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: 606 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Blair Mine has $3K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K 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.
$3K
proposed penalties
$3K
current assessed
$938
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
45 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2001-08-07.
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.
MSHA sampling at Blair Mine shows 91% of 79 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: 2001-08-07, 25 years ago
91%
within 1.5 mg/m3
79
samples
4.60
dust max (mg/m3)
34 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 45 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.
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)
2003
3
2002
0
2001
4
9,756
2000
18
44,684
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Blair Mine sits in Tazewell County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 3.1% 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.
Tazewell County, Virginia · Population 39,933
3.1%
Mining share of county employment
$45,788
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
A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED WHILE TRAVELING THE AIRWAYS ON 03/20/2003. THE FALL WAS FURTHER INVESTIGATED ON 03/21/03. LOCATED ONE CROSSCUT INBY SURVEY STATION 1263 IN ONE OF THE INTAKE AIRWAYS, #6 ENTRY, APPROXIMATELY 30'W X 30'L X 6'H. NO EQUIPMENT WAS INVOLVED, DANGERED OFF AND WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP.
A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED ON 03/20/03 WHILE TRAVELING THE AIRWAY. THE FALL WAS LOCATED AT SURVEY STATION 1192 IN #6 ENTRY, AN INTAKE AIR COURSE, APPROXIMATELY 30'W X 30'L X 6'H. NO EQUIPMENT WAS INVOLVED, WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP AND WAS DANGERED OFF.
A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED DURING A RE-OPENING INSPECTION ON 03/14/2003 BY THE MINE FOREMAN AND AN MSHA INSPECTOR. THE FALL WAS DISCOVERED IN AN INTERSECTION OF THE #7 ENTRY MEAR SURVEY STATIO N 1279, RIGHT BETWEEN THE ABANDONED NO 4 MAINS. NO INJURIES AND NO EQUIPMENT INVOLVED.
2000 · 2 incidents
August 3, 2000VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EE STATED THAT HE SAT DOWN TO EAT LUNCH WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL STRIKING HIM ON TOP OF THE HEAD. ALSO HIS HARD HAT PUSHED HIS SAFETY GLASSES DOWN HIS NOSE SCRATCHING NOSE.
AN UNINTENTIONAL FALL OF A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK ON THE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE. BACKED THE MINER UP CATCHING ROCK BETWEEN LOW TOP AND CONTINUOUS MINER ROCK APP 15' LONG APP 15' WIDE 2' THICK N O INJURIES NO EQUIPMENT DAMAGE NO BLOCKAGE OF ESCAPEWAY OR VENT. ROCK REMOVED OFF MACHINE AND CUT UP.
EE STATED AFTER SAWING A TIMBER, HE REACHED TO GET THE TIMBER. ANOTHER EE STRUCK AT THE TIMBER WITH HAMMER TO PULL IT OUT OF SCOOP STRIKING EE ON TOP OF RIGHT HAND.
May 4, 1998VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE STATED THAT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME OPERATING SHUTTLE CAR MADE HIS BACK HURT DUE TO SEST NOT WORKING. FINISHED SHIFT DIDN'T GO TO DR. WENT TO DR. ON 9-2-97 AND PUT ON RESTRITCITONS 9-8- 97.
I INJURED MY BACK WHEN I GOT OFF RAIL RUNNER. I SLIPPED AND TWISTED MY BACK
March 21, 1997VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Sea B Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMP WAS ATTEMPTING TO LINE BOLT HEAD UP WITH CHUCK IN DRILLPOT. HE WAS HOLDING BOLT IN PLACE WITH HIS HAND. STARTED ROTATION AND CAUGHT GLOVE ONBOLT TWISTING HIS HAND AND FINGERS AROUND BOLT.
March 11, 1997VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE STATED HE WAS BOLTING TOP-STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO NEXT BOLT-WHEN HE WAS RE-POSITIONING HIS BODY-HE FELT SHARP PAIN IN LOWER PART OF HIS BACK-DUE TO HIS FEET BEING STUCK IN MUD & GOB ON BOTT OM OF MINE FLOOR. TWISTING HIS BACK.