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.
1,383 citations across 11,287 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-11-16.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
# 5 has $623K in proposed MSHA penalties and $544K outstanding across 47 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.
$623K
proposed penalties
$601K
current assessed
$57K
paid to date
$544K
outstanding
1,305 assessments are final orders; 47 contested dockets.
Of $105K in penalties contested before the Commission, $83K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2021-05-26.
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.
398citations taken to the federal commission · 29% of citations on record
Settled
344 · 86%
Stood as issued
53 · 13%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 0%
94%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 81 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$105K proposed, $83K 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 2021-07-27.
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 # 5 shows 98% of 953 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: 2021-04-14, 5 years ago
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
953
samples
3.31
dust max (mg/m3)
4
over MSHA ECV
ⓘThe excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
294 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 659 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.
# 5 recorded 12.37 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2020.
Injury rate, 2020
ⓘ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.
12.37
total case rate
6.19
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 2.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 3.67 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
2020 *
12.37
6.19
0.000
2019 *
5.06
5.06
0.000
2018 *
6.64
3.32
0.000
2017 *
3.46
0.00
0.000
2016 *
3.97
0.00
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
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)
2022
0
2021
14
40,276
2020
28
78,199
2019
29
108,337
2018
29
93,797
2017
31
103,306
2016
28
97,562
2015
38
124,730
2014
24
57,239
2013
20
45,051
2012
23
47,906
2011
15
6,432
2010
1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
# 5 sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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
2022 Q1
0
0
0
2021 Q3
0
0
0
2021 Q2
10,491
2
1
190.6
2021 Q1
16,448
16
1
972.8
2020 Q4
18,120
22
4
1214.1
2020 Q3
14,310
23
3
1607.3
2020 Q2
13,283
35
2
2634.9
2020 Q1
18,936
38
3
2006.8
Show 38 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2019 Q4
19,528
15
4
768.1
2019 Q3
17,018
23
2
1351.5
2019 Q2
19,648
15
3
763.4
2019 Q1
22,856
17
6
743.8
2018 Q4
17,365
50
8
2879.4
2018 Q3
14,223
41
6
2882.7
2018 Q2
16,076
36
8
2239.4
2018 Q1
12,601
14
1
1111.0
2017 Q4
14,509
15
3
1033.8
2017 Q3
15,279
19
3
1243.5
2017 Q2
16,398
15
2
914.7
2017 Q1
11,577
34
10
2936.9
2016 Q4
12,811
10
3
780.6
2016 Q3
8,046
12
3
1491.4
2016 Q2
16,648
19
2
1141.3
2016 Q1
12,908
22
3
1704.4
2015 Q4
24,232
46
8
1898.3
2015 Q3
20,270
48
13
2368.0
2015 Q2
21,882
44
14
2010.8
2015 Q1
9,902
28
8
2827.7
2014 Q4
10,374
47
17
4530.6
2014 Q3
14,606
63
20
4313.3
2014 Q2
9,885
40
19
4046.5
2014 Q1
10,477
44
12
4199.7
2013 Q4
8,209
16
4
1949.1
2013 Q3
6,881
29
4
4214.5
2013 Q2
8,881
39
11
4391.4
2013 Q1
8,935
31
6
3469.5
2012 Q4
9,489
56
22
5901.6
2012 Q3
12,492
68
26
5443.5
2012 Q2
13,465
56
26
4158.9
2012 Q1
5,759
31
6
5382.9
2011 Q4
1,890
119
37
62963.0
2011 Q3
6,044
43
12
7114.5
2011 Q2
8,987
9
1
1001.4
2011 Q1
4,461
9
4
2017.5
2010 Q4
0
2
0
2010 Q1
20
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
18 on file
2021 · 2 incidents
June 14, 2021KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was installing a roof bolt in #2 heading when EE was attempting to push the bolt over to the bolter drill pot, the bolt kicked back resulting in a sprained left shoulder. Employee didn't go to the ER until 03/15/2021 and will follow-up on 03/18/2021.
Bee B & B, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
The employee was operating a scoop and when turning a corner they inadvertly placed a hand on the bumper pad at the center section and when the scoop made it's swivel it pinched the two middle fingers on left hand.
October 23, 2020KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bee B & B, LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
The miner states that EE was dragging a bag of rock dust down 2 belt to dust it when EE's ribs started hurting. EE states didn't hit anything so EE is unsure what hurt EE.
June 3, 2020KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bee B & B, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee says that when EE was bending a bolt it slipped and shifted EE's weight causing pain in EE's left shoulder and chest area. The employee did not tell the Foreman that EE was injured until 06/08/2020, knowing that if you are injured it is to be reported immediately.
Bee B & B, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
The employee stated that EE was getting off of the drill and somehow EE's foot got caught on the drill causing EE to twist right knee. The employee worked the rest of the shift without reporting the accident. The employee didn't show up for work the next day. Then two days later the employee said that EE had went to the ER.
Employee was busting rock, attempted to strike a rock 4in thick, 2ft. wide, when EE did, the rock flew toward EE hitting EE's right hand. EE was taken to ER for treatment where EE received x-rays and 6 stitches. EE was released to return to full duty the same day.
April 4, 2018KY · Coalscoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Non injury roof fall was discovered 2/26/18 at 6am on the return side #4 entry spad# 1 break inby 1814. Cribbed area off, did not impede travel &/or hamper ventilation. Approximately 8' high, 20' wide x 20' long.
2017 · 1 incident
July 13, 2017KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was attempting to bust a block of coal and accidentally contacted the roof with the hammer and dislodged a rock which fell and struck employee's hand causing a laceration.
The 3rd shift electrician was crawling back to buggy while scooting a hydraulic reel motor, when a rock fell from the top and struck EE on the right hand between the thumb and index finger. The next day it swelled up and after a couple of days it wouldn't go back down. EE went and had x-rays and it was determined to be broken.
Rock Fall occurred at spad 1005 neutral beside #7 belt. Rock was 20'x 22' from 0 to 42". Area was cribbed off and did not impede travel or ventilation.
2012 · 1 incident
May 29, 2012KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE HAD HO2KED WINCH LINE TO A DOWNED TREE DOZER STRATED TO PULL THE TREE IT CAUGHT ON STUMP WHICH ACTED AS A PIVOT SWINGING TREE AROUND CAUSING THE TREE TO STRIKE EMPLOYEE IN HIS BACK, RESULTING IN A 6RUISED BACK.
1985 · 1 incident
December 27, 1985KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS