Briar Mountain Surface Mine has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
15
Years on record
2009–2014
Latest incident
Nov 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2008
187
citations
43
significant & substantial
$70,942
proposed penalties
$69,231
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,711 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.
187 citations across 2,333 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: 2011-11-03.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Briar Mountain Surface Mine has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$71K
proposed penalties
$69K
current assessed
$69K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
185 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $6K in penalties contested before the Commission, $4K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-06-12.
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%
0%
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%
29%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$6K proposed, $4K 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 2012-08-22.
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 Briar Mountain Surface Mine shows 100% of 165 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: 2018-09-06, 7 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
165
samples
0.84
dust max (mg/m3)
3
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.
87 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 78 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.
Briar Mountain Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017.
Injury rate, 2017
ⓘ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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.48 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 5.65 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
2017 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2014 *
2.84
2.84
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011
3.47
2.31
0.000
2010
7.10
7.10
0.000
2009 *
10.16
10.16
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)
2020
3
2019
0
2018
1
2017
12
59,984
2016
7
3,726
2015
34
313,031
2014
36
400,769
2013
37
415,210
2012
46
391,703
2011
69
744,018
2010
69
811,259
2009
35
232,056
2008
8
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Briar Mountain Surface Mine 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
While descending the haul road, the brake pedal became spongy and the truck wouldn't slow down. The driver steered the truck into the ditch and then hit the escape tamp. The truck traveled up the escape ramp and then over the hill. The truck came to rest at the bottom of the hill on the lower road.
May 15, 2014WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was opening a box of bogie pads when one fell out and landed on his left foot.
April 16, 2011WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Ed Coal Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances
Employee was using cutting torch on a bucket when a hot peace of slag went into his ear. Employee first said he was all right, but started experiencing slight hearing loss. Employee has received medical treatment and has missed no work days.
EE was operating a 775 rock truck, hauling coal. He said as he approached the parking lot, the truck started to slide and gain momentum. He stated that it slid around and overturned onto the off-side of the truck.
2010 · 6 incidents
December 9, 2010WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ed Coal Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
Employee was carrying filters through filter trailer, slipped and fell on shoulder.
November 2, 2010WV · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was operating loader. Employee backed over auger hole and hurt his back.
September 13, 2010WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ed Coal Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
Employee was attempting to start welder on back of service truck. Employee fell while attempting to step onto bumper. Employee caught himself with his right arm and hurt his right hand.
August 13, 2010WV · Coaloutside foreman, leadmanOTHER
Ed Coal Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was bitten by a copperhead while retrieving a hose from the hose trailer.
June 26, 2010WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Ed Coal Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was removing tooth from a 993K Loader bucket with hammer and metal bar. A small piece of metal stuck employee in the leg. He rolled up his leg and showed it to a supervisor. Supervisor said a tiny hole like a pen hole was on his leg. Employee finished working his shift.
January 27, 2010WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ed Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Operator exited excavator to clean tracks with shovel. Operator claims he felt something like a "bee sting" in his lower back while shoveling tracks on the excavator