EE WAS CHANGING OUT BARGES. HE CLIMBED A LADDER FROM THE LOADED BARGE TO THE EMPTY BARGE. HE WALKED TO THE BOW END OF THE BARGE, WHERE HE HAD A LOWER BACK SPASM. WE TOOK HIM FROM THE BARGE TO THE DR.
Amherst Loading Facility: 28 MSHA citations Coal
Amherst Loading Facility has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $705 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 12
- Years on record
- 1990–2003
- Latest incident
- Jul 2003
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
28
citations
13
significant & substantial
$4,334
proposed penalties
$3,629
paid to date
84% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $705 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
61
inspections on record
622
inspection hours
n/a
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: 622 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Amherst Loading Facility has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $705 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.$4K
proposed penalties
$4K
current assessed
$4K
paid to date
$705
outstanding
28 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $451 in penalties contested before the Commission, $0 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-01-03.
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.46.4%
significant & substantial
7.1%
high negligence or reckless
46.4%
reasonably likely or greater
32.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 17.9% low, 75.0% moderate, 7.1% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEVA 2003-239 | Dismissal | Lesnick | 2003 | $451 → $0 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Amherst Loading Facility shows 100% of 44 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: 2013-01-03, 13 years ago
ⓘ
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
44
samples
0.35
dust max (mg/m3)
44 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER19
- TIPPLE OPERATOR7
- BARGE ATTENDANT5
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: 2013-01-03, 13 years ago
ⓘ
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.30%
over PEL
20
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER13
- OUTSIDE FOREMAN2
- MOTORMAN/LOCOMOTIVE OPERATOR1
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% | 3 |
| 2012 | 100% | 2 |
| 2011 | 100% | 2 |
| 2010 | 100% | 8 |
| 2009 | 100% | 3 |
| 2008 | 100% | 6 |
| 2005 | 100% | 2 |
| 2004 | 100% | 3 |
| 2002 | 100% | 3 |
| 2001 | 100% | 8 |
| 2000 | 100% | 4 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0% | 3 |
| 2012 | 0% | 2 |
| 2010 | 33% | 6 |
| 2008 | 17% | 6 |
| 2000 | 100% | 3 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
- Amherst Industries Inc 1988 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
| Year | Employees |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2000 | 5 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Amherst Loading Facility sits in Kanawha County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.Kanawha County, West Virginia · Population 178,198
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$58,887
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Show 88 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q4 | 543 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 627 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 669 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q4 | 996 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 501 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q2 | 1,178 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q1 | 862 | 3 | 1 | 3480.3 |
| 2010 Q4 | 1,832 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 1,517 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 1,153 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q1 | 1,069 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 366 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 872 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 1,605 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 1,160 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 1,361 | 4 | 0 | 2939.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 1,562 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 1,802 | 3 | 1 | 1664.8 |
| 2008 Q1 | 1,684 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 2,108 | 2 | 1 | 948.8 |
| 2007 Q3 | 1,662 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 1,672 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q1 | 1,177 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 1,739 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 2,245 | 1 | 1 | 445.4 |
| 2006 Q2 | 2,359 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q1 | 3,046 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q4 | 3,170 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q3 | 1,635 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 1,429 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q1 | 1,410 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 1,763 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 2,798 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 2,183 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 1,184 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 1,552 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 2,839 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q2 | 3,135 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q1 | 2,441 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q4 | 2,802 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q3 | 3,378 | 2 | 1 | 592.1 |
| 2002 Q2 | 2,577 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q1 | 2,645 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q4 | 2,469 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q3 | 2,961 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q2 | 2,568 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q1 | 2,646 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 2,371 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 2,698 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q2 | 2,484 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q1 | 3,554 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file2003 · 2 incidents
January 13, 2003
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Amherst Industries Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
THE COAL FEEDER WAS FROZEN DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES. EE WAS PULLING ON THE V-BELTS TO GET THE FEEDER DISLODGED. WHEN THE PITMAN ARM WAS FULLY EXTENDED THE FEEDER RELEASED & PULLED EE'S RIGHT T HUMB BETWEEN THE BELT & PULLEY CLOSEST TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. AT THIS TIME ALL SOURCES OF POWER TO THIS ONE FEEDER WERE DISCONNECTED. EE'S TOP PORTION OF RIGHT THUMB WAS SEVERED.
2002 · 1 incident
April 19, 2002
WV · Coal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Amherst Industries Inc · Fall from machine
EE HAD CLIMBED UP ONTO THE ENDLOADER THAT HE WOULD BE OPERATING FOR HIS SHIFT. UPON REACHING THE TOP OF THE ENDLOADER HE SLIPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND HE BRUISED HIS LOWER BACK AND RECEIVED A KNOT ON HIS HEAD. THE SURFACE THAT HE FELL ONTO WAS GRAVEL. THE HEIGHT THAT HE FELL WAS SEVEN FEET OFF OF THE GROUND.
2001 · 2 incidents
Amherst Industries Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
WHILE WELDING ON A SUPPORT FOR THE BARGE MOVER EE SITS ON HIS LEFT LEG AND HEARS THE KNEE POP. HE IS NOT OPERATED ON UNTIL MARCH 6, 2001. AT THIS TIME HE IS STILL OFF WORK.
January 12, 2001
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Amherst Industries Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
LEFT FLOOR CATCHES UNDER CRABLINE WHEN BARGE IS BEING SET IN PLACE TO LOAD. THE BARGE SHIFTS BECAUSE OF BOAT GOING UP RIVER CAUSING THE CABLE TO SNAP. HE RECEIVES BRUISES TO THE TOP OR HIS LEF T FOOT.
2000 · 1 incident
August 14, 2000
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Amherst Industries Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
WHILE GAUGING BARGE BEING LOADED WITH COAL THE CABLE WHICH PULLS BARGE UP AND DOWN THE RIVER HIT EE'S LEFT ELBOW. CREATED A BRUISE AND SMALL CUT.
1998 · 1 incident
October 5, 1998
WV · Coal
tipple/top lander/skip dumper operator, binman, topman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Amherst Industries Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
THE MAN WAS PULLING ON A WIRE ROPE. HE PULLED HIS BACK.
1993 · 1 incident
December 11, 1993
WV · Coal
warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Amherst Industries Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
STEPPED DOWN ONTO WALKWAY AND TWISTED KNEE.
1991 · 2 incidents
December 31, 1991
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Amherst Industries Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
SLIPPED ON LUMP OF COAL TWISTING L ANKLE FELL DOWN HIT R KNEE ON PAD
January 21, 1991
WV · Coal
warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Amherst Industries Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
WHILE BREAKING COAL LUMPS WITH 61 LB SLEDGE HAMMER FELT PULL IN BACK.
1990 · 2 incidents
December 21, 1990
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Amherst Industries Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMPLS HAND WAS PINCHED BY WRECKING BAR WHILE SLOSING RAIL CAR WHICH HAD BEEN EMPTIED WHILE LOADING BARGE.
Amherst Industries Inc · Fall onto or against objects
EMPL INJURED SHIN BONE WHILE CLIMBING UPLADDER INRAILCAR LOADED WITH COAL. FOOT SLIPPED ON AN PLATFORM.