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.
305 citations across 2,165 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bronzite has $118K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 3 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.
$118K
proposed penalties
$96K
current assessed
$95K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
300 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $41K in penalties contested before the Commission, $15K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-06-08.
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.
11citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
10 · 91%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 9%
56%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
64%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$41K proposed, $15K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2009-08-14.
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 Bronzite shows 89% of 257 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: 2009-04-01, 17 years ago
89%
within 1.5 mg/m3
257
samples
7.33
dust max (mg/m3)
109 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 148 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.
Bronzite recorded 2.90 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.
2.90
total case rate
2.90
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 West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.29 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 *
2.90
2.90
0.000
2008
1.80
1.80
0.000
2007
1.79
1.79
1.786
2006 *
7.59
5.06
0.000
2005 *
39.04
21.02
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)
2016
0
2015
0
2014
0
2013
0
2012
0
2011
0
2010
0
2009
25
187,125
2008
41
446,381
2007
35
475,036
2006
36
276,179
2005
36
307,436
2004
30
74,780
2001
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bronzite sits in Mingo County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