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Acosta Mine: 53 MSHA citations Coal

Acosta, Somerset County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3607341

Acosta Mine has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
19
Years on record
1983–2010
Latest incident
Oct 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
53
citations
25
significant & substantial
$5,929
proposed penalties
$5,197
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $732 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Falls Creek Energy Company Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
74
inspections on record
1,197
inspection hours
4.4
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.
53 citations across 1,197 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Acosta Mine has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 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
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
53 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-03-04.
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.
47.2%
significant & substantial
1.9%
high negligence or reckless
47.2%
reasonably likely or greater
20.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 47.2% low, 50.9% moderate, 1.9% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
13 citations taken to the federal commission · 25% of citations on record
  • Settled 13 · 100%
75%
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 8 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
35%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $1K 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 2012-10-31.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
PENN 2010-497 Settlement Lewis 2011 $643 → $500
PENN 2010-639 Settlement Harner 2011 $634 → $285
PENN 2013-45 Settlement Harner 2013 $401 → $217
PENN 2005-147 Settlement Lesnick 2005 $252 → $210
PENN 2005-286 Settlement Lesnick 2005 $144 → $130
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Acosta Mine shows 100% of 178 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: 2013-07-10, 13 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
178
samples
0.95
dust max (mg/m3)
109 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 69 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR106
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER34
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE29

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2012-02-21, 14 years ago
20.6
silica avg (%)
17
samples
40.0
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR15
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR1
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER1
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: 2013-03-04, 13 years ago
4%
over PEL
46
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR19
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE14
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER8
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
2013 100% 10
2012 100% 13
2011 100% 10
2010 100% 8
2009 100% 7
2005 100% 5
2004 100% 5
2003 100% 13
2002 100% 31
2001 100% 46
2000 100% 30
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2012 14.2 1
2005 15.4 3
2004 21.4 1
2003 22.2 2
2002 13.7 2
2001 20.9 5
2000 31.0 3
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2013 0% 5
2012 0% 9
2011 0% 5
2010 0% 3
2009 0% 3
2005 0% 4
2004 0% 5
2003 0% 5
2001 29% 7
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Acosta Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.

Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ 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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 4.43 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
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 0.00 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.
Ownership history
  1. Falls Creek Energy Company Inc 1982 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)
2014 0
2013 6 29,998
2012 14 158,699
2011 12 167,601
2010 8 136,551
2009 9 128,663
2008 10 60,417
2006 1
2005 7 37,907
2004 6 36,683
2003 8 42,092
2002 10 85,465
2001 10 110,292
2000 8 113,142
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Acosta Mine sits in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.6% 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.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania · Population 73,255
1.6%
Mining share of county employment
$59,378
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
2014 Q4 0 0 0
2014 Q3 0 0 0
2014 Q2 0 0 0
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 945 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 3,521 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 4,359 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 3,792 1 1 263.7
Show 46 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2012 Q4 5,485 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 6,904 2 0 289.7
2012 Q2 8,997 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 7,829 6 1 766.4
2011 Q4 7,665 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 6,886 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,061 2 0 395.2
2011 Q1 5,166 2 1 387.1
2010 Q4 5,444 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 5,035 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,914 3 2 766.5
2010 Q1 4,722 5 2 1058.9
2009 Q4 3,313 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 4,461 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 4,644 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 5,346 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 4,215 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 4,955 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 1,278 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 464 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 0 0 0
2006 Q1 83 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 589 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,430 2 1 583.1
2005 Q2 3,837 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 2,866 3 2 1046.8
2004 Q4 3,588 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,451 1 0 289.8
2004 Q2 3,196 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 408 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 622 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 2,423 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,172 2 1 479.4
2003 Q1 3,920 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 5,479 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 4,404 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 3,737 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 3,333 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,399 3 2 682.0
2001 Q3 4,595 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 6,272 6 5 956.6
2001 Q1 4,207 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 5,722 4 3 699.1
2000 Q3 4,410 1 0 226.8
2000 Q2 5,145 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 4,677 1 0 213.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

19 on file

2010 · 1 incident

October 4, 2010 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing into rock truck to begin shift. He twisted knee causing swelling and fluid in knee. Injury got worse by end of shift.

1991 · 1 incident

January 3, 1991 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE SLIPPED OFF TIRE OF LOADER AND FELL TO THE GROUND CAUSING HARD BLOW TO HEAD.

1990 · 3 incidents

January 9, 1990 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STEPPED OUT OF DRILL AND STEPPED INTO A RUT ON THE GROUND. HE TWISTED HIS LEFT ANKLE CAUSING PULLED LIGAMENTS AND CHIPPED BONE.

1989 · 5 incidents

September 12, 1989 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE REACHED BEHIND SEAT AND ACCIDENTALLY STUCK HIS FINGER IN THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN.

May 13, 1989 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

DOZER ROLLED OVER WHEBN DIRT GAVE AWAY WHILE CUTTING DOWN SPOIL PILE.

January 12, 1989 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPL STRAINED BACK CLIMBING UP AND DOWN FROM DOZER.EMPLOYER INFORMED 1-31-89 WHEN HE RETURNED TO WORK.

1988 · 2 incidents

September 2, 1988 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CONTINOUS OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT

June 21, 1988 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Struck by falling object

EMP. WAS TAKING A BRAKE BOOSTER OFF ROCK TRUCK AND BRAKE BOOSTER FELL ON LEFT WRIST AND SMASHED LEGAMENTS AND TENDONS.

1987 · 2 incidents

December 26, 1987 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE STATES3HE WAS OPERATING DOZER HE REALIZED HIS BACK WAS HURT WHEN HE CLIMBED OFF DOZER

July 8, 1987 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS BA7KING DOZER, WENT OVER ROCKS, WHEN DOZER DROPPED DOWN AND JARRED EMPLOYEE CAUSING BACK PAIN AND OR INJURY.

1986 · 3 incidents

February 11, 1986 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS LI0TING A WATER HOSE APPROX. 250 LBS ONTO A TRUCK WITH ANOTHER MAN HELPING HOWEVER WHILE LIFTING HIS BACK BECAME TWISTED AND THUS HE SPRAINED IT.

January 29, 1986 PA · Coal HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS AT7EMPTING TO HOOK UP A LIGHT PLANT. HE LIFTED THE LIGHT PLANT TO SET ON THE HITCH ON A PICK-UP AND LATER REALIZED HE INJURED HIS LOWER BACK.

January 17, 1986 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WA8 CARRYING A CORNER EDGE FOR A D-9 DOZER, WHEN HE SLIPPED ON THE ICE, CAUSING HIM TO FALL AND HAVE THE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL HIT HIM ON THE KNEE. (EMPLOYEE NOTES THAT THERE WAS M UD OVER THE ICE5.

1983 · 2 incidents

June 11, 1983 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS GREASING A TS24 SCRAPER WHEN CL/MBING OFF HE CAUGHT HIS WEDDING RING ON THE RADIATOR SHROUD DAMAGING HIS LEFT RING FINGER

February 16, 1983 PA · Coal POWERED HAULAGE
Falls Creek Energy Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS COMING OFF CUT TO GO DOWN ROAD & DUMP HIS LOAD IN THE ROCK TRUCK. HE APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP TRUCK WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO STALL. THEREFORE THERE WAS NO STEERING & HE WENT OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD & INTO A DITCH, THET RUCK ROLLED OVER WITH HIM INSIDE.