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.
445 citations across 3,604 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
7-E has $162K in proposed MSHA penalties and $57K outstanding across 10 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.
$162K
proposed penalties
$147K
current assessed
$90K
paid to date
$57K
outstanding
440 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $63K in penalties contested before the Commission, $48K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2015-10-22.
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.
37citations taken to the federal commission · 8% of citations on record
Settled
37 · 100%
100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 33 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
24%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$63K proposed, $48K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2015-02-09.
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 7-E shows 92% of 312 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: 2015-10-21, 10 years ago
92%
within 1.5 mg/m3
312
samples
5.49
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.
137 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 175 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.
7-E recorded 9.06 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2015.
Injury rate, 2015
ⓘ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.
9.06
total case rate
9.06
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 2.72 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.56 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
2015 *
9.06
9.06
0.000
2014 *
20.33
13.55
0.000
2013 *
17.88
17.88
0.000
2012 *
8.82
4.41
0.000
2011 *
3.82
3.82
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)
2015
13
31,070
2014
14
42,087
2013
15
50,108
2012
20
84,255
2011
23
100,317
2010
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
7-E 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
2015 Q4
2,032
4
1
1968.5
2015 Q3
6,477
12
4
1852.7
2015 Q2
7,260
7
2
964.2
2015 Q1
6,304
15
3
2379.4
2014 Q4
7,619
45
9
5906.3
2014 Q3
8,414
26
7
3090.1
2014 Q2
6,754
10
4
1480.6
2014 Q1
6,728
15
2
2229.5
Show 13 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2013 Q4
8,101
33
8
4073.6
2013 Q3
8,120
9
8
1108.4
2013 Q2
9,588
25
6
2607.4
2013 Q1
7,755
9
6
1160.5
2012 Q4
9,731
17
7
1747.0
2012 Q3
8,850
35
15
3954.8
2012 Q2
10,286
58
14
5638.7
2012 Q1
16,499
36
11
2182.0
2011 Q4
16,861
16
7
948.9
2011 Q3
13,771
30
5
2178.5
2011 Q2
13,670
23
12
1682.5
2011 Q1
8,052
9
1
1117.7
2010 Q4
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
10 on file
2015 · 1 incident
January 22, 2015KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE and another ee were changing a wheel unit on 21SC shuttle car - while they were taking out the last bolts - wheel unit fell from blocking-catching ee tight finger.
2014 · 3 incidents
May 28, 2014KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
After loading a coal truck I brought the end loader over by the shop and started to exit the machine. I got my feet tangled up and fell from top step to the ground.
February 6, 2014KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Subject was attempting to crush a piece of rock that was lodged in the Belt Feeder. He said, he was busting the rock with a sledge hammer and he went to move it with his left hand, the rock broke crushing his left hand.
2013 · 3 incidents
December 3, 2013KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE had loaded a coal truck when he went to exit the end loader he lost his footage ended up swinging on hand rail - hitting his back & head on side of end loader.
February 12, 2013KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS