Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Accident type, without injuries
FALL DISCOVERED IN BLEEDER ENTRIES INBY SPAD # 469 AJACENT TO PILLAR OUT AREA OF 3RD LEFT PANEL ON A REGULAR INSPECTION BY MSHA REP. AND MINE FOREMAN.
#5: 93 MSHA citations Coal
Laurel Creek Mining Corp
· Underground
Controlled by
James R Gibbs
Hurley,
Buchanan County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4406896
#5 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 7
- Years on record
- 1999–2003
- Latest incident
- Jun 2003
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
93
citations
26
significant & substantial
$6,332
proposed penalties
$6,332
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
101
inspections on record
1,938
inspection hours
4.8
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.93 citations across 1,938 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
#5 has $6K 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.$6K
proposed penalties
$6K
current assessed
$6K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
93 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2005-12-01.
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.28.0%
significant & substantial
1.1%
high negligence or reckless
28.0%
reasonably likely or greater
2.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.1% none, 15.1% low, 82.8% moderate, 1.1% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at #5 shows 98% of 373 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: 2005-02-18, 21 years ago
ⓘ
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.98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
373
samples
2.81
dust max (mg/m3)
187 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 186 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR188
- TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN65
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)31
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2005-01-20, 21 years ago5.8
silica avg (%)
34
samples
8.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR15
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.
Last sampled: 2004-05-23, 22 years ago
ⓘ
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.6%
over PEL
31
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN10
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR6
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 100% | 10 |
| 2004 | 100% | 63 |
| 2003 | 98% | 92 |
| 2002 | 99% | 68 |
| 2001 | 96% | 75 |
| 2000 | 97% | 65 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6.3 | 1 |
| 2004 | 7.2 | 7 |
| 2003 | 5.5 | 2 |
| 2002 | 6.0 | 6 |
| 2001 | 5.7 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5.0 | 12 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 33% | 6 |
| 2003 | 0% | 1 |
| 2002 | 0% | 6 |
| 2001 | 0% | 13 |
| 2000 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
- Race Fork Coal Corp 1997 to 1999
- Falcon Coal Corp 1998 to 1999
- Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Company Inc 1999 to 1999
- Laurel Creek Mining Corp 1999 to present
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 | 9,880 |
| 2004 | 8 | 32,216 |
| 2003 | 10 | 45,714 |
| 2002 | 9 | 48,176 |
| 2001 | 8 | 42,311 |
| 2000 | 9 | 34,667 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
#5 sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Q1 | 3,720 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 3,765 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 3,333 | 1 | 0 | 300.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 4,258 | 5 | 3 | 1174.3 |
| 2004 Q1 | 4,354 | 7 | 2 | 1607.7 |
| 2003 Q4 | 4,322 | 7 | 4 | 1619.6 |
| 2003 Q3 | 4,293 | 6 | 0 | 1397.6 |
| 2003 Q2 | 4,979 | 3 | 0 | 602.5 |
Show 13 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Q1 | 4,945 | 3 | 0 | 606.7 |
| 2002 Q4 | 4,552 | 3 | 1 | 659.1 |
| 2002 Q3 | 4,664 | 6 | 2 | 1286.4 |
| 2002 Q2 | 4,346 | 5 | 0 | 1150.5 |
| 2002 Q1 | 4,469 | 6 | 2 | 1342.6 |
| 2001 Q4 | 4,337 | 6 | 0 | 1383.4 |
| 2001 Q3 | 4,794 | 4 | 1 | 834.4 |
| 2001 Q2 | 4,170 | 3 | 0 | 719.4 |
| 2001 Q1 | 4,288 | 6 | 3 | 1399.3 |
| 2000 Q4 | 4,096 | 4 | 3 | 976.6 |
| 2000 Q3 | 3,835 | 7 | 1 | 1825.3 |
| 2000 Q2 | 4,176 | 6 | 3 | 1436.8 |
| 2000 Q1 | 5,269 | 4 | 1 | 759.2 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file2003 · 1 incident
2002 · 2 incidents
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Accident type, without injuries
THIRD INTERSECTION INBY SPAD STATION 491 A ROOF FALL OCCURRED. MEASURING 20' IN WIDTH, APP 5' IN HEIGHT AND 70' IN LENGTH. FELL ABOVE ANCHORAGE POINT. FALL DOES NOT IMPAIR TRAVELWAY OR VENTILA TION.
June 17, 2002
VA · Coal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
POWERED HAULAGE
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
WHEN CENTER SECTION FROM 820 UN-HAULER WAS REMOVED FROM HAULER, BED SHIFTED SQUEEZING VICTIM BETWEEN BED & ROOF DUE TO ABSENCE OF WEIGHT OF CENTER SECTION. VICTIM WAS ASKED IF HE WAS IN THE CL EAR BEFORE CENTER SECTION WAS REMOVED AND VICTIM STATED HE WAS.
2001 · 1 incident
January 16, 2001
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
MACHINERY
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Struck by falling object
PIECE OF DRAW SLATE FELL, STRIKING BOTTOM OF FOOT.
2000 · 2 incidents
August 8, 2000
VA · Coal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
VICTIM ALLEDGED BACK STRAIN WHILE SHOVELING MATERIAL ON BELT CONVEYOR WITH A #2 ALUMINUM SHOVEL.
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Accident type, without injuries
RIGHT BRAKE OFF #6 HEADING A FALL OCCURRED MEASURE 30' IN LENGTH AND 20' IN WIDTH FELL ABOVE ANCHORAGE POINT 48" RESIN BOLTS. FALL OCCURRED ON SHIFT AND WAS NOT CLEANED-UP. TIMBERED AND DANGER ED OFF PRIOR TO FALL OCCURING.
1999 · 1 incident
September 28, 1999
VA · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
POWERED HAULAGE
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
WHILE OPERATION S&S SCOOP IN BELT ENTRY CAME IN CONTACT WITH WIRE ROPE AND BOTTOM ROLLERS OF BELTLINE. THIS INJURY OCCURRED DURING REHABILITATION WORK NO PRODUCTION.