Ace In The Hole has $38K in proposed MSHA penalties and $123 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
9
Years on record
2013–2021
Latest incident
Nov 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2013
49
citations
14
significant & substantial
$37,833
proposed penalties
$23,910
paid to date
63% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $13,923 gap.
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.
49 citations across 1,735 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Ace In The Hole has $38K in proposed MSHA penalties and $123 outstanding across 1 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.
$38K
proposed penalties
$24K
current assessed
$24K
paid to date
$123
outstanding
48 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $29K in penalties contested before the Commission, $15K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-06-09.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
48%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$29K proposed, $15K 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 2014-11-02.
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 Ace In The Hole shows 100% of 218 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: 2023-10-05
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
218
samples
3.72
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.
120 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 98 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.
Ace In The Hole recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2022.
Injury rate, 2022
ⓘ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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.26 and the all-US-mining average was 2.12 cases per 100 workers.
In Indiana, coal mining averaged 3.18 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
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
7.77
0.00
0.000
2020 *
2.79
2.79
0.000
2019 *
2.36
0.00
0.000
2018 *
3.06
3.06
0.000
2017 *
2.52
0.00
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
2.44
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)
2023
6
37,165
2022
28
103,362
2021
27
135,037
2020
34
253,029
2019
35
271,971
2018
31
265,835
2017
34
381,063
2016
36
334,743
2015
35
289,527
2014
25
334,528
2013
9
119,886
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Ace In The Hole sits in Clay County, Indiana, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.
Clay County, Indiana · Population 26,431
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$67,676
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
2023 Q4
961
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
3,328
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
3,193
1
0
313.2
2023 Q1
2,289
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
10,331
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
17,189
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
19,633
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
14,414
0
0
0.0
Show 36 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2021 Q4
12,803
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
13,442
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
12,933
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
12,301
1
0
81.3
2020 Q4
13,984
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
17,983
1
0
55.6
2020 Q2
18,488
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
21,240
2
0
94.2
2019 Q4
20,664
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
22,259
1
0
44.9
2019 Q2
21,078
3
0
142.3
2019 Q1
20,607
4
0
194.1
2018 Q4
17,031
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
16,051
3
1
186.9
2018 Q2
15,768
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
16,517
2
0
121.1
2017 Q4
16,318
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
20,118
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
20,747
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
22,336
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
20,162
3
1
148.8
2016 Q3
20,434
2
0
97.9
2016 Q2
21,136
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
23,224
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
18,826
3
2
159.4
2015 Q3
21,810
2
0
91.7
2015 Q2
18,917
1
0
52.9
2015 Q1
22,343
1
0
44.8
2014 Q4
20,423
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
18,466
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
11,493
1
0
87.0
2014 Q1
8,481
2
1
235.8
2013 Q4
8,601
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
8,369
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
4,467
4
2
895.5
2013 Q1
1,894
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
9 on file
2021 · 2 incidents
November 15, 2021IN · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Injured was changing a final on a D7 dozer. As they assisted in removing the axle it fell on a finger. Employee received sutures for a small laceration.
March 16, 2021IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Injured was doing light fabrication work under a work truck. While welding EE got irritation to EE's eyes. A prescription medication was used to flush EE's eyes.
2020 · 1 incident
October 22, 2020IN · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Injured was conducting a pre-operational check of an end dump. As EE walked around the end dump EE fell and landed on EE's hand dislocating the third finger.
2018 · 1 incident
February 16, 2018IN · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Injured was stepping out of EE's D10 Dozer at the end of EE's scheduled shift. As EE stepped out EE lost EE's balance, EE's foot slid between the track and dozer frame, EE fell backwards fracturing EE's left leg below the knee.
2017 · 1 incident
May 3, 2017IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Injured was installing a thumb on a 345 excavator. As injured was moving a weldment a piece of steel pivoted and cut their arm. 8 Sutures were required to close the wound.
2015 · 1 incident
September 16, 2015IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Injured was using a hammer to drive in a guard plate on a 345 excavator. As he swung the hammer he missed the plate and hit a bar. The bar bounced up and hit his finger causing a laceration. Stiches were needed to close the laceration
2014 · 1 incident
May 21, 2014IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee was backing in to get a load of coal. His haul truck hit an abnormality in the mine road and caused his truck to turn suddenly. He strained his neck and will be on restricted duty until 9/13/2013