Mining Incidents

Locust Thicket Coal

Banner Blue Coal Company · Underground
Controlled by Metinvest B V
Breaks, Buchanan County, VA  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4407046

Locust Thicket has $497K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 32 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
39
Years on record
2004–2012
Latest incident
Aug 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
1,064
citations
321
significant & substantial
$497,219
proposed penalties
$431,951
paid to date
87% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $65,268 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
123
inspections on record
7,805
inspection hours
13.6
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.
1,064 citations across 7,805 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Locust Thicket has $497K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 32 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.
$497K
proposed penalties
$439K
current assessed
$432K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
1,056 assessments are final orders; 32 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-11-09.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Locust Thicket shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.67 mg/m3 (90% compliant) across 647 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.
0.67
dust avg (mg/m3)
7.17
dust max (mg/m3)
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
647
samples
Most recent sample: 2012-11-26.
Silica (quartz)
4.5
silica avg (%)
8.4
silica max (%)
47
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-08-02.
Noise
6%
over PEL
72
samples
Most recent sample: 2012-08-03.
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
2012 Q4 0 44 7
2012 Q3 6,548 16 2 2443.5
2012 Q2 6,925 18 6 2599.3
2012 Q1 6,743 29 11 4300.8
2011 Q4 5,198 20 7 3847.6
2011 Q3 39,842 42 11 1054.2
2011 Q2 42,108 40 15 949.9
2011 Q1 47,435 35 10 737.9
Show 30 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2010 Q4 34,178 55 19 1609.2
2010 Q3 32,379 35 15 1080.9
2010 Q2 38,267 36 7 940.8
2010 Q1 34,259 35 12 1021.6
2009 Q4 30,770 22 7 715.0
2009 Q3 30,341 68 14 2241.2
2009 Q2 28,447 54 9 1898.3
2009 Q1 32,125 57 14 1774.3
2008 Q4 27,136 41 4 1510.9
2008 Q3 20,615 17 3 824.6
2008 Q2 27,831 28 12 1006.1
2008 Q1 26,340 19 2 721.3
2007 Q4 23,488 32 10 1362.4
2007 Q3 22,019 25 5 1135.4
2007 Q2 22,574 36 9 1594.8
2007 Q1 23,536 35 19 1487.1
2006 Q4 18,498 25 12 1351.5
2006 Q3 16,471 10 5 607.1
2006 Q2 16,225 23 14 1417.6
2006 Q1 15,732 26 5 1652.7
2005 Q4 13,434 14 3 1042.1
2005 Q3 15,004 13 4 866.4
2005 Q2 15,401 19 9 1233.7
2005 Q1 13,122 30 11 2286.2
2004 Q4 15,138 18 8 1189.1
2004 Q3 12,327 13 7 1054.6
2004 Q2 15,090 10 1 662.7
2004 Q1 13,442 7 3 520.8
2003 Q4 7,162 17 9 2373.6
2002 Q4 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

39 on file

2012 · 1 incident

August 6, 2012 VA · Coal superintendent MACHINERY
Hanna Coal Co., Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Laid right hand on head of roof bolter. Hit up lever pinch little finger between head are and boom jack.

2011 · 4 incidents

July 22, 2011 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was working on the miner and as he was lifting on the rub rail to install it he felt a pain in his groin area. He continued to work and started missing work on July 26 2011 due to a hernia which required surgery.

July 11, 2011 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Banner Blue Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was riding the mantrip to the surface, riding on the off side, as the mantrip was getting ready to go into a turn it scrubbed the rib. The employee got his left foot (toes area) caught between the rib and mantrip railing causing a laceration to the big toe and his big toe and the one next to it was also broken.

April 9, 2011 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was helping with a belt move and a piece of draw rock fell and hit his hip as he was hanging cable near the tail piece in the face area.

