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.
314 citations across 1,846 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bear Branch has $658K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 29 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.
$658K
proposed penalties
$318K
current assessed
$310K
paid to date
$9K
outstanding
310 assessments are final orders; 29 contested dockets.
Of $635K in penalties contested before the Commission, $268K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-08-21.
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.
215citations taken to the federal commission · 68% of citations on record
Settled
192 · 89%
Stood as issued
11 · 5%
Vacated or withdrawn
12 · 6%
69%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 100 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
58%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$653K proposed, $272K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2015-05-10.
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 Bear Branch shows 100% of 72 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: 2014-07-30, 12 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
72
samples
0.83
dust max (mg/m3)
65 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 7 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.
Bear Branch recorded 8.06 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
8.06
total case rate
5.37
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.63 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
2014 *
8.06
5.37
0.000
2013
5.61
5.61
0.000
2012
5.77
5.77
0.000
2011
7.71
7.71
0.000
2010
9.13
9.13
0.000
2009
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.
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)
2015
0
2014
27
168,468
2013
35
363,409
2012
37
343,506
2011
43
385,017
2010
37
383,754
2009
37
379,953
2008
34
71,997
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bear Branch sits in Leslie County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 10.6% 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.
Leslie County, Kentucky · Population 10,261
10.6%
Mining share of county employment
$40,176
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
2015 Q1
0
0
0
2014 Q4
4,952
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
20,660
14
1
677.6
2014 Q2
25,927
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
22,918
28
13
1221.7
2013 Q4
24,053
4
0
166.3
2013 Q3
27,465
23
8
837.4
2013 Q2
30,264
1
1
33.0
Show 18 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2013 Q1
25,078
16
5
638.0
2012 Q4
25,437
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
28,958
20
9
690.7
2012 Q2
26,330
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
23,340
24
13
1028.3
2011 Q4
31,283
5
2
159.8
2011 Q3
34,694
21
5
605.3
2011 Q2
33,182
2
0
60.3
2011 Q1
30,474
12
1
393.8
2010 Q4
26,392
1
0
37.9
2010 Q3
28,992
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
29,262
13
12
444.3
2010 Q1
24,887
16
2
642.9
2009 Q4
25,071
2
0
79.8
2009 Q3
27,414
16
4
583.6
2009 Q2
27,760
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
24,483
3
1
122.5
2008 Q4
24,134
32
8
1325.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
19 on file
2014 · 3 incidents
May 16, 2014KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was grinding on step of Volvo Truck when the grinding rock busted and a piece hit him on the left side of his face (the jaw area) cutting a gash.
January 14, 2014KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was starting to work and was climbing in 777F rock Truck when his foot slipped on the step throwing him to the ground, hurting his lower middle back.
2013 · 3 incidents
December 14, 2013KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Employee was climbing off of excavator when his feet slipped on the muddy tracks and he slid off onto the ground hurting back of neck and left shoulder.
July 24, 2013KY · Coalgrader operator, roadgrader operatorOTHER
Employee was getting in grader when he opened the door, the wind slammed it shut on his right hand/wrist. Wrist started giving trouble, went to doctor and he put him off from work to see a specialist.
July 22, 2013KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was doing normal installation of a tire on a Mack grease truck when he jerked his back, he said his left side down to top of his left foot is numb.
2012 · 3 incidents
November 29, 2012KY · Coaldriller, highwall operator, highwall drill operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was helping mechanic work on dozer when a wrench fell between push arm and front track of dozer, when trying to get wrench, he slipped and cut left thigh on track.
August 10, 2012KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was cutting a bench with D9 Dozer, went over edge of bench causing dozer to turn over on it's side hurting his left hip and knee. Employee was taken to Mary Beckingridge E.R. in Hyden, Ky. where he was checked out and released.
2011 · 5 incidents
October 12, 2011KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was putting radiator core in D10 Dozer when his feet slipped throwing him between the stabilizer bar and grill of dozer hurting his shoulder/elbow. He didn't miss work until 12/13/2011.
Employee was getting off the truck at quitting time when he slipped and fell hurting his back. Employee did not tell his shift foreman that night, instead he called back and told the day shift foreman the next day.
Employee was bent over moving coal and dirt away from core holes with a rake, when he developed continuous pain in his neck. The pain worsened on 4/04/2011 and he went to the doctor.
Employee was driving the 777 down a hill, when he stated the brakes failed and the truck overturned. The brakes were checked after the accident and seemed fine.
Employee was running a loader when he stated that he hurt his back. Employee refused any first aid help or transport in an ambulance to the hospital. The employee left the job against the advice of the foreman.
Employee was moving a light plant when he walked to his truck, stepping on some ice causing his feet to slip out from under him causing employee to land on his back and back of his head.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc