Thunder Basin Coal Company LLCMining Incidents in 2024

bottom of a coal pit, discovered a small coal fire burning at toe of coal wall.

A coal smoker was found and it took longer than 30 minutes to get it put out.

A coal blast ignited a grass fire that burned for over 30 minutes.

A grass fire started under the powerlines and burned for over 30 minutes. Five dead black birds were found at the ignition point, indicating they had caused a phase-to-phase arc flash.

A powerline air switch arced and caused sparks that ignited a grass fire that burned for over 30 minutes.

A millwright was thawing out an airhorn on an electric shovel with a small butane torch, when methanol sprayed out of a connection and was ignited by the torch. The flash caused burns to the employee's lower face and neck areas which were treated with First Aid.

Snow and ice on haul road caused i.e. to slip and break their left ankle.

A Mechanic removed a fender from a bulk truck and with help lifted and placed the fender on the ground. After setting fender down mechanic felt pain in EE's back and sat down in hopes the pain would pass. Employee was transported to hospital and diagnosed with lumbar spasms and required to miss one day of work to rest.

Employee was operating a skid steer stemming holes on pattern. Once finished, the employee parked skid steer and went the lift the lap bar and exit skid steer. Employee received 1st Aid for pain in the right shoulder and returned to work. On 10/15/2024 , employees rotator cuff was repaired and was placed on leave by the medical provider.

An employee reported that EE's back was sore from a shovel dropping a bucket of material in EE's haul truck. EE continued working for two days and then went on days off. EE did not report to work on 7/26/2024 and began missing time.

An employee with a history of back injuries began experiencing increased pain and was taken in for evaluation on 06/16/2024. An MRI was schedule with a follow up appointment on 06/20/2024. A previously bulged disc and arthritis were diagnosed, and physical therapy was recommended to relieve nerve impingement, and EE began missing time.

An employee slipped and injured EE's knee getting off a pit bus. EE continued working until 03/27/2024, at which time EE missed work to go have knee surgery.

Subject exited axle box on unit 192, the hand grab bar welds broke and employee fell to the ground, approximately 4 feet, landing on back.

Team member was making a squatting motion on level dry ground when what EE claimed to be EE's knee gave out and EE fell down to the ground. Outside conditions at the time were clear and sunny.

Employee came into office 9/11/2024 claiming smoke inhalation from torching on material on mine site. Unknown time of return.

An employee was making adjustments to a shovel bucket, when the stand kicked out from under the latch bar and it pinched the web of the employee's thumb, causing a laceration that required stitches.

Employee was getting a chain into position around body retaining pin to aid in pulling a lower strut pin. While holding the body retaining pin up placing chain into position, the pin slipped out of their hand. When pin fell it pinched their middle and ring finger of left hand between body retaining pin and differential housing.

Employee was prepping a splice for vulcanization when the olfa knife employee was using slipped and contacted employee's arm. Employee was transported to the hospital and received stitches resulting in a recordable incident. Employee was released back to work full duty.

A wash bay attendant got into the cab of a grader and the door closed on EE's finger.

A Part 90 Miner applied for short-term disability on 01/11/2024 and did not come to work on the next schedule shift, which was 01/12/2024.