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.
37 citations across 1,835 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
#44 has $2K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.
$2K
proposed penalties
$2K
current assessed
$2K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
37 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2005-02-28.
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.
MSHA sampling at #44 shows 99% of 425 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: 2005-03-22, 21 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
425
samples
2.82
dust max (mg/m3)
173 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 252 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.
#44 recorded 8.24 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.
Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ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.
8.24
total case rate
8.24
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 5.57 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.96 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
2004 *
8.24
8.24
0.000
2003 *
15.13
15.13
0.000
2002 *
8.45
8.45
0.000
2001 *
7.58
7.58
0.000
2000 *
8.45
8.45
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)
2006
0
2005
5
8,400
2004
11
56,560
2003
11
62,529
2002
12
52,043
2001
12
78,936
2000
11
78,764
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
#44 sits in Dickenson County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 9.8% 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.
Dickenson County, Virginia · Population 13,920
9.8%
Mining share of county employment
$43,831
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
2006 Q1
0
0
0
2005 Q4
85
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
120
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
480
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
4,623
3
0
648.9
2004 Q4
5,665
5
0
882.6
2004 Q3
5,808
1
0
172.2
2004 Q2
6,355
4
0
629.4
Show 17 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2004 Q1
6,439
4
1
621.2
2003 Q4
6,410
2
0
312.0
2003 Q3
6,573
1
0
152.1
2003 Q2
6,732
1
0
148.5
2003 Q1
6,729
1
0
148.6
2002 Q4
6,019
2
1
332.3
2002 Q3
5,919
1
0
168.9
2002 Q2
6,102
2
1
327.8
2002 Q1
5,618
2
0
356.0
2001 Q4
6,477
2
1
308.8
2001 Q3
6,549
1
0
152.7
2001 Q2
7,228
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
6,122
1
0
163.3
2000 Q4
5,834
1
0
171.4
2000 Q3
5,718
1
1
174.9
2000 Q2
6,161
1
0
162.3
2000 Q1
5,968
1
0
167.6
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
May 22, 1984VA · Coalsection foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift bossFatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EMPLOYEES HAD BEEN TIMBERING WHILE THE MINER WAS CUTTING A PILLAR BLOCK. THE ROOF CONTROL PLAN & PILLAR PLAN WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH. A LARGE ROOF FALL OCCURRED WITH 1 FATAL AND 1 SERIOUS INJUR Y, ALSO MINOR DAMAGE TO CONTINUOUS MINER.
Reportable incidents
62 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2004 · 1 incident
May 26, 2004VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HORSEBACK TYPE ROOF FALL FELL ON BELT LINE AT SPAD B528, 23 BREAKS IN FROM PORTAL ON EAST MAINS. FALL SIZE WAS APPROX. 20 FT. X 20 FT. AND RANGING IN THICKNESS FROM 1 IN. TO 9 FT.
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A SHUTTLE CAR RETURNING TO THE FACE HE WAS IN A LOW AREA OF THE MINE & WHILE GOING THRU A FLY CURTAIN HIT HIS HARHAT & LIGHT CORD AGAINST THE TOP ON CURTAIN
January 19, 1988VA · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE HAD FINISHED EATING LUNCH AND WAS WALKING TO HIS SHUTTLE CAR WHEN HE EHAD A CEREBRO-BASCULAR ACCIDENT. (STROKE) AND COLLASPED FALLIN INTO THE SHUTTLE CAR.
July 12, 1984VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS BOLTING THE TOP WHEN THE SECTION FOREMAN YELLED TO WARN HIM THAT A SMALL ROCK WAS ABOUT TO PALL THE INJURED EMPLOYEE JUMPED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND STRAINED HIS NECK.
June 16, 1984VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE HAD BEEN TIMBERING WHILE THE MINER WAS CUTTER A PILLON BLOCK THE ROOF CONTROL PLAN & PILLON PLAN WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH A ROOF FALL OCCURED WITH 1 FATAL 1 SERIOUS INJURY ALSO MINOR DA DAMAGE TO THE CONTINIOUS MINER.
April 3, 1984VA · Coalsection foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO SET MINE TIMBERS WHEN EMPLOYEE WORKING ON A LADDER HELPING SETTHE TIMBER SLIPPED AND LET THE MINE TIMBER FALL AND HIT THE INJURED EMPLOYEE
April 2, 1984VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EMPLOYEES WERE TWOING A ROOFBOLTER INTO THE MINE THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS FOLLOWING THE ROOFBOLTER IN A BATTERY MOTOR THE CHAIN USED TO TOW THE BOLTER CAME OFF AND THE BOLTER ROLLED BACK AND S TRUCK THE EMPLOYEE AS HE WAS TRYING TO GET OFF THE BATTERY MOTOR DECK