B&W Resources Inc. · Contact with hot objects or substances
Employee was welding cracks in a tube on a 777 Rock Truck when some grease that was in the tube got to hot and shot out of the tube burning our employee
Alum Cave #17: 160 MSHA citations Coal
B&W Resources Inc.
· Surface
Controlled by
Lipari Energy
Littcarr,
Knott County,
KY
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1519766
Alum Cave #17 has $55K in proposed MSHA penalties and $604 outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 14
- Years on record
- 2020–2025
- Latest incident
- Oct 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2019
160
citations
15
significant & substantial
$54,656
proposed penalties
$48,926
paid to date
90% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $5,730 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2017
39
inspections on record
2,432
inspection hours
6.6
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.160 citations across 2,432 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Alum Cave #17 has $55K in proposed MSHA penalties and $604 outstanding across 4 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.$55K
proposed penalties
$50K
current assessed
$49K
paid to date
$604
outstanding
155 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $26K in penalties contested before the Commission, $21K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-01.
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.9.6%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
9.6%
reasonably likely or greater
10.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 5.1% low, 94.9% moderate, 0.0% 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.
30
citations taken to the federal commission · 19% of citations on record
- Settled 30 · 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 7 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
20%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$26K proposed, $21K 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 2024-01-31.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KENT 2024-0073 | Settlement | Sullivan | 2024 | $9K → $8K |
| KENT 2023-0051 | Settlement | Moran | 2023 | $9K → $7K |
| KENT 2023-0086 | Settlement | Moran | 2023 | $7K → $6K |
| KENT 2021-0098 | Settlement | Sullivan | 2022 | $622 → $497 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Alum Cave #17 shows 100% of 217 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: 2026-06-11
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
217
samples
0.86
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.100 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 117 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR90
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR89
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER13
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2026-06-2410.8
silica avg (%)
21
samples
35.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR14
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR7
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: 2026-06-11
ⓘ
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.0%
over PEL
77
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR21
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR19
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE11
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | 13 |
| 2025 | 100% | 33 |
| 2024 | 100% | 23 |
| 2023 | 100% | 36 |
| 2022 | 100% | 23 |
| 2021 | 100% | 37 |
| 2020 | 100% | 25 |
| 2019 | 100% | 27 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.8 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5.4 | 7 |
| 2024 | 28.5 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5.9 | 3 |
| 2022 | 12.5 | 2 |
| 2021 | 10.9 | 1 |
| 2020 | 16.5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 18.7 | 3 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0% | 5 |
| 2025 | 0% | 15 |
| 2024 | 0% | 6 |
| 2023 | 0% | 14 |
| 2022 | 0% | 5 |
| 2021 | 0% | 20 |
| 2020 | 0% | 2 |
| 2019 | 0% | 10 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Alum Cave #17 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ
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 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.08 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2024 * | 4.64 | 4.64 | 0.000 |
| 2023 | 1.92 | 1.92 | 0.000 |
| 2022 * | 4.50 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2021 * | 10.37 | 8.29 | 0.000 |
| 2020 * | 2.11 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2019 * | 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
- B&W Resources Inc. 2014 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 34 | 105,892 |
| 2025 | 40 | 268,380 |
| 2024 | 36 | 261,133 |
| 2023 | 44 | 300,527 |
| 2022 | 37 | 288,188 |
| 2021 | 42 | 259,956 |
| 2020 | 38 | 307,381 |
| 2019 | 20 | 164,247 |
| 2018 | 7 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Alum Cave #17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q2 | 18,936 | 2 | 0 | 105.6 |
| 2026 Q1 | 22,224 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 25,049 | 5 | 0 | 199.6 |
| 2025 Q3 | 6,035 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 26,205 | 3 | 0 | 114.5 |
| 2025 Q1 | 23,408 | 7 | 0 | 299.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 24,735 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q3 | 17,723 | 1 | 0 | 56.4 |
