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.
300 citations across 1,772 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
#1 has $39K in proposed MSHA penalties and $10 outstanding across 1 contested dockets.
Penalty disposition
ⓘDifferences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$39K
proposed penalties
$38K
current assessed
$38K
paid to date
$10
outstanding
300 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $5K in penalties contested before the Commission, $5K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-09-05.
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.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, 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.
2citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
2 · 100%
100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
12%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5K proposed, $5K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2006-07-06.
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 mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
MSHA sampling at #1 shows 86% of 291 respirable coal dust samples met the 1.5 mg/m3 standard.
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: 2007-05-28, 19 years ago
86%
within 1.5 mg/m3
291
samples
9.72
dust max (mg/m3)
146 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 145 by the operator.
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.
Health sampling trend
ⓘ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 by year
ⓘ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.
#1 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.96 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
10.38
7.78
0.000
2004 *
25.03
25.03
0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
ⓘCoal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.
Year
Employees
Coal produced (tons)
2007
32
86,689
2006
43
207,978
2005
32
219,613
2004
29
193,370
2003
25
48,786
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
#1 sits in Letcher County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.5% 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky · Population 21,146
3.5%
Mining share of county employment
$40,501
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘCitations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2007 Q3
1,958
1
0
510.7
2007 Q2
18,156
24
13
1321.9
2007 Q1
18,137
8
1
441.1
2006 Q4
19,184
6
3
312.8
2006 Q3
18,870
16
9
847.9
2006 Q2
18,206
15
9
823.9
2006 Q1
20,308
18
5
886.4
2005 Q4
20,311
37
14
1821.7
Show 9 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2005 Q3
18,905
24
3
1269.5
2005 Q2
19,048
25
4
1312.5
2005 Q1
18,830
11
0
584.2
2004 Q4
16,117
11
2
682.5
2004 Q3
18,094
9
3
497.4
2004 Q2
15,379
29
11
1885.7
2004 Q1
14,327
17
3
1186.6
2003 Q4
11,083
12
5
1082.7
2003 Q3
1,888
19
7
10063.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
16 on file
2007 · 1 incident
March 12, 2007KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
J. & R. Coal Co. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was installing a belt when one employee was installing a splice and the injured employee placed his hand in the wrong location and his right index finger was crushed.
August 13, 2005KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was installing belt rollers on belt line when one belt roller flew back and hit him in the right side of the head.
April 11, 2005KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
J. & R. Coal Co. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE was operating roof bolter when he dropped a piece of steel. EE went to pick up steel and accidentally hit lever on bolter. EE caught his left hand in roof bolter, lacerating his left index and left middle fingers.
Employee was swinging a hammer to bust up coal and hit his finger with a hammer against the tailpiece. Injuring his left index finger.
2004 · 9 incidents
December 28, 2004KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)POWERED HAULAGE
J. & R. Coal Co. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS LAYING ON HIS SIDE RIDING MANTRIP OUT. HIS BATTERY FOR HIS LIGHT ON HIS SIDE CAUGHT THE ROOF, CAUSING EE TO ROLL AND GET PINNED BETWEEN THE MANTRIP AND THE ROOF, BREAKING HIS LEFT SHOULDER, 3 RIBS AND INJURING HIS LUNG.
December 28, 2004KY · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeyHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was roof bolting when he dropped his pot to put another piece of steel in and hit the wrong lever, causing the steel to hit his left index finger, lacerating it.
November 4, 2004KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
J. & R. Coal Co. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was operating a roof bolter when he tore a ligament and lacerated his left middle finger.
September 22, 2004KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
J. & R. Coal Co. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS ROOF BOLTING AND HAD HIS LEFT HAND ON THE ARM OF THE ROOF BOLTER. HE RAISED THE POT UP AND CAUGHT HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER BETWEEN THE ARM AND THE BOLTER JACK.
ENGINEERING SERVICES BEING PERFORMED ON SECTION-SETTING SPADS SECTION HEIGHT 31"=38", WHILE SETTING SECTION, COMPLAINED OF PAIN, BROUGHT OUTSIDE AND BACK TO OFFICE.
October 31, 2003KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY