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.
1,213 citations across 9,726 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Apollo has $488K in proposed MSHA penalties and $124K outstanding across 37 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.
$488K
proposed penalties
$444K
current assessed
$320K
paid to date
$124K
outstanding
1,183 assessments are final orders; 37 contested dockets.
Of $152K in penalties contested before the Commission, $103K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-01-24.
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.
127citations taken to the federal commission · 10% of citations on record
Settled
99 · 78%
Stood as issued
24 · 19%
Vacated or withdrawn
4 · 3%
84%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 90 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
34%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$138K proposed, $91K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-05-03.
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 Apollo shows 90% of 1,001 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: 2012-11-12, 13 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
1,001
samples
5.49
dust max (mg/m3)
409 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 592 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.
Apollo recorded 8.57 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009.
Injury rate, 2009
ⓘ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.
8.57
total case rate
6.43
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.22 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
2009 *
8.57
6.43
0.000
2008
5.34
5.34
0.000
2007
3.60
1.80
0.000
2006
5.80
3.87
0.000
2005 *
16.51
12.38
0.000
2004
0.00
0.00
0.000
2003
5.82
5.82
0.000
2002 *
12.25
12.25
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)
2012
19
13,847
2010
5
5,196
2009
34
85,357
2008
52
208,819
2007
50
268,428
2006
47
220,045
2005
46
262,952
2004
48
231,394
2003
48
236,763
2002
48
208,911
2001
49
213,329
2000
48
266,138
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Apollo sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.
Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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
2012 Q3
8,851
10
6
1129.8
2012 Q2
3,950
18
9
4557.0
2010 Q2
0
54
23
2010 Q1
7,303
33
18
4518.7
2009 Q4
8,404
18
7
2141.8
2009 Q3
20,638
55
7
2665.0
2009 Q2
30,935
39
8
1260.7
2009 Q1
33,339
45
8
1349.8
Show 36 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2008 Q4
30,505
47
17
1540.7
2008 Q3
21,842
40
20
1831.3
2008 Q2
30,368
28
15
922.0
2008 Q1
29,705
30
6
1009.9
2007 Q4
27,281
21
5
769.8
2007 Q3
27,876
8
4
287.0
2007 Q2
27,669
18
6
650.5
2007 Q1
28,436
24
12
844.0
2006 Q4
25,956
20
13
770.5
2006 Q3
25,170
16
4
635.7
2006 Q2
26,631
34
14
1276.7
2006 Q1
25,666
16
4
623.4
2005 Q4
21,408
21
8
980.9
2005 Q3
24,842
15
6
603.8
2005 Q2
26,802
18
7
671.6
2005 Q1
23,846
23
10
964.5
2004 Q4
27,008
17
7
629.4
2004 Q3
22,584
16
7
708.5
2004 Q2
29,606
11
6
371.5
2004 Q1
23,607
47
27
1990.9
2003 Q4
27,783
20
13
719.9
2003 Q3
22,605
23
10
1017.5
2003 Q2
28,939
13
6
449.2
2003 Q1
23,733
9
3
379.2
2002 Q4
28,104
14
6
498.1
2002 Q3
21,611
16
4
740.4
2002 Q2
25,466
12
8
471.2
2002 Q1
22,767
15
4
658.8
2001 Q4
26,710
16
6
599.0
2001 Q3
22,012
11
9
499.7
2001 Q2
28,082
17
7
605.4
2001 Q1
23,847
8
4
335.5
2000 Q4
28,111
14
12
498.0
2000 Q3
24,398
9
6
368.9
2000 Q2
26,162
15
12
573.4
2000 Q1
25,026
4
1
159.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
89 on file
2010 · 1 incident
February 15, 2010VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fell down stairway. Talked to man that fell. He had no recogonition of how he fell. No metal skids on wooden steps and improper illumination. Was violation statements.
Employee was standing behind a 3-wheel ride and was told that it was going to be moved. The ride moved in the wrong direction and caught the employee between the ride and feeder.
A rock fall was found at crosscut #45 blocking the primary escapeway (#7 entry) by the pre-shift foreman. The fall is approximately 35' long X 5' high X 20' wide.
January 7, 2009VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanOTHER
Employee complained of his back hurting on 1-7-09 and started missing work on 1-14-09. Doctor's report shows that the employee is suffering from degenerative facet disease.
2008 · 4 incidents
November 7, 2008VA · Coalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorOTHER
Employee was operating a three wheel mantrip going down a slope, when he steered to make a turn the three wheeler turned over causing injury to his shoulder and neck. Due to complications he started missing work on February 05,2009.
June 4, 2008VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
On 6-4-08, employee had a piece of rock fall from the top and hit him on the right foot as he was bolting top and continued to work. His foot swelled up and he started missing work on 6-10-08 and returned 6-17-08.
2007 · 2 incidents
July 27, 2007VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was in the process of making a belt splice. He was holding the belt up with his hand and the knife cut through the belt and cut his little finger on his left hand.
2006 · 4 incidents
December 11, 2006VA · Coalelectrician, linemanMACHINERY
A rock fall occured 2 breaks inby spad number 3176 in the crosscut between the number 4 & 5 entry and partly into the 5 entry. This was reported to MSHA at 9:30 PM. The fall was 60' long, 20' wide, and 5' thick.
September 14, 2006VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was building seals. He pulled on a water hose and the stick type valve came on and the hose whipped and the valve hit him on his left cheek (face).
April 8, 2006VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
CHANGING ROLLERS OUT ON #1 BELT. EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING CLIP TO REPLACE ROLLER WITH SCREW DRIVER, CLIP FLEW OUT OF BELT STRUCTURE AND HIT HIM IN RIGHT EYE.
July 19, 2005VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was on top scoop greasing drive line, when he got back off top of scoop he hit his right leg below knee cap. The intersection was 37 inch high- the scoop was 27 inch high, the intersection was 1 break out by spad #2911.
EE WAS MOVING GLUE ON PINNER 1-BREAK OUT FACE AREA IN #5 HEADING. PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL & HIT HIS RT. SHOULDER. BOSS SAID ROCK WAS ABOUT 1'X 2"THICK, EE HAD NO VISIBLE PLACE ON HIS SHOULDER
March 11, 2003VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Apollo Mining Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EMPLOYEE WAS CRAWLING BETWEEN PINNER AND BUGGY AND HIT TRAM LEVERS, CAUSING PINNER TO MASH HIM BETWEEN BUGGY AND PINNER.
2002 · 8 incidents
November 19, 2002VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EE WAS MOVING BOLTS FROM MIDDLE OF PINNER TO BOLT TRAY ON FRONT, WHEN PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL HIT HIM ON BACK. PUSH HIM DOWN AGAINST PINNER, BRUISE HIS RIBS.
November 11, 2002VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderPOWERED HAULAGE
ROOF WAS LAMITED - ROCK FALL 20-25 LONG - 20-25 WIDE- WAS IN INTERSECTION 5 TO 6 FT HIGH. FALL WAS IN #1 HEADING - THE PLACE WAS STOPPED WHEN MINE WAS ADVACE. IT WAS CRIBBED & DANGER OFF.
ROOF FALL IN #7 HEADING, 1 BREAK OUT BY SPAD #1392, FALL WAS 18 FT WIDE 50 FT LONG, 5 FT HIGH. AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 4 FT RESIN RODS. ATR ON SECTION WAS NOT AFFECTIVE. TIMBER ENTRICE TO FALL OFF.
January 29, 2002VA · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
HIT RIGHT KNEE IN 3 WHEELER (BUGGY) AS HE WAS WALKING ACROSS TOP OF BUGGY ON OUTSIDE OF MINES. DID NOT REPORT IT UNTIL 11/15/01. ONLY WORKED 7 DAYS. COULD NOT REACH BY PHONE TO FILL REPORT OUT .
October 3, 2001VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING TAKEUP OUT ON #5 WHEN HE HIT HIS ELBOW ON METAL BRACE, ELBOW SWELLED UP SOME, DOCTOR GAVE MEDICAL. DID NOT MISS ANY WORK UNTIL 10-10-01. CAME BACK TO WORK ON 10-12-01.
