Mining Incidents

Litwar Preparation Plant Coal

Iaeger, Mcdowell County, WV  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4605872

Litwar Preparation Plant has $49K in proposed MSHA penalties and $691 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Litwar Preparation Plant.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
45
Years on record
1987–2019
Latest incident
Feb 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
295
citations
133
significant & substantial
$49,092
proposed penalties
$45,428
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,664 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
94
inspections on record
4,103
inspection hours
7.2
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.
295 citations across 4,103 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Litwar Preparation Plant has $49K in proposed MSHA penalties and $691 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.
$49K
proposed penalties
$46K
current assessed
$45K
paid to date
$691
outstanding
295 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2019-03-14.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Litwar Preparation Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.36 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 268 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.
0.36
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.90
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
268
samples
Most recent sample: 2021-08-11.
Silica (quartz)
1.9
silica avg (%)
8.2
silica max (%)
34
samples
Most recent sample: 2020-06-16.
Noise
8%
over PEL
109
samples
Most recent sample: 2020-11-05.
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
2024 Q1 630 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 510 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 580 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 580 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 640 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 460 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 590 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 580 0 0 0.0
Show 89 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2022 Q1 640 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 350 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 994 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 1,401 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 1,428 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,139 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,439 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,375 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,468 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 2,707 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,621 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,168 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,905 1 0 256.1
2018 Q4 3,484 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,642 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,251 4 0 1230.4
2018 Q1 4,361 6 0 1375.8
2017 Q4 3,521 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 4,109 15 4 3650.5
2017 Q2 3,350 6 1 1791.0
2017 Q1 3,406 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 1,883 1 0 531.1
2016 Q3 2,067 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,375 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 15,039 4 2 266.0
2015 Q4 15,568 3 0 192.7
2015 Q3 18,747 10 2 533.4
2015 Q2 18,289 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 17,340 12 5 692.0
2014 Q4 17,526 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 20,016 24 12 1199.0
2014 Q2 21,184 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 21,430 1 0 46.7
2013 Q4 19,068 5 3 262.2
2013 Q3 22,602 19 8 840.6
2013 Q2 20,610 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 22,579 19 5 841.5
2012 Q4 17,371 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 21,815 15 5 687.6
2012 Q2 21,494 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 14,967 8 4 534.5
2011 Q4 14,663 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 13,370 4 2 299.2
2011 Q2 13,643 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 14,300 10 4 699.3
2010 Q4 12,465 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 12,417 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 11,513 8 2 694.9
2010 Q1 12,541 4 1 319.0
2009 Q4 10,109 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 12,043 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 9,781 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 11,393 2 0 175.5
2008 Q4 10,516 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 10,939 2 1 182.8
2008 Q2 11,820 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 10,464 2 1 191.1
2007 Q4 9,373 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 11,124 3 0 269.7
2007 Q2 15,116 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 15,599 23 17 1474.5
2006 Q4 15,643 22 16 1406.4
2006 Q3 17,194 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 17,883 1 0 55.9
2006 Q1 17,159 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 16,209 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 15,215 4 0 262.9
2005 Q2 8,301 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 12,572 6 3 477.3
2004 Q4 10,891 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 12,731 7 4 549.8
2004 Q2 13,857 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 15,733 2 0 127.1
2003 Q4 16,331 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 20,003 5 4 250.0
2003 Q2 17,982 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 16,229 11 11 677.8
2002 Q4 19,003 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 21,839 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 20,975 1 0 47.7
2002 Q1 21,417 2 1 93.4
2001 Q4 21,608 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 20,175 11 7 545.2
2001 Q2 24,446 1 0 40.9
2001 Q1 21,024 8 6 380.5
2000 Q4 18,398 1 1 54.4
2000 Q3 23,480 1 0 42.6
2000 Q2 22,250 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 18,178 1 1 55.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

45 on file

2019 · 1 incident

February 13, 2019 WV · Coal electrician, lineman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE has been diagnosed with Occupational Pneumoconiosis

2016 · 2 incidents

May 21, 2016 WV · Coal security guard, watchman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Fall down stairs

EE was doing 3:00 am rounds when coming down a set stairs at the plant EE tripped and fell down. EE was complaining of back, neck and head was hurting. Ambulance transported EE to Welch Community Hospital at 0423. EE was released was told to stay off work till 5-24-16. EE went to family doctor on 5-26-16 and was put off till 6-3-16.