Show 23 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 19,057 | 11 | 0 | 577.2 |
| 2024 Q1 | 24,734 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q4 | 27,205 | 6 | 1 | 220.5 |
| 2023 Q3 | 27,795 | 2 | 0 | 72.0 |
| 2023 Q2 | 21,958 | 13 | 1 | 592.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 27,015 | 14 | 1 | 518.2 |
| 2022 Q4 | 23,938 | 13 | 4 | 543.1 |
| 2022 Q3 | 23,549 | 4 | 0 | 169.9 |
| 2022 Q2 | 21,494 | 12 | 1 | 558.3 |
| 2022 Q1 | 19,989 | 1 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 2021 Q4 | 20,042 | 4 | 1 | 199.6 |
| 2021 Q3 | 25,129 | 3 | 0 | 119.4 |
| 2021 Q2 | 26,769 | 8 | 1 | 298.9 |
| 2021 Q1 | 24,525 | 3 | 1 | 122.3 |
| 2020 Q4 | 26,406 | 2 | 1 | 75.7 |
| 2020 Q3 | 28,984 | 3 | 0 | 103.5 |
| 2020 Q2 | 21,018 | 3 | 0 | 142.7 |
| 2020 Q1 | 18,507 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q4 | 20,938 | 7 | 0 | 334.3 |
| 2019 Q3 | 14,485 | 4 | 0 | 276.1 |
| 2019 Q2 | 12,381 | 1 | 1 | 80.8 |
| 2019 Q1 | 6,298 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q4 | 2,938 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
14 on file2025 · 1 incident
2024 · 2 incidents
B&W Resources Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface
EE was operating an Ingersoll Rand drill near the outer edge of EE's drill bench when EE attempted to dismount the drill. As EE stepped off of the drill onto the berm, EE's footing gave way and EE fell. This resulted in a fracture to EE's left arm just above EE's wrist.
January 17, 2024
KY · Coal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
POWERED HAULAGE
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck against a moving object
The employee's left shoulder was injured when the left side of the loader bucket on the caterpillar 992G EE was operating caught a large rock. This caused the employee's upper body to twist to the left causing pain in EE's shoulder.
2023 · 2 incidents
B&W Resources Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects
The employee injured their back while removing a grease pump from an empty tank.
May 15, 2023
KY · Coal
haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver
POWERED HAULAGE
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck against a moving object
A gravel truck hauling sandstone from the mine site ran into the ditch line while attempting to pass an empty coal truck coming on to the mine site. The accident resulted in deep bruising to the Mar-kel truck driver and lost work days.
2022 · 3 incidents
June 21, 2022
KY · Coal
bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
B&W Resources Inc. · Fall onto or against objects
The employee was climbing onto a D9T dozer when the employee slipped on the wet track. As employee fell employee stuck right hand out to catch self and cut it on the back of the blade.
B&W Resources Inc. · Accident type, without injuries
It is believed that an oil inlet line ruptured or separated near the turbo causing the fire.
February 4, 2022
KY · Coal
driller, highwall operator, highwall drill operator
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
B&W Resources Inc. · Fall onto or against objects
As the employee dismounted drill, employee slipped on the lower step and dropped to the ground. When this occurred the top step struck employee in the mouth and broke part of the left top front tooth off. The broken piece was found and reattached by employee's dentist later that day.
2021 · 5 incidents
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck by flying object
The employee received a small laceration on the left side of EE's nose. This occurred after a small piece of metal broke loose from a pressing plate that EE was hammering on and struck EE in the nose.
October 8, 2021
KY · Coal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
B&W Resources Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
The employee injured EE's back while dismounting a 992G loader. The injury appeared to be a muscle strain on EE's left side. EE refused initial medical attention but later visited EE's primary care physician when the soreness didn't subside. EE was treated and given a full release.
July 9, 2021
KY · Coal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
POWERED HAULAGE
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck against a moving object
The employee claims that as EE was being loaded, a rock jarred EE's truck causing an injury to EE's neck.
April 22, 2021
KY · Coal
maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
OTHER
B&W Resources Inc. · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE experienced back pain as EE mounted a drill, stood up and turned to EE's right. This resulted in sharp pain originating in lower back and traveling down left leg.
March 16, 2021
KY · Coal
bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
POWERED HAULAGE
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck against a moving object
While dumping material to reclaim a highwall, a Rock Truck driver got to close to the dozer running the dump and backed into the rear of the cab. This resulted in damage to the dozer's operated cab and caused the dozer operator to strain a muscle in EE's neck.
2020 · 1 incident
June 24, 2020
KY · Coal
quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
B&W Resources Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
The employee injured the small finger on right hand as employee was driving post for a silk curtain near the hollow fill pond. Injury resulted in 4 stitches.