January 31, 2011 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Banner Blue Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

As employee was bolting top a piece of rock fell from the rib and hit him in the left hip and knocked him into the bolt tray chipping his front right tooth. Employee stated that he checked the rib before bolting and it looked good. He returned to work on his next scheduled shift.

2010 · 16 incidents

November 17, 2010 VA · Coal transit man, surveyor/transit worker FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was picking up a channel sample that his helper was chipping off of the rib and a piece of rock fell and hit his right hand causing a laceration to the ring and little finger that took sutures to close the lacerations. He was wearing gloves.

October 27, 2010 VA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was helping install an air lock door approximately one break inside the mine. They had scaled the top. Later on a piece of rock 10"WX10"LX3" thick fell and hit him on the back as he was bent over.

October 15, 2010 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Approximately one break underground EE was going through an air lock door when the door came back shut and hit him on the right shoulder. He continued to work and was placed on restricted duty when he was diagnosed with a chipped bone in his shoulder.

October 11, 2010 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was helping hang an air lock door approx. one break inside and as he lifted he felt pain in his lower back. He was diagnosed as having a strain and was put on light duty. He has a return to work at full duty slip.

October 4, 2010 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a hole in a piece of belt when the knife slipped and hit him on the right leg two inches above the knee. He was going to use the piece of belt to drag rock dust to a trickle duster a few breaks away. Three sutures were used to close the laceration.

September 1, 2010 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was backing a 3 wheeler up on the belt line to check a rib near the #5 drive when he backed up on some rock and caused his head to go into the top. A musle was pulled in his neck. He is working on restricted duty. Additional days will be reported when he returns to full duty.

August 21, 2010 VA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was picking up belt structure outby the loadout in a break and as he picked up one piece another piece lying on the first one hit him above the left eye toward the center of the forehead causing a laceration that took 2 sutures to close.

August 12, 2010 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

On 8-12-2010 a rock fall was found on the belt line in the #4 heading. The fall was approximately 20' wide X 70' long X 6 to 8' high. This fall was in our secondary escapeway.

August 10, 2010 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was pouring hydraulic oil from a can into the Miner and hit a sharp edge on the bucket and cut his right hand. The laceration required 5 sutures to close the wound.

August 5, 2010 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

A rock fall 6' high, 20' wide, 40' long was found near break 79 at spad number 1668 in the number one entry of the panel 6A. This fall did not hinder travel or flow of ventilation.

August 3, 2010 VA · Coal welder HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was helping put a piece of top belt structure in. He was in the number 4 entry. As he was lifting he felt a pain in his lower back. He continued to work and due to complication he started missing work on Sept. 14, 2010.

August 3, 2010 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was pushing on a set of air lock doors with his shoulder and when the door opened he hit the other door with his hand, causing a laceration to his index finger that required 8 sutures to close.

June 16, 2010 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee's wife called on 6-17-10 and said that EE had hurt his back shoveling belt. No incident of a back injury was turned in at the end of the shift by ee nor did he tell his foreman that he hurt himself. This alleged accident is under investigation.

May 26, 2010 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Flash burns (welding)

Employee was welding on a set of air lock doors located near the surface, when later on he discovered that he had burned his right eye.

April 24, 2010 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Banner Blue Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

An air lock door was blocked opened with a header and as a scoop went through the door the header fell and the employee grabbed the door and got his fingers mashed when the door went against the top. The employee had given prior notice that he was quitting going to work for another mine and that this was his last shift working for us.

April 14, 2010 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was tramming the Miner from the deck and had his arm on the cable arm of the Miner when he hit the rib and twisted his right arm. He continued to work and due to complications started missing work on April 22, 2010.

2009 · 4 incidents

October 27, 2009 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Banner Blue Coal Company · Fall down stairs

Employee slipped on the steps leading out of the hose trailer and fell hitting on his right knee. Fell approximately four feet.

October 10, 2009 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee jacked up a three wheel buggy and took the tire off to check for a noise he heard. He had two jacks plus some blocking under the buggy when it killed over and hit him on the left leg in the shin area causing a contusion.

