No injuries were reported after the September 16 accident, when the braking mechanism on the 24-ton capacity hoist failed to unload a skip at the surface, causing it to fall about 1600ft back to the bottom of the shaft. At the same time, the attached empty skip surged upward and struck the hoist device before also falling to the bottom of the shaft as well. As a result, production at the operation was suspended.

The mine, which has a monthly production of 250,000-400,000 tons, employs approximately 420 employees. Some 200 of them will be laid off during the duration of the repairs, but according to a company statement, their health and other benefits will remain intact.

While work is being done to bring Buchanan back on-line, Consol has sent communications invoking force majeur on its sales contracts for the duration of that work.