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.
Rate withheld: 204 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
#7 Surface has $2K in proposed MSHA penalties and $640 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
$1K
paid to date
$640
outstanding
8 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2003-02-21.
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 #7 Surface shows 98% of 66 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: 2001-02-21, 25 years ago
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
66
samples
2.91
dust max (mg/m3)
21 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 45 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 Surface recorded 10.52 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.
10.52
total case rate
10.52
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.
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)
2003
0
2002
0
2001
21
103,218
2000
59
364,406
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
#7 Surface 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
EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING FUEL FILTERS ON A COMPANY COAL TRUCK #002 WHEN THE WIND CAUGHT THE HOOD OF THE COAL TRUCK BLOWING IT BACK AND HIT THE EMPLOYEE IN THE HEAD CAUSING A KNOT ON EMPLOYEE'S HEAD.
CONTRACT TRUCKER WAS LOADED COMING OFF THE HANNCO ENTERGY JOB EMEELEN WHEN HE STATED THAT THE REAR END OF THE COAL TRUCK STARTED HOPPING IN THE LOSE GR4AVEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GE AR AND WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKES THE TRUCK STARTED SLIDING SO THE DRIVER JUMPED OUT, THE TRUCK WENT THROUGH DITCH HIT COBBARD AND LANDED ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD.
June 9, 2000KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING AN OIL COOLER, PUT IT ON WATER TRUCK AND WHEN HE STARTED THE TRUCK HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SMALL, SO THE EMPLOYEE TRIED TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT AND IT STRIPPED OUT AND THE OI L LINE BLEW OFF AND SPRAYED HOT OIL IN EMPLOYEE'S EYES, AND THE EMPLOYEE JUMPED BACK AND HIT HIS ELBOW ON SOMETHING AND CHIPPED A BONE.
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A 777D UNIT ROCK IN THE #8 PIT WHEN THE OPERATOR OF THE LOADER DROPPED A BIG ROCK IN THE BED OF THE ROCK TRUCK AND JOLTED THE EMPLOYEE. HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT WHICH CAUSED A PAIN IN HIS LOWER ABDOMEN.
March 20, 2000KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
IT WAS RAINING & WHEN IT GOT TO WORK THE EE GOT ON THE BUMPER OF THE PICKUP TRUCK & SLIPPED & FELL ON THE GROUND ABOUT 3 OR 4 FEET TO THE GROUND LANDING ON THE LUMBAR & PELVIC AREA OF HIS BODY RESULTING IN BACK AND PELVIC PAIN.
March 20, 2000KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS SERVICING EQUIPMENT AND WHERE IT HAD BEEN RAINING THE EE SLIPPED WHILE DESCENDING THE LADDER AND GRABBED HOLD WITH HIS LEFT HAND SUPPORTING ALL HIS BODY WEIGHT RESULTING WHAT APPREARED TO BE PULED MUSCLE IN HIS SHOULDER.
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPIGN SERVICE EQUIPMENT WHEN HE BENT OVER TO CLEAN DIRT. 007 07 THE HYDROLIC TANK TO PUT HYDROLIC FLUID IN IT AND WHEN HE RAISE DUP HE GO A CATCH PAIN IN HIS BACK.
EE WAS IN THE PIT BE LOADED IN A 777B ROCK TRUCKWHEN A ROCK ABOUT 3FT ROUND & ABOUT 2FT THICK ROLLED OFF THE 992C LOADER BUCKET AND HIT THE SIDEOF THE 777B ROCK TRUCK JOLTING THE EE AND CAUSIN G A STRETCHED LIGEMENT OR STRAINED MUSCLE IN HISBACK
September 1, 1999KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
LOADER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EE WHO DROVE A ROCK TRUCK GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND GOT OFF ROCK TRUCK TO PUT OUT FIRE AND STEPPED IN A RUT AND REELED RIGHT ANKLE.
A CONTRACT TRUCK DRIVER WAS INJURED WHEN HE UNHOOKED HIS SAFETY STRAPS TO HIS AUTOMATIC TARP AND CLIMBED UP ON TOP OF HIS TRAILER TO TRIM HIS LOAD WHEN THE WIND PICKED UP THE TARP AND HIT THE TRUCK DRIVER IN THE HEAD KNOCKING HIM OFF HIS T RUCK.
January 4, 1999KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS BACKED IN BEING LOADED, AND WHEN THE LOADER WAS SCOOPING ANOTHER BUCKET OF SPOIL OUT OF THE SPOIL PILE A BIG ROCK BECOME LOOSE AND ROLLED OUT OF THE SPOIL PILE AND HIT THE BACK OF THE 7 770 CAT ROCK TRUCK BED CAUSING PAIN IN THE EE BACK. EE FINISHED SHIFT AND WENT TO DR THE NEXT DAY.
February 28, 1998KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT