Mining Incidents

Balkan Coal

Controlled by Thomas R Hamilton
Calvin, Bell County, KY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1518986

Balkan has $140K in proposed MSHA penalties and $17K outstanding across 30 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
45
Years on record
2005–2026
Latest incident
May 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
651
citations
218
significant & substantial
$140,091
proposed penalties
$106,175
paid to date
76% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $33,916 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2006
208
inspections on record
7,479
inspection hours
8.7
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.
651 citations across 7,479 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Balkan has $140K in proposed MSHA penalties and $17K outstanding across 30 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.
$140K
proposed penalties
$123K
current assessed
$106K
paid to date
$17K
outstanding
624 assessments are final orders; 30 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-10.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Balkan shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.23 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 396 samples.

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.
0.23
dust avg (mg/m3)
6.83
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
396
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-25.
Silica (quartz)
1.6
silica avg (%)
6.3
silica max (%)
30
samples
Most recent sample: 2024-11-07.
Noise
9%
over PEL
204
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-25.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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 14,360 3 2 208.9
2025 Q3 15,018 15 8 998.8
2025 Q2 14,880 1 0 67.2
2025 Q1 18,125 8 0 441.4
2024 Q4 14,336 1 0 69.8
2024 Q3 16,927 1 0 59.1
2024 Q2 15,858 7 0 441.4
2024 Q1 18,986 1 0 52.7
Show 71 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 23,894 8 0 334.8
2023 Q3 23,088 2 0 86.6
2023 Q2 19,708 7 1 355.2
2023 Q1 22,235 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 23,748 5 2 210.5
2022 Q3 20,022 1 0 49.9
2022 Q2 19,700 6 2 304.6
2022 Q1 17,045 1 0 58.7
2021 Q4 18,925 4 1 211.4
2021 Q3 15,935 2 0 125.5
2021 Q2 16,804 1 1 59.5
2021 Q1 16,577 5 2 301.6
2020 Q4 17,869 1 0 56.0
2020 Q3 12,021 1 0 83.2
2020 Q2 21,091 5 0 237.1
2020 Q1 23,945 1 1 41.8
2019 Q4 18,584 11 3 591.9
2019 Q3 23,373 10 6 427.8
2019 Q2 24,389 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 23,719 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 25,914 9 3 347.3
2018 Q3 27,309 2 1 73.2
2018 Q2 21,505 11 1 511.5
2018 Q1 22,117 4 0 180.9
2017 Q4 19,931 6 1 301.0
2017 Q3 21,543 22 10 1021.2
2017 Q2 19,841 1 1 50.4
2017 Q1 15,341 3 0 195.6
2016 Q4 18,823 1 0 53.1
2016 Q3 16,675 3 0 179.9
2016 Q2 15,960 1 0 62.7
2016 Q1 16,361 11 1 672.3
2015 Q4 22,529 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 27,605 14 2 507.2
2015 Q2 27,866 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 26,739 10 1 374.0
2014 Q4 28,550 4 0 140.1
2014 Q3 30,955 11 2 355.4
2014 Q2 31,361 6 0 191.3
2014 Q1 28,398 14 8 493.0
2013 Q4 28,848 9 1 312.0
2013 Q3 33,568 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 35,053 15 5 427.9
2013 Q1 35,631 20 5 561.3
2012 Q4 37,926 2 0 52.7
2012 Q3 41,244 8 4 194.0
2012 Q2 39,981 6 3 150.1
2012 Q1 39,955 10 1 250.3
2011 Q4 45,485 16 2 351.8
2011 Q3 48,467 3 0 61.9
2011 Q2 43,894 9 4 205.0
2011 Q1 43,244 20 7 462.5
2010 Q4 41,100 11 3 267.6
2010 Q3 38,207 35 16 916.1
2010 Q2 41,369 4 0 96.7
2010 Q1 22,778 15 5 658.5
2009 Q4 29,008 9 3 310.3
2009 Q3 9,431 34 17 3605.1
2009 Q2 9,548 27 10 2827.8
2009 Q1 8,467 13 9 1535.4
2008 Q4 7,936 2 2 252.0
2008 Q3 12,300 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 7,102 48 30 6758.7
2008 Q1 6,273 9 2 1434.7
2007 Q4 5,372 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 6,042 4 4 662.0
2007 Q2 6,634 26 9 3919.2
2007 Q1 6,380 8 3 1253.9
2006 Q4 6,308 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 7,382 27 5 3657.5
2006 Q2 9,903 9 7 908.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

45 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

May 26, 2026 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee was working on coal chute when slipped and cut middle and ring finger on right hand on a piece of metal.

April 24, 2026 KY · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was welding and started having trouble breathing from the smoke and fumes from welding.

2025 · 2 incidents

2024 · 1 incident

October 18, 2024 KY · Coal coal sampler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was picking up coal sample bag of coal when felt left shoulder pop and sharp pain through left shoulder. Employee didn't seek medical attention until 10/24/2024.

2022 · 1 incident

2021 · 1 incident

November 23, 2021 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was exiting dozer, when employee's right foot slipped off step landing on employee's ankle.

2020 · 1 incident

June 24, 2020 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was changing screens in cyclone drain, when they rinsed the screen, magnatite and fine coal splashed in face getting into left eye. Went to Doctor, said they had scratched left eye.

2019 · 5 incidents

November 9, 2019 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was welding on pipe when a hot piece of metal melted employee's glove & burnt right index finger, later on that morning employee was smacking down a screen with a hammer when employee hit the same finger with the hammer, employee did not report to Foreman until 11-16-19, had surgery on finger & is still in Hospital.

September 12, 2019 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was cutting a piece of rebar, took the torch to blow away dust and metal shavings, when it blew back in employee's face getting into right eye.

September 5, 2019 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was chaining down backhoe on lowboy trailer, when employee slightly bent over to pull chain binder, employee felt a sharp pain in lower back.

August 20, 2019 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was putting metal fence post in hole when employee slipped and left leg went into hole up to employee's hip, bruising leg and hip.

July 24, 2019 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was shoveling mud that was built up against the belt, employee was throwing off of top of tower and twisted lower back.

2018 · 2 incidents

November 19, 2018 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was changing screen above coal crusher when employee fell 4 1/2 feet onto to floor hurting head, chest, & back. Employee went to ER & got staples to back of head.

January 22, 2018 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down off 777 Truck when EE stepped off the step and right foot hit soft ground and EE twisted right leg and foot. EE has worked every day since but was put off by Doctor 02/22/18.

2017 · 1 incident

January 10, 2017 KY · Coal outside foreman, leadman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was at raw coal feeder when employee bend over to a rock out of the coal on the feeder, when employee raised up employee felt a pain in lower back.

2016 · 2 incidents

March 17, 2016 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was taking cylinder off a D9T when EE was taking bolt out of light bracket a pin flew out of wobble socket, struck left hand cutting it. EE went to ER in Pineville, Ky. received (5) stitches and back to work 03-18-16.

February 19, 2016 KY · Coal washer operator, sizing operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was on catwalk at Washer (scalping screen) when EE was working the slack out of the come-along when EE slipped on mud landing on right arm.

2015 · 2 incidents

June 25, 2015 KY · Coal clerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of sales SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking through warehouse toward her office, slipped, fell face forward on concrete floor hurting her right shoulder.

January 8, 2015 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was helping replace a 14" steel pipe and was moving tools out of way when his foot slipped and twisted his right knee.

2014 · 5 incidents

October 9, 2014 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking around washer area at prep-plant when he slipped and pulled something in back.

August 11, 2014 KY · Coal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall from machine

Empoyee was handing 2 1/2 gallons of fertilizer to employee on Hydroseeder truck when his right foot slipped on back of pickup truck throwing him off of truck onto ground hitting back of head, neck, and back.

April 9, 2014 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was stepping down off feeder up in washer when his foot was caught by a bolt connected to the feeder and twisted his left ankle.

March 19, 2014 KY · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was hitting gear on refuse belt at Washer Plant with sledge hammer when he felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

March 18, 2014 KY · Coal safety director POWERED HAULAGE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck against a moving object

Was helping a mechanic on the Mack Water Truck, he was wiggling the steering wheel when it spun around and caught the lower part of his arm breaking it around the wrist.

2013 · 1 incident

March 12, 2013 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was fueling grader when he stepped back and fell off the grader landing on his right foot - thus fracturing his foot.

2012 · 4 incidents

December 1, 2012 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was using a chipping hammer to change metal screens on a vibrator when a piece of metal flew into right eye around safety glasses.

October 3, 2012 KY · Coal drill operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was looking for an oil leak on Core Drill RD-16 when he leaned across hydraulic tank, slipped and fell hitting on his left side. He went to the Pineville Community Hospital. He has (1) One broken rib.

February 1, 2012 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was trying to shove the forks together on a forklift when his feet slipped out from under him, landing him on his left side on the concrete floor, hurting multiple parts on left side. Employee went to the Doctor on 2/2/2012.

2011 · 5 incidents

September 6, 2011 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was throwing metal out of the stoker plant building when he twisted his lower back.

August 26, 2011 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was driving coal truck, when he went into the ditch causing the truck to turn over and the coffee thermos came up and hit the employee in the upper lip.

April 25, 2011 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee's trucks air conditioner was being repaired the morning of 4/25/2011, employee states Freon sprayed into the cab and caused irritation to his eyes.

March 30, 2011 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving his parts truck on hwy 160 when the power steering belt broke and the truck veered into the guard rail. This caused EE to hit his left wrist on steering wheel.

March 30, 2011 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was working on belt when he slipped and fell and hurt his upper back. This happened on 3/30/2011, but he didn't tell his foreman until 7/25/2011.

2010 · 5 incidents

November 1, 2010 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was helping a mechanic pick up a metal plate from a D11 dozer when a sharp pain hit in the middle of his back causing him to fall to his knees.

August 23, 2010 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler MACHINERY
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS GRINDING A SMALL PIECE OF METAL, WHEN HIS HAND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE GRINDER, INJURING HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER.

July 30, 2010 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving a 777 rock truck on the haul road when he hit a bump in the road, seat bottomed out and hurt his lower back.

June 24, 2010 KY · Coal drill operator MACHINERY
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee started drill and was tramming around the hill, when he hit a bump in the road, and it jarred the door shut on the employees hand.

June 18, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee was stepping off of a dozer onto the ground when he stepped on a gravel and twisted his right knee.

2009 · 2 incidents

December 3, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was cutting brush on the berm when he slipped. As employee fell forward, he put his right hand on the chain, cutting his hand.

October 19, 2009 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was trying to get a headache ball loose that had caught on the boom, when the ball fell, catching the employees arm between the ball and a piece of steel.

2008 · 1 incident

May 13, 2008 KY · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was trying to clear a crusher, when the bar he was using, slipped and caught his left forefinger between the bar and the side of the crusher. The metal ripped the meat from the finger at the second joint and broke his finger.

2006 · 1 incident

August 11, 2006 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc · Fall from machine

Employee fell form a D6 dozer striking his arm causing a laceration on his right arm. The laceration did require stitches. The employee returned to work after he was treated at the Emergency Room.

2005 · 1 incident

December 17, 2005 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Unknown operator · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

While dismantling old preparation plant, employee was cutting floor grating and stepped on a broken piece of flooring that gave way and he fell to next level injuring foot.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Balkan

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.