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.
161 citations across 2,035 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Big Branch has $34K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60 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.
$34K
proposed penalties
$34K
current assessed
$33K
paid to date
$60
outstanding
161 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-08-13.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
30%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $2K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2009-01-06.
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 Big Branch shows 100% of 108 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: 2009-04-28, 17 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
108
samples
0.85
dust max (mg/m3)
108 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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.
Big Branch recorded 0.00 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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.04 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008
2.96
2.96
0.000
2007
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006
1.25
1.25
0.000
2005
3.24
1.94
0.000
2004
2.10
1.40
0.000
2003
1.16
1.16
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)
2010
0
2009
31
93,956
2008
101
780,155
2007
127
1,225,183
2006
130
1,318,318
2005
135
1,507,067
2004
114
1,354,781
2003
67
1,019,662
2002
41
319,749
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Big Branch 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
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
1,950
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
5,474
1
0
182.7
2009 Q2
13,798
2
0
144.9
2009 Q1
47,764
6
2
125.6
2008 Q4
54,549
1
1
18.3
2008 Q3
61,088
0
0
0.0
Show 24 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2008 Q2
70,998
11
3
154.9
2008 Q1
83,771
2
0
23.9
2007 Q4
80,191
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
80,790
12
7
148.5
2007 Q2
78,536
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
83,327
8
3
96.0
2006 Q4
77,982
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
80,625
5
2
62.0
2006 Q2
78,410
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
83,085
6
4
72.2
2005 Q4
85,763
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
87,207
19
6
217.9
2005 Q2
72,493
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
63,313
8
1
126.4
2004 Q4
76,324
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
72,689
6
1
82.5
2004 Q2
75,498
4
1
53.0
2004 Q1
60,892
15
2
246.3
2003 Q4
51,079
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
48,985
4
3
81.7
2003 Q2
36,619
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
35,530
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
29,810
3
3
100.6
2002 Q3
24,366
2
1
82.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
16 on file
2008 · 4 incidents
April 29, 2008KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee heated a can of soup for lunch in a small oven, when he removed it, the top of the can exploded burning his right hand, right forearm and forehead.
Another mechanic was climbing up steps on rock truck, got to the top step, hand slipped off handrail causing him to fall on top of employee who was checking air leak, knocking him to the ground. Employee went to doctor on 12-28-06 and was released back to work. Started missing on 04-02-07.
November 10, 2006KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WAS REMOVING SIDE DOOR OFF D11R DOZER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UNIT NO: 1020. THEY HAD IT LAYING ON THE BUMPER OF TRUCK AND WHEN THEY SLID IT OFF THE DOOR CLOSED AND CUT TIP OF HIS MIDDLE FINGER OF F.
2003 · 1 incident
October 28, 2003KY · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeyHANDLING OF MATERIALS