Mining Incidents

Wolf Run Mining LLC: 15 recorded fatalities operator

MSHA operator ID: P23768

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Fatalities
15
Total incidents
1,590
Mines on record
10
Years on record
1990–2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
10,699
citations
3,140
significant & substantial
$10,214,120
proposed penalties
$7,366,005
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $2,848,115 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
3,222
inspections on record
134,380
inspection hours
8.0
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.
10,699 citations across 134,380 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Penalty disposition
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$10.2M
proposed penalties
$7.5M
current assessed
$7.4M
paid to date
$176K
outstanding
10,462 assessments are final orders; 221 contested dockets.
Of $5.4M in penalties contested before the Commission, $2.6M was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-13.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
29.7%
significant & substantial
4.2%
high negligence or reckless
29.8%
reasonably likely or greater
27.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.1% none, 25.8% low, 70.0% moderate, 4.2% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
Injury rate, 2025
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
0.59
total case rate
0.20
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2026 2.48 2.06 0.000
2025 0.59 0.20 0.000
2024 1.28 0.51 0.000
2023 0.26 0.26 0.000
2022 1.19 0.53 0.000
2021 1.55 1.13 0.000
2020 1.27 0.63 0.000
2019 2.12 0.96 0.000
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
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.

Last sampled: 2026-08-19
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
19,342
samples
10.68
dust max (mg/m3)
70
over MSHA ECV
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
4,809 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 14,533 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR7,066
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)4,031
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)3,974

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2026-07-29
3.9
silica avg (%)
1,157
samples
32.6
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR554
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)202
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)160

Noise
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.

Last sampled: 2026-03-20
22%
over PEL
1,293
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)239
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR203
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)185
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
1,207 citations taken to the federal commission · 11% of citations on record
  • Settled 1,134 · 94%
  • Stood as issued 7 · 1%
  • Still open 66 · 5%
87%
S&S designation survived the contest
Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 693 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
51%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5.2M proposed, $2.6M after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2026-08-09. Vacated and withdrawn citations are removed from the file this view attributes through, so that outcome is slightly undercounted here.
Contested penalties
A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this operator contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
WEVA 2011-2427 Settlement Lesnick 2015 $368K → $101K
WEVA 2014-0509 Settlement Feldman 2015 $158K → $47K
WEVA 2008-471 Settlement Feldman 2009 $152K → $45K
WEVA 2008-1265 Settlement Barbour 2014 $143K → $70K
WEVA 2009-787 Settlement Rae 2011 $140K → $40K
WEVA 2010-852 Settlement Lesnick 2011 $137K → $36K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

Top causes

Incident timeline

2026
17
2025
5
2024
17
2023
24
2022
15
2021
26
2020
15
2019
17
2018
25 (1f)
2017
11
2016
6
2015
12
2014
18
2013
15
2012
31
2011
36
2010
34
2009
44
2008
51 (1f)
2007
72
2006
85 (13f)
2005
128
2004
138
2003
83
2002
55
2001
53
2000
1
1999
55
1998
143
1997
88
1996
48
1995
55
1994
68
1993
31
1992
28
1991
29
1990
11

Mines on record

Fatalities under this operator

15 recorded
February 6, 2018 WV · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Wolf Run Mining LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object

The victim was servicing/working on the C/M around the scrubber motor area when a piece of the coal rib measuring approx. 3'L x 2'H x 15"T rolled out crushing the victim against the machine.

May 30, 2008 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Wolf Run Mining LLC · Struck by powered moving object

The victim was walking in an outby direction on the outby side of the scoop, which was being trammed over the victim resulting in fatal crushing injuries.

May 24, 2006 WV · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Wolf Run Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While tramming outby in the #3 entry, a wood plank, 3" thick x 9" wide x 12' long entered the cab of a Fairchild scoop and fatally injured employee.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

AT 6:31 AM AN EXPLOSION OCCURED BEHIND THE OLD 2 LEFT MAINS SEALS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THIS EMPLOYEE. MSHA, STATE AND COMPANY INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED BUT RESULTS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

AT 6:31 AM AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED BEHIND THE OLD 2 LEFT MAINS SEALS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THIS EMPLOYEE. MSHA, STATE AND COMPANY HAVE INITIATED INVESTIGATION, BUT RESULTS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

AT 6:31 AM AN EXPLOSION OCCURED BEHIND THE OLD 2 LEFT MAINS SEALS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THIS EMPLOYEE. MSHA, STATE AND COMPANY INVESTIGATION INITIATED BUT RESULTS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

AT 6:31 AM AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED BEHIND THE OLD 2 LEFT MAINS SEALS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THIS EMPLOYEE. MSHA, STATE AND COMPANY HAVE INITIATED INVESTIGATION, BUT RESULTS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

AT 6:31 AM AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED BEHIND THE OLD 2 LEFT MAINS SEALS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THIS EMPLOYEE. MSHA, STATE AND COMPANY HAVE INITIATED INVESTIGATION BUT RESULTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

January 2, 2006 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Wolf Run Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

At 6:31 am an explosion occurred behind the old 2 left mains seals resulting in the death of this employee. MSHA, State and Company have initiated investigation but results not yet available.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

Where Wolf Run Mining LLC stands on silica, penalties, and injury rate

MSHA's standard limits respirable silica to 50 micrograms per cubic metre, but MSHA publishes dust and quartz as separate files and never the silica figure itself. We derive it per sample, score it against the limit, and set the operator's injury rate against a benchmark built from the full MSHA operator record. With the 26-year penalty trail, contest posture, and fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.

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