January 6, 2016 WV · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employer was notified by the compensation administrator that the employee had a diagnosis of hearing loss on 1/6/16. Employee is no longer employed at the plant.

2011 · 1 incident

February 10, 2011 WV · Coal security guard, watchman EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was assisting the unloading of equipment from a trailer. The equipment would not start. An air hose was used to inject air into a fuel line. The air pressure blew a hole in the line forcing an unknown object into the corner of the employee's left eye.

2005 · 2 incidents

September 9, 2005 WV · Coal electrician, lineman POWERED HAULAGE
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Struck by powered moving object

EE WAS UNHOOKING A CHAIN FROM A TAIL ROLLER THAT HAD BEEN PLACED BY A FORKLIFT. AS THE FORKLIFT WAS LEAVING, THE FORK DROPPED DOWN AND CONTACTED HIS RIGHT LITTLE FINGER, SEVERING THE TIP (NO BONE INVOLVEMENT).

April 22, 2005 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee stepped off of a one step stool after turning off the belt scales in the plant control room and lost his balance. He fell into a desk bruising his right arm. Employee started missing work on 04-25-05

2004 · 3 incidents

December 22, 2004 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee has had his bersa sac removed due to repetive trauma, shoveling at work, over a period of time. Contributing factors are that he is a diabetic and had an infection in the elbow at th e time he bumped his elbow while shoveling.

September 1, 2004 WV · Coal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS USING A CHAINFALL TO LIFT A PIECE OF METAL DURING REPAIR PROCEDURE. EE GOT HIS HAND CAUGHT BETWEEN THE METAL AND I BEAM, CAUSING A LACERATION TO THE LEFT HAND.

March 4, 2004 WV · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Litwar Processing Company, LLC · Fall from machine

MUDDY CONDITIONS - FOOT SLIPPED ONTO MUDDY DOZER TRACKS - FELL TO GROUND. PLEASE NOTE: COMPANY ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILLED OUT ON 3-4-04. EMPLOYEE CONTINUED TO WORK ON A DAILY BASIS AND DID NOT MISS ANY WORK UNTIL 4-15-04 DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.

2003 · 4 incidents

May 21, 2003 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer

FUELING D6 CAT DOZER, FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF TRACKS OF DOZER, CAUGHT SELF WITH RIGHT ARM, GOT CATCH IN RIGHT SHOULDER. ACCIDENT DUE TO MUD AND WET TRACKS.

March 7, 2003 WV · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management

WHILE GETTING OFF THE D6 DOZER, HE SLIPPED AND LANDED ON HIS RIGHT SIDE. HE HAD PAIN IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND NECK, HE ALSO HAD PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG AND RIGHT KNEE.

January 2, 2003 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall from machine

HE WAS GETTING OFF THE TRAIN, SLIPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND.

2001 · 4 incidents

February 27, 2001 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall from machine

HE FELL OFF AN ENDLOADER TIRE WHILE HE WAS CHANGING OUT AN AIR FILTER.

2000 · 3 incidents

July 29, 2000 WV · Coal brakeman, roperider, car runner, spotterman, snapper, trip rider, car rider, flagman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

HE WAS USING A SLEDGE HAMMER ON THE CONE OF THE SILO TO GET COAL TO FEED THRU IT. AND FELT PAIN IN HIS RT. SHOULDER.

May 16, 2000 WV · Coal coal sampler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

LOADING COAL SAMPLES IN PICKUP TRUCK-EE TRIED TO STEP INTO PICK UP TRUCK USING REAR STEP BUMPER FOOT SLIPPED AND CUT FINGER ON TAILGATE.

1999 · 2 incidents

October 4, 1999 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall from machine

WHILE STEPPING DOWN FROM THE REFUSE TRUCK, EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON A ROCK AND FELL TO THE GROUND.

January 15, 1999 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Struck by flying object

HE WAS WALKING BY THE TIRE CAGE AND THE TIRE HE HAD JUST PUT AIR IN BLEW UPP. THE CONCUSSION OF AIR ONLY, KNOCKED HIM DOWN.

1998 · 5 incidents

September 16, 1998 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

HE WAS ABOUT TO TIGHTEN THE RADIATOR CAP ON THE D-8 DOZER WHEN THE CAP BLEW OFF SPRAYING HIM WITH ANTI-FREEZE.

May 5, 1998 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall from machine

HE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE REFUSE TRUCK AND FELL TO THE GROUND. HIS FOOTING SLIPPED WHILE DISMOUNTING. THERE WERE NO APPARENT INJURIES CONTUSIONS OR CUTS. HIS BACK WAS ACHING SOME AND GETTING S TIFF.