September 14, 2001VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HELPING TIGHTEN BOLTS IN BEARING ON BELT DRIVE, WRENCH SLIPPED AND HAND HIT FRAME OF DRIVE. CUT LEFT SMALL FINGER - GOT 4 STITCHES - AND BROKE BONE IN SMALL FINGER.
August 14, 2001VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
EE SAID HIS BACK POPPED WHILE CLEANING #7 TAILPIECE. WENT TO #5 DRIVE TO LOAD MONKEY ON BUGGY SAID HE MUST HAVE TURNED WRONG WAY.
December 7, 2000VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
ROOF FALL: 4 BREAKS INBY SPAD #018273 IN THE #4 ENTRY. THIS AREA IS NOT ONTHE ACTIVE SECTION TO BE. THIS AREA WAS MINED UP TO THE PROPERTY LEASELINE & NOT SECOND MINED. THE FALL WAS 4 TO 6 FT H & 60FT LONG BY 60 FT WIDE
Harman Mining Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMP HAD BEEN CHECKING HIS BACK UP CURTAINS. CAUGHT A RIDE WITH AN EMPTY UNI-HAULER BACK TO FACE.UNI-HAULER WENT THROUGH DIP AND END OF TRAILER BED HIT MINE FLOOR. EMP GOT HIS HAND CAUGHT BETWE EN TRAILER BED AND MINE FLOOR.
November 23, 1996VA · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HE WAS CHECKING THE WATER LEVEL IN THE WATER TANK WHEN HE STARTED BAKC DOWN THE LADDER HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND HE FELL. HE CUT A PLACE OVER HIS RIGHT EYE AND HAS CUTS ON HIS RIGHT SIDE.
EE WAS BENDING A ROOF BOLT AND GOT HIT ON FOREHEAD BY SOME OBJECT OR THING. HE DOES NOT KNOW IF BOLT HIT HIM OR IF HE HIT THE CANOPY. THE BOLTERHEAD WAS UP WHEN HE WENT TO BEND THE BOLT AND IT WAS DOWN WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF.
October 3, 1996VA · Coalutility man, errand boy, service truck operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WENT THROUGH A BRATTICE MANDOOR CARRYING A BELT TOOL KNIFE.THE BRATTICE DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE END OF THE BELT TOOL KNIFE CAUSING THE OTHER END OF THE BELT KNIFE TO HIT HIM ON THE LOWER LIP.
EE WAS HELPING MAKE A BELT SPLICE. THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING THE BELT TOGETHER WITH ROPE COME-A-LONGS WHEN THEY SLIPPED AND EE WAS HIT ON THE LEFT THUMB BY THE ROPE.
June 17, 1996VA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Harman Mining Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMPLOYEE GOT IN THE RAILRUNNER IN THE SHOP OUTSIDE TO MOVE IT. HE LEFT HIS LEFT FOOT OUTSIDE OF THE OPERATING COMPARTMENT AND AS THE RAILRUNNER MOVED IT CAUGHT HIS FOOT BETWEEN THE RAILRUNNER AND A METAL SUPPORT POST IN THE SHOP.
EMPLOYEE PICKED UP A CHAIN TO MOVE IT AND FELT ASHARP PAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BACK. THIS ACCIDENT DID NOT BECOME REPORTABLE UNTIL EMP MISSED WORK ON 5-2-96.
April 6, 1996VA · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS OPEATING ROOF BOLTER, HAD DRILLED HOLE, INSERTED GLUE & WS IN ACT OF INSERTING 5' ROOF BOLT INTO ROOF. EE HAD POSITIONED ROOF BOLT WITH RITH HAND OVER DRILL HEAD TO PUSH UPWARD INTO HOL E. EMPLOYEE FINGER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN DRILL HEAD & ROOF BOLT.
April 17, 1995VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ROOF BOLTER WAS BEGINNING BLOTING CYCLE IN FACE OF #3 HEADING. A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL BETWEEN ATRS & ROOF BOLTER & STRUCK INDIVIDUAL ON FOOT [RIGHT].