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Watson Bridge Mine: 1 recorded fatality Coal

Addwest Mining Inc · Surface
Owensboro, Hopkins County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1516851

MSHA record for Watson Bridge Mine (mine ID 1516851). Fatalities, non-fatal incidents grouped by year, current operator and controller, and mine context.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
8
Years on record
1990–1992
Latest incident
Mar 1992
Ownership history
  1. Addwest Mining Inc 1990 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.

Watson Bridge Mine sits in Hopkins County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.7% of county employment.

Local economic context
ⓘ County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Hopkins County, Kentucky · Population 45,143
2.7%
Mining share of county employment
$57,610
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
November 12, 1991 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Addwest Mining Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EMP PREPARING TO ATTACH ELECTRICAL SUPPLY CABLE BETWEEN ADD CAR COAL CONVEYING UNITS WHEN EXPLOSION OCCURRED INBY THE HIGHWALL BEING MINED. EMPLOYEE WAS THROWN OFF LAUNCH PLATFORM SUSTAINING FATAL BLUNT TRAUMA INJURIES AND BURNS.

Reportable incidents

7 on file (excluding fatalities above)

1992 · 1 incident

March 17, 1992 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Addwest Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS MOUNTING D10N DOZER WHEN HIS FOOT SLIPPED FROM STEP. HE HELD ONTO GRAB BAR TO PREVENT FALL. PULLED MUSCLES IN UPPER RIGHT ARM.

1991 · 5 incidents

November 12, 1991 KY · Coal auger operator, auger crew supervisor IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Addwest Mining Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPL WAS OPERATING HIGHWALL MINING SYSTEM WHEN EXPLOSION OCCURRED INBY HIGHWALL BEING MINED. WINDOWS OF OPERATORS COMPARTMENT WERE BLOWN OUT. EMPL SUFFERED BURNS TO HANDS, ARMS & NECK & MULTIP LE LACERATIONS.

November 12, 1991 KY · Coal outside foreman, leadman IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Addwest Mining Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPL WAS PREPARING TO MAKE MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 2 ADD CAR UNITS WHEN EXPLOSION OCCURRED INBY HIGHWALL BEING MINED. EMPL WAS THROWN OFF LAUNCH PLATFORM SUSTAINING 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO F ACE & UPPER CHEST, FRACTURED JAW AVULSED EAR, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS & BLUNT TRAUMA INJURIES.

November 12, 1991 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Addwest Mining Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPL WAS PREPARING TO MAKE MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 2 ADD CAR UNITS WHEN EXPLOSION OCCURRED INBY HIGHWALL BEING MINED. EMPL WAS THROWN OFF LAUCH PLATFORM SUSTAINING 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO FA CE & UPPER CHEST MULTIPLE LACERATIONS & B LUNT TRAUMA INJURIES.

May 15, 1991 KY · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Addwest Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WELDING ON ADDCAR UNIT. HE STEPPED FROM ONE CAR TO ANOTHER TWISTING ANKLE.

January 5, 1991 KY · Coal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler MACHINERY
Addwest Mining Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP 24IN METAL PIPE WITH BACKHOE BUCKET PIPE DISLODGED FROM BUCKET STRIKING OEPRATORS CAB BREAKING GLASS BROKEN GLASS FROM OEPRATORS CAB WINDOW CUT EMPLOYEES LE FT FOREARM

1990 · 1 incident

July 31, 1990 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Addwest Mining Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS BENDING OVER TO PICK UP PUMP HOSE, EE STATED THAT HE GOT A CATCH IN HIS BACK.