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.
419 citations across 2,551 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
#2 has $276K in proposed MSHA penalties and $134K outstanding across 34 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.
$276K
proposed penalties
$221K
current assessed
$88K
paid to date
$134K
outstanding
398 assessments are final orders; 34 contested dockets.
Of $266K in penalties contested before the Commission, $204K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-06-25.
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.
215citations taken to the federal commission · 51% of citations on record
Settled
210 · 98%
Stood as issued
4 · 2%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 0%
99%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 135 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
27%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$296K proposed, $218K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-11-14.
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 #2 shows 94% of 226 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: 2012-01-23, 14 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
226
samples
2.52
dust max (mg/m3)
136 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 90 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.
#2 recorded 8.28 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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.
8.28
total case rate
8.28
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.41 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
2011 *
8.28
8.28
0.000
2007 *
13.01
6.51
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)
2012
16
6,828
2011
30
47,113
2010
33
49,037
2008
0
2007
30
98,097
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
#2 sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
EE was operating the Joy Miner, when a piece of the rib slid down the rib, striking EE on the hip. EE stated to the S/C operator he was ok and continued to work. EE refused medical attention at the time of the incident and told the foreman he was fine.
2011 · 3 incidents
September 13, 2011VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE is the responsible person on the surface. The stacker belt was hung up, ee was running across the surface area to turn belt off. When he tripped and twisted his knee.
March 18, 2011VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE reported pain in his shoulder. He said he did not have an accident but the pain persisted. He saw a Dr. and was told to return to the neurosurgeon that he had been seeing for a previous injury to the shoulder. Worker Comp. denied this claim and ee remains off work while MRI and other tests are being performed.
Employee stated that he bent over to pick up the miner cable, when he felt a sharp pain in his back. He worked the remainder of the shift and decided to go to a doctor the next day. The doctor referred him to a specialist.
Employee was walking down steps behind shop. His foot slipped in the gravel when he stepped off the last step. Employee fell against a scoop mounted rock duster. He bruised his lower back.
October 15, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was operating pinner and was retracting a piece of starter steel from the top as the steel cleared the top he was struck by the steel hitting his right arm.
August 25, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
The employee was allegedly walking through a check curtain when he ran into the rib with his head (hard hat). Employee complained two days later about a stiff neck and decided to go to a doctor.
July 14, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
While bolting, employee had his right hand on the pizza pan. While he was trying to get the rotation hose out of the way, the lever was accidentally pushed causing the bolt to raise up, catching his right fingers between the pizza pan and the top.
June 25, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Employee was moving the roof bolter when he was caught between the roof bolter and the mine rib. This caused a compound fracture to the femur bone of the left leg. This required surgery for placement of a pin in the femur bone.
May 12, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was pulling drill steel out of drill pot that was stuck. When the drill steel dislodged it struck the employee over his right eye causing a laceration requiring stitches. No lost time.
During exploration/rehabilitation pre-existing fall was observed @ spad 208 for 2 break inby. Per instructions from local MSHA office it was called to them.
During exploration/rehabilitation pre-existing fall was observed @ spad 226-227-228 (2 breaks only). Per instructions from local MSHA office it was called to them.
During exploration/rehabilitation pre-existing fall was observed @ spad 140 runs 2 break inby. Per instructions from local MSHA office it was called to them.
During exploration for rehab. various roof falls were observed. These were called into local MSHA Office, per their instructions falls being reported on one form due to pre-existing condition.
2007 · 4 incidents
October 18, 2007VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Employee was drilling top, watching drill steel rotate when small pebble piece of rock was slung by drill steel and struck him the the mouth cracking tooth.
October 4, 2007VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Victim was operating ram car headed to miner to load when during travel he hit hump motor loever to better see miner in dip. He struck roof bolt with canopy and had his left hand in position where canopy cut 1st joint out of middle finger.