July 24, 2009 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

On July 24, 2009 employee was kneeling at the power center trying to hook the cat head up for the Bridge. As he pulled on the cable for slack, he twisted his right knee. He continued to work and on October 16, 2009 he had to have surgery for a lateral meniscal and has been missing work since then.

April 13, 2009 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was bolting top, putting in a rib bolt when the swing level got fouled and pushed him into the rib causing bruising.

2008 · 4 incidents

November 12, 2008 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

A rock fall appox. 20'x20'x6' high fell in the break between # 1 and 2 headings in the return near spad number 64. This fall does not impede the travel or air flow.

July 9, 2008 VA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Banner Blue Coal Company · Fall from machine

On July 9, 2008 an employee was crossing the conveyor chain on the miner when he slipped and twisted his right knee. Due to complications the employee started missing work on October 10, 2008.

April 5, 2008 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by flying object

Employee was hitting a metal shaft with a hammer when a piece of metal flew off and hit him in the mouth knocking his upper front tooth out. Employee has continued to work and has missed no days.

February 12, 2008 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee slipped and fell as he was putting a roof bolt up and the bolter head swung onto his right knee. He started missing work on 2/19/08 and returned to work on 2/21/08 (2) days.

2007 · 3 incidents

October 22, 2007 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Banner Blue Coal Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

On 10-22-07 employee picked up a bag of rock dust and complained of pain in lower back, continued to work. On 10-24-07 he sustained injuries in a vehicle accident (off property) where he was rear ended but still contuined to work. On 12-3-07 he started missing work. After a medical review they determined that he is missing work due to the 10-23-07 accident.

October 5, 2007 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall, 30 feet long X 20 feet wide X 8 to 10 feet high fell in the #5 heading at spad number 285. Reported to MSHA at 12:52PM of day of occurrence.

September 10, 2007 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was bolting top with two piece drill steel. When he was extracting the drill steel it came apart and hit his thumb on the right hand causing a fracture to it.

2006 · 1 incident

January 24, 2006 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE said he was backing up pinner, and ran over a rock in haulway, got head in top, said his neck was strained.

2005 · 4 incidents

July 15, 2005 VA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler POWERED HAULAGE
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Struck against stationary object

Employee passing by Mac 8 on his 3 wheeler somehow caught his left arm on something on Mac 8.

July 5, 2005 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object

EE SAID WAS SCALING DOWN SOME DRAW ROCK ON A NEW PANEL WITH A SCALE BAR. A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL OUT BETWEEN BOLTS 5' X 4' X 1 TO 9" THICK, STRIKING HIS SLATE BAR THAT HIT HIS LEFT LOWER LEG, FRACTURING HIS LEG

March 7, 2005 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Fall onto or against objects

EE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO PUSH A 3-WHEELED MANTRIP BECAUSE IT WAS LOW ON BATTERY POWER. EE SAID HE SLIPPED AND BUMPED HIS RIGHT KNEE AGAINST THE MANTRIP.

January 17, 2005 VA · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO RAISE A PIECE OF BELT STRUCTURE BACK UP ON SIDE RAIL WHEN HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK. EE CAME BACK TO WORK ON 1/18/05 AND CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 3/8/05 WHEN HE SAW A DOCTOR BECAUSE OF HIS BACK. EE RETURNED TO WORK ON 3/14/05.

2004 · 2 incidents

December 29, 2004 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech FIRE
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE said he was working on a 3 wheeler when he got too close to a fire bucket and it caught his clothing on fire. It burned his right arm near elbow area.

October 18, 2004 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bee Tree Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL DISCOVERED ON PRESHIFT. IT IS IN #4 HEADING, STARTING AT SPAD#251 AND GOING UP TO SPAD#266. FALL IS 140X22 AND 8 TO 15 FEET HIGH. IT FELL ON #1 MBC AND #1 PIG CONV.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Locust Thicket

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.