold of the cab door and footing slipped. Employee hung on to keep from falling, heard a pop and had pain in right elbow. It continued to hurt and felt weak when trying to extended arm out.

2020 · 7 incidents

November 30, 2020 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting in Foreman's pickup. While putting lunch bucket in back of truck, employee said felt something pop in left shoulder.

September 21, 2020 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was helping another employee unload a nitrogen cylinder from mechanics truck (89220). Employee was going to get end of cylinder, while it was being lowered from truck, when EE did it fell from bed pinning EE's left thumb between cylinder and bumper of mechanics truck, resulting in broken left thumb

August 25, 2020 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STRIKING OR BUMPING
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was on the front fender of 992G loader working on it. When EE finished EE turned from the fender to the deck of the loader and struck head on the mirror bracket resulting in laceration to head.

July 9, 2020 VA · Coal FIRE
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Company #223, 993K Loader S/N Z9K00471 caught fire and could not be extinguished within 30 minutes. No injuries involved.

June 16, 2020 VA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was hauling water down Haul road I, as employee came out of turn 3 employee lost the brake and lost control of truck where it traveled approximately 900 feet, employee drove truck up an adjacent road, when the load of water shifted to back causing the truck to overturn.

April 20, 2020 VA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee grabbed a hydraulic hose from hose reel on back of lube truck and wire braiding was protruding from the hose sticking employee in right index finger. Employee started missing work on 04/28/20

January 1, 2020 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood JOD, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped out of Lube Truck and twisted EE's ankle

2019 · 1 incident

July 22, 2019 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Descending ladder from rock truck got to bottom step when EE's foot slipped and went in between first and second step straining EE's knee.

2018 · 3 incidents

August 25, 2018 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating water truck, while descending downhill ee felt like truck went into neutral ee then applied brakes ran truck upon berm and overturned.

July 9, 2018 VA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was trying to open driver side door of lube truck when handle broke puncturing left hand

May 19, 2018 VA · Coal welder (non-shop) MACHINERY
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee changing sprocket on high wall drill when boom on mechanics truck extended casing EE's left hand to be pinched causing laceration to pinky finger on left hand.

2017 · 3 incidents

May 23, 2017 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee and co-worker picked up a bottle of nitrogen to carry to the truck they were working on. When employee felt a burning sensation in left shoulder.

May 8, 2017 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee said got out of truck to turn heater values off then climbed up the step to the side of engine as employee stepped back down felt a sharp pain in left hip.

January 28, 2017 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving on haul road at Clintwood Elkhorn, Laurel Branch Job, when vehicle hit a dip in the road and employee felt pain in lower back.

2016 · 1 incident

June 6, 2016 VA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

Driver was stepping off cement pad to hook the hose from powder truck to the bin. When EE stepped out of the truck, there was a large rock that EE stepped on and lost balance, which caused EE to sprain right ankle.

2015 · 5 incidents

December 23, 2015 VA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hearing loss claim was made on December 2, 2014. We received the award letter notification on 12/23/2015. His hearing for the award was on December 16, 2015. Employee retired on June 15, 2015.

September 15, 2015 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Fall from machine

Employee was going down ladder with fire extinguisher lost his hand hold and fell onto ground hitting his hand on bumper of rock truck and cutting his hand requiring stitches.

July 30, 2015 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hearing Loss Awarded Date 07/30/2015

March 5, 2015 VA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Slid into the ditch due to weather conitions

January 7, 2015 VA · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Changing bit on drill, employee was aligning the steel to knock off the bit ring, when the steel broke loose from the head falling and striking employee on the right foot and toes.

2014 · 2 incidents

June 24, 2014 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was opening the drain valve to drain tank on water truck. He turned to get away from water and ran into the platform for the fire hose stand.

June 11, 2014 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped out of mine office and felt pain in his back. Employee worked the rest of the day. He went to the doctor on 6-12-14. He went back to the doctor on 6-20-14 and was taken off work until further notice making his first day of loss time as of Monday 6-23-14. *Employee returned to work on 7/14/14 and went back off work on 7/21/14 as a recurrence of old injury.

2013 · 1 incident

March 5, 2013 VA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cleaning windshield, foot slipped injured shoulder, later required surgery. Starting missing work on 7/18/13.

2009 · 2 incidents

October 14, 2009 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Fall from machine

Started to climb down from dozer, slipped on push beam and fell to ground hitting his head and his shoulder.

April 20, 2009 VA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE came down steps of Loader to ground and when his left foot touched the ground, he turned and twisted his ankle.

2008 · 1 incident

October 14, 2008 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Clintwood Elkhorn Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

An old beech tree log was laying on the ground. Employee was cutting brush around log when it started to roll and rolled over on him, trapping him under the log.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Laurel Branch Surface

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.