January 2, 1998 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

HE WAS FUELING UP THE REFUSE TRUCKWHEN HE SLIPPED IN TEH MUD AND SNOW, HE FELL ON THE GROUND INJURING HIS TAILBONE AND HIP.

1997 · 1 incident

January 14, 1997 WV · Coal electrician, lineman POWERED HAULAGE
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE HE WAS USING A PROPANE TORCH A FOOT HANDLE WITH A TORCH END THE TORCH END BECAME TOO CLOSE TO THE BELT ROLLER KNOCKING THE TORCH END AGAINS THE ROLLER AND THE OTHER END HAND PINCHED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE WALK WAY STRUCTURE.

1996 · 3 incidents

June 5, 1996 WV · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

WHILE WALKING ON RR TRACKS, HE SLIPPED AND FELL. HE FELL ON THE SIDE OF HIS RT FOOT.

1994 · 2 incidents

November 5, 1994 WV · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS CHIPPING RUST OFF THE PREWET SCREEN AND HAD RUST DUST PARTICLES ALL OVER HIM. HE BEGAN TO WIPE HIMSELF OFF AND RUBBED RUST OVER HIS EYE.

1993 · 2 incidents

November 29, 1993 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

AFTER HE GOT OFF THE DOZER HE TOOK A COUPLE OF STEPS AND SLIPPED AND FELL. THE REFUSE HAD A LAYER OF FROST ON IT AND HE LOST HIS FOOTING.

1992 · 3 incidents

December 1, 1992 WV · Coal car dropper, car shake out operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Virginia Crews Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS TRYING TO PICK UP THE HANDLE ON THE R.R. CAR UNCOUPLER THAT HAD BECOME UNATTACHED. IT WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND, AND AS HE STARTED TO PICK IT UP, THE HANDLE TURNED, SLAPPED HIM ACROSS THE TOP OF HIS LEFT HAND.

April 15, 1992 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Fall from machine

WHILE PUTTING HYD OIL IN ENDLOADER SLIPPED WHILE DISMOUNTING LADDER AND SWUNG INTO LADDER WITH LEFT SIDE OF RIB CAGE.STARTED MISSING WORK 4-21-92.

February 7, 1992 WV · Coal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Fall onto or against objects

THE OUTSIDE BELT AT THE PLANT HAD WRECKED. HE WAS HELPING TO PULL THE BELT BACK UPON THE BELT STRUCTURE WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING. HE FELL BACKWARDS PINNING HIS RIGHT LEG BETWEEN THE ROLLER A ND WIRE ROPE.

1990 · 3 incidents

September 22, 1990 WV · Coal electrician, lineman ELECTRICAL
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Flash burns (electric)

SLIDING ON CONTROL PANEL BACK IN CABINET A WIRE BLOWED OFF BETWEEN POWER CLIP AND BREAKER FLASH GAVE HIM FLASH BURNS

September 7, 1990 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

HE WAS SWEEPING THE CONTROL ROOM ADN BEGAN TO MOVE A BOX OF WATER OUT OF THE WAY WHEN HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SOME LOW BACK PAIN.

July 24, 1990 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

HE WAS PICKING UP METAL ON THE 3RD FLOOR.

1989 · 1 incident

October 17, 1989 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

HE STRAINED HIS UPPER ARM AND SHOULDER WHILE CLOSING THE BOTTOM DOORS ON A RAIROAD CAR. HE STARTED TO HAVE PAIN AND NUMBNESS IN HIS FINGERS AND PAIN IN HIS SHOULDER. HOWEVER HE DID NOT START T O MISS WORK TIL 10-20-89.

1987 · 3 incidents

August 27, 1987 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Fall from machine

ON ENGINE DROPP3NG RR CARS AND AS HE GOT UP ON ENGINE TO SEE WHEN FRONT CAR WAS GOING TO COUPLE UP THEY COUPLED AND HE WAS THROWED OFF ENGINE.

April 8, 1987 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Fall from machine

HE SLIPPED WHIL9 STARTING TO GET OFF A LADDER ON AN ENDLOADER.

January 28, 1987 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Red Ash Sales Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

ROAD CONDITIONS3WERE BAD DUE TO SNOW AND ICE.THE TRUCK HE WAS DRIVING SLID BACKWARDS AND TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Litwar Preparation 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.