Blue Creek Prep Plant has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 11 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
18
Years on record
2009–2025
Latest incident
Mar 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2008
110
citations
12
significant & substantial
$30,264
proposed penalties
$24,773
paid to date
82% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $5,491 gap.
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.
110 citations across 4,336 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2015-04-15.
On record since 2015.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Blue Creek Prep Plant has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 11 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.
$30K
proposed penalties
$27K
current assessed
$25K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
106 assessments are final orders; 11 contested dockets.
Of $12K in penalties contested before the Commission, $7K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-02.
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.
23citations taken to the federal commission · 21% of citations on record
Settled
17 · 74%
Vacated or withdrawn
6 · 26%
30%
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 10 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
42%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$12K proposed, $7K 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 2017-09-11.
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 Blue Creek Prep Plant shows 100% of 210 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: 2026-06-18
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
210
samples
5.89
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
ⓘThe excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
166 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 44 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.
Blue Creek Prep Plant recorded 9.01 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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.
9.01
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.89 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
2025 *
9.01
0.00
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
4.75
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
3.01
0.00
0.000
2017 *
6.11
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
Year
Employees
2026
21
2025
21
2024
21
2023
21
2022
19
2021
14
2020
21
2019
29
2018
31
2017
30
2016
22
2015
30
2014
35
2013
27
2012
21
2011
8
2010
1
2009
2
2008
5
2007
1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Blue Creek Prep Plant sits in Kanawha County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.
Kanawha County, West Virginia · Population 178,198
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$58,887
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
Teammate was attempting to open a door at the Blue Creek Loadout. When the employee pulled on the door with EE's left hand EE felt a pop in EE's left arm. During treatment the employee was diagnosed with a full tear of EE's left bicep.
2022 · 1 incident
March 28, 2022WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was turning drive sheave to set the thrust on heavy media pump when EE's glove got caught between the sheave and the drive belts resulting in a fracture of EE's right ring finger and 11 sutures and 3 sutures on EE's left pinky finger.
2020 · 2 incidents
June 19, 2020WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee stated that while in the process of removing bolts from the scalping screen in the crusher building. EE was using a pick hammer to knock the bolts out of it so they could be removed. In the process of striking the pick hammer, a small splinter of metal flew off of it, and punctured the employees left middle finger.
February 24, 2020WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stated that ee was operating the 30 ton crane on the top floor of the prep plant that was hooked to the metal bin. In the process of operating the crane to empty the metal bin, it swung and caught arm between the separator and the bin.
Employee stated their right eye turned red and they found a small particle in the eye. Employee tried to wash it out but could not dislodge the material. Employee could not pinpoint work activity that caused the debris to irritate the eye but believed it could have been around the time they were working on some screens.
May 8, 2017WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee stated EE was using a cable spool hand crank to clean on magnet. The cable had built up tension. The employee hit the release with a miner bit and the handle came around and struck employees right forearm causing an avulsion. Employee needed stitches to close wound.
2016 · 2 incidents
September 12, 2016WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The injured was using a chipping hammer to clean the weld when EE got a piece of slag in eye. The injured was wearing safety glasses with side shields at the time of the incident. EE flushed eye out immediately, but the irritation persisted. EE went to the doctor on 9-15-16 where they removed a small piece of metal.
July 7, 2016WV · Coalmaster mechanic, foreman, supervisorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Blue Creek Mining, LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Occupational Illness. Operator was notified on July 7, 2016 that employee submitted a workers compensation claim for Coal Workers Occupational Pneumoconiosis.
2015 · 1 incident
September 28, 2015WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was assigned to close a chute flop door. As the employee was positioned on a ladder to begin ratcheting with the chain ratchet, he slipped off the ladder and fell to the ground. Approx 4 foot fall, but in the process of falling he struck his left knee on metal flooring. The impact caused a fracture to his tibula bone near the knee.
2013 · 3 incidents
April 4, 2013WV · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured picked up one side of a roll of typer to throw it out of the way and felt a pain in his left elbow. He went to his family chiropractor on 04/06/2013 who referred him to an orthopedic specialist on 04/19/2013. The orthopedist diagnosed him with a torn bicep tendon and scheduled him for surgery on 04/25/2013. The injured didn't start missing work until 04/25/2013.
February 6, 2013WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Welding slag got between his boot and leg, burning his leg on or about 4/8/09. Employee treated it with a burn ointment at home, no injury was reported to a supervisor. The following week his leg and knee began to swell. Employee went to the hospital and on 4/16/09 the doctor said the swelling was from infections in the leg due to the burn.
March 9, 2009WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techOTHER
EE states that his back gave out after bending over to pick up a piece of angle. As EE was bent over, he twisted to pick up ac-clamp. When he stood up he suffered muscle stain to his lower back. EE worked light/restricted duty for 3 days and returned to full duty 2/27/09.