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Black Creek #15 Strip: 33 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by Steven R Mullins
Norton, Wise County, VA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4406851

Black Creek #15 Strip has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
27
Years on record
1997–2004
Latest incident
Jul 2004
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
33
citations
16
significant & substantial
$3,532
proposed penalties
$3,532
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
32
inspections on record
497
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: 497 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Black Creek #15 Strip has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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
$0
outstanding
33 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2005-06-28.
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.
48.5%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
48.5%
reasonably likely or greater
48.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 0.0% low, 100.0% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Black Creek #15 Strip shows 100% of 51 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: 2004-07-14, 22 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
51
samples
1.16
dust max (mg/m3)
39 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 12 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR15
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR15
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER11

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2001-12-31, 24 years ago
22.7
silica avg (%)
5
samples
49.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR3
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR1
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER1
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2004-07-14, 22 years ago
10%
over PEL
20
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER6
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE5
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR4
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2004 100% 7
2003 100% 9
2002 100% 9
2001 100% 15
2000 100% 11
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2001 33.5 2
2000 15.5 3
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2004 0% 3
2003 0% 4
2002 0% 5
2001 0% 4
2000 50% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Black Creek #15 Strip recorded 2.18 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.

Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ 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.
2.18
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 5.57 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.96 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
2004 * 2.18 0.00 0.000
2003 7.04 2.82 0.000
2002 2.70 1.35 0.000
2001 6.22 4.66 0.000
2000 1.40 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.
Ownership history
  1. Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc 1996 to present
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)
2004 45 208,490
2003 57 366,312
2002 57 383,395
2001 53 328,585
2000 62 351,975
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Black Creek #15 Strip sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
2004 Q4 7,760 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 13,629 5 2 366.9
2004 Q2 36,557 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 33,787 7 6 207.2
2003 Q4 36,060 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 30,521 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 38,352 4 1 104.3
2003 Q1 37,069 4 2 107.9
Show 12 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2002 Q4 41,968 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 38,451 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 40,135 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 27,352 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 28,169 1 1 35.5
2001 Q3 27,822 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 37,912 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 34,810 1 0 28.7
2000 Q4 42,857 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 31,893 1 1 31.4
2000 Q2 36,600 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 31,492 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

27 on file

2004 · 2 incidents

July 23, 2004 VA · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was picking up and carrying metal brackets to install boggie pins in a D11 dozer's roller frame, when he pulled a muscle in his chest.

January 8, 2004 VA · Coal
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · -

HE WAS REBUILDING D9N DOZER INSIDE SHOP WHEN HE GOT SOMETHING IN HIS EYE; DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT FROM

2003 · 5 incidents

June 30, 2003 VA · Coal truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Fall onto or against objects

HE WAS FILLING TANK WITH WATER. WENT TO GET DOWN OFF OF THE TRUCK AND THE PIECE OF METAL HE WAS HOLDING ONTO GAVE LOOSE, CAUSING HIM TO SLIP, CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WITH HIS LEFT HIP AND CUTTING THE PALM OF HIS LEFT HAND.

June 25, 2003 VA · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

HE WAS USING A GRINDER WHILE WORKING ON A 992 BUCKET. SOMETHING GOT PAST HIS WELDING HELMET AND IN HIS LEFT EYE.

March 17, 2003 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AFTER SERVICING D11N AS HE WAS GETTING OFF OF DOZER HE SLIPPED AND LEG WENT BETWEEN TRACK AND PUSH ARM.

March 11, 2003 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck against a moving object

DOZER BACKING UP IN RUN RIGHT TRACK WENT UP ON A ROCK DOZER TURNED OVER ON LEFT SIDE. SEAT BELT CAUGHT OPERATOR AROUND MIDDLE. TOOK HIM TO EMERGENCY ROOM TO BE CHECKED. THEY RELEASED HIM FROM EMERGENCY ROOM AROUND 4:00 AM ON 3/12/2003. EMERGENCY ROOM DR GAVE HIM A SLIP TO RETURN TO WORK ON 3/13/2003.

