State Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training spokesperson Leslie Fitzwater told ILN Friday the worker, whose name was not released, was working at White Buck Coal’s Hominy Creek mine in Nicholas County about 10.30am when he was pinned to the rib by a continuous miner.

US Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesperson Amy Louviere added in an ILN interview the miner’s injuries were first believed to be limited to the knee, but the individual also was complaining of hip pain.

The worker was flown to a local hospital, and both MSHA and the WVOMHST confirmed that he was alert, conscious and stable at the time.

“[He] was flown to the hospital due to the potential for internal injuries,” Louviere said.

No further updates on the worker’s condition were available to ILN prior to press time.

State and federal investigators have commenced their reviews into the incident.

White Buck Coal is owned by Alpha Natural Resources. According to federal records, the mine has recorded three non-fatal days lost (NFDL) operator injuries so far in 2011, and also reported three in 2010.