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#5 Punch Mine: 201 MSHA citations Coal

Gemco Energies Inc · Underground
Controlled by Jimmy W Tackett
Sassafras, Knott County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1517990

#5 Punch Mine has $27K 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
29
Years on record
1998–2001
Latest incident
Sep 2001
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
201
citations
49
significant & substantial
$27,312
proposed penalties
$27,312
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Gemco Energies Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
42
inspections on record
1,061
inspection hours
18.9
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.
201 citations across 1,061 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

#5 Punch Mine has $27K 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.
$27K
proposed penalties
$27K
current assessed
$27K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
194 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2001-09-05.
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.
25.3%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
27.3%
reasonably likely or greater
7.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.0% none, 13.9% low, 85.1% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at #5 Punch Mine shows 87% of 170 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: 2001-09-07, 24 years ago
87%
within 1.5 mg/m3
170
samples
3.92
dust max (mg/m3)
94 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 76 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR60
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)18
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)11

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2001-08-07, 25 years ago
8.8
silica avg (%)
16
samples
21.1
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR9
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER3
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2001-06-28, 25 years ago
9%
over PEL
11
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR2
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)2
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR2
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2001 92% 78
2000 83% 92
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2001 15.3 7
2000 3.7 9
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2001 0% 6
2000 20% 5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

#5 Punch Mine recorded 8.80 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2000.

Injury rate, 2000
ⓘ 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.
8.80
total case rate
5.86
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 7.74 and the all-US-mining average was 5.64 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 8.83 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.
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.
Ownership history
  1. Gemco Energies Inc 1997 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)
2001 28 135,416
2000 30 240,256
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

#5 Punch Mine sits in Knott County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knott County, Kentucky · Population 14,046
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$37,736
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
2001 Q3 13,771 26 4 1888.0
2001 Q2 14,209 16 2 1126.0
2001 Q1 17,065 47 16 2754.2
2000 Q4 16,813 27 9 1605.9
2000 Q3 15,532 24 1 1545.2
2000 Q2 18,481 36 8 1947.9
2000 Q1 17,376 19 7 1093.5
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

29 on file

2001 · 15 incidents

September 14, 2001 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck by flying object

EE WAS HITTING BELT STRUCTURE WITH A HAMMER AND A PIECE OF METAL HIT HIM IN THE RIGHT EYE.

September 11, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

SOFT SHELL TOP WITH RIDE AT 8'. THE AREA WAS CRIBBED & METAL SUPPORT. THE FALL WAS 8' X 40' X 18' IN THE MAIN RETURN. IT BLOCKED THE RETURN FOR TRAVEL. MINING HAS BEEN STOPPED DUE TO THIS FALL & OTHER AREAS IN THE RETURN 3,000' DEEP.

July 23, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

TOP WAS CHANGING INTO SANDSTONE. TRANSITION AREA HAD A HORSEBACK AND SOFT SHELL. THE ENTRY WAS STOPPED AND CRIBBED OFF. IT FELL ONE WEEK LATER.

July 18, 2001 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Gemco Energies Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE BURNT HANDS WHILE USING TORCH.

June 28, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

6' X 20' X 30' - THE ROOF HAS A RIDER SEAM AT 6'-8' IN THE AREA. WATER IN THE ROOF AND THE RIDERCONTRIBUTED TO FALL. #3 MAIN, #4 ENTRY, 2200' UNDERGROUND.

June 5, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck by falling object

A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM THE BOLTER CANOPY AND HIT EE ON THE LEFT HAND. THE LEFT THUMB HAD TO HAVE STITCHES.

May 11, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE FALL WAS 1800 UNDERGROUND ON THE MAIN INTAKE. IT WAS IN A TRANSITION AREA WHEN WE BEGAN HOLDING THE MAIN ROOF THAT HAS PREVIOUS BEEN TAKEN. THE BRATTICE LINE WAS REROUTED TO EXTABLISH THE PRIMARY ESCAPEWAY.

April 30, 2001 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Gemco Energies Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HANGING MINER CABLE AND PULLED A MUSCLE.

April 27, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE AREA OF ROOF BECAME VERY WET WITH THE RIDER AT 6'. 7800' UNDERGROUND OFF #6 MAIN RETURN IN #7 HEADING IN 6 LEFT MAIN. VENTILATION WAS AFFECTED.

April 26, 2001 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING ON HEAD OF MACHINE HIS RATCHET SLIPPED AND HE HIT HIS ELBOW ON THE CONTINUOUS MINER.

January 2, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS AND HURT HIS LEFT KNEE.

2000 · 5 incidents

July 21, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS INSTALLING ROOF BOLTS IN #5 ENTRY. HE WAS PUSHING A BOLT UP WITH THE DRILL HEAD AND THE BOLT SLIPPED OFF AND HIT HIM ON THE FINGER. IT CAUSED A SLIGHT FRACTURE ON THE INDEX FINGER, LEFT HAND. HE DID NOT MISS ANY WORK.

June 12, 2000 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS USING A RED-DEVIL TO MAKE A BELT SPLICE. THE LEVER SLIPPED AND CUT THE INDEX FINGER ON THE RIGHT HAND.

May 18, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE AREA IS UNDER A OVERLYING HOLLOW NEAR THE OUTCROP. WATER IN THE ROOF IS THE CAUSE. IT IS 4000' UNDERGROUND, 2000' OUTBY THE FACE IN THE RETURN. VENTILATION WAS NOT INTERRUPTED. 20' X 100' X 6'.

February 29, 2000 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Gemco Energies Inc · Struck against a moving object

OPERATOR OF CAR SAID HE STEERED CAR AROUND QUIKLY AND HIT HIS BRAKE AND HIT HIS HEAD ON CANOPY.

1999 · 6 incidents

December 8, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE FALL WAS DISCOVERED WHILE GETTING ROCK DUST SAMPLES IN THE RETURN. THE AREA WAS WET & HAD ALREADY BEEN CRIBBED OFF. VENTILATION WAS AFFECTED15'X 20'X6'

December 7, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE AREA HAD BEEN CRIBED OFF DUE TO WATER IN THETOP AREA NEAR A CORE HOLE. THE ROOF FEL AROUND &ON TOP OF THE CRIBS

November 1, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

AN UNKNOWN HOSSEBACK BETWEEN #1 & #2 ENTRY FELL AFTER BECOMING WET. VENTILATION NOR TRAVEL WAS AFFECTED. 29TH BREAK, BETWEEN #1 & #2 RETURNS.

October 25, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE ROOF WAS SOFT WITH A RIDER SEAM AT 9' WITH WATER IN IT. IT HAD 12' POINT ANCHOR BOLTS IN THE INTERSECTION. IT FELL OUT BETWEEN THE BOLTS. #3 BELT--29TH BREAK.

July 12, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL. THE NUBER 1 ENTRY WAS CLOSED TO AN OVERLYING HOLLOW. WATER WAS IN THE TOP AND RIDER CLOSE TO THE COAL SEEM. ENTRY HAD BEEN STOPPED.

1998 · 3 incidents

April 16, 1998 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

RIDEY SEAM TO CLOSE TO COAL SEAM. ROOF BECAME SATURATED WITH WATER. THE FACES HAD BEEN STOPPEDAND CRIBBED OFF. #5 ENTRY

April 15, 1998 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Gemco Energies Inc · Accident type, without injuries

WATER FROM RIDER SEAM SATURATRED THE ROOF. THE RIDER IS TOO CLOSE TO HOLD THE ROOF AFTER IT GETSWET. THE FACES HAD BEEN STOPPED & RED TAGGED.