2002 · 2 incidents

September 18, 2002 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

HE WAS REBUILDING ROLLER FRAMES FOR D11 TRACTOR. TAKING SNAP RINGS OUT OF BOGGIE PIN COVERS WHEN HE GOT A SMALL PIECE OF METAL IN HIS LEFT EYE.

2001 · 4 incidents

October 15, 2001 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech OTHER
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

WALKED OUT OF SHOP GOING TO HIS SERVICE TRUCK THE WINDOR SOMETHING GOT SOMETHING IN HIS LEFT EYE

June 29, 2001 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

HE WAS PUTTING ROLLERS INTO EXCAVATOR BUCKET, SO HE COULD MOVE THEM CLOSER TO WHERE HE WAS WORKING. INJURY OCCURED WHEN HE WAS ROLLING A ROLLER INTO THE BUCKET.

February 9, 2001 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

EE WAS INSTALLING RACES INTO 785 WHEEL HUB WITH PRESS. RACE WAS GOING IN CROOKED. TOOK 2 HAMMERSAND WAS USING THEM TO STRAIGHTEN THE RACE WHEN APIECE OF A HAMMER CAME OFF AND HIT HIM. METAL IM BEDDED INTO LEFT SIDE OF HEAD NEAR TEMPLE.

January 31, 2001 VA · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

THE EE HAD RETURNED TO CHECK SHOT AFTER BLAST. WHEN WALKING ACROSS SHOT HE STEPPED ON A ROCK THAT GAVE AWAY CAUSING HIM TO FALL.

2000 · 1 incident

March 1, 2000 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

LOADING A BARREL OF ANTIFREEZE INTO BUCKET OF BACKHOE. GOT FINGER BETWEEN BARREL & BUCKET CUTTING & MASHING FINGER

1999 · 5 incidents

September 27, 1999 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS HELPING A MECHANIC LOAD DRILL PARTS ON A TRUCK. THE PART SLIPPED AND CAUGHT FINGER BETWEEN PART AND TAIL GATE MASHING FINGER.

May 18, 1999 VA · Coal drill operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Fall from machine

EE WAS OPERATING A DRILTECH DRILL WHEN THE SPOIL ON THE EDGE OF THE BENCH FAIL ON TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRILL. THE OPERATOR EXITED THE DRILL TO THE LEFT SIDE, JUMPING TO THE GROUND TO PREVE NT BEING TRAPPED BY THE SPOIL.

May 17, 1999 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Fall from ladders

EE WAS DOING ROUTINE SERVICE TO 777B CAT HAULER. HE WAS STANDING ON LADDER TO REACH AIR FILTERS/ LADDER SLIPPED FROM UNDER HIM ALLOWING HIM TO FALL. HE STRUCK HIS BACK ON STEERING ARM OF HAULE R DURING FALL.

February 23, 1999 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

DUST IN EYE FROM AIR WRENCH, WHEN REMOVING BOLTS FROM DOZER.

January 9, 1999 VA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Struck by flying object

OPERATOR WAS CLEANING WALL WITH EXCAVATOR WHEN ROCKS CAME OVER BUCKET THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND HIT HIM ON LOWER PART OF HIS LEGS.

1998 · 6 incidents

April 22, 1998 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

REPLACING HARD BARPIN IN DOZER D10N. WHILE USING BIG HAMMER HURT HIS BACK. DID NOT GO TO DR.

January 23, 1998 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING 1100-22 TIRES FROM A STORAGE TRAILER ONTO A FLAT BED TRUCK AND UNLOADING THEM FROM THE FLAT BED TRUCK TO A STORAGE SHED WHEN HE INJURED HIS BACK. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPOR TED UNTIL 1-26-98. FIRST MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED 2-10-98.

1997 · 2 incidents

May 22, 1997 VA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

HE WAS LIFTING A MOUNTED 1100X22 TIRE TO STAND UP AND ROLL IT OFF OF WHITE 700 FORD FLATBED. HAD SHARP PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

January 9, 1997 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Steven R Mullins Excavating Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THEY WAS HOOKING UP THE HOIST JACK BACK TO THE BLADE. WHEN EE'S LEFT HAND GOT BETWEEN HOIST CYLINDER AND CONNECTOR BLOCK. IT BROKE HIS RING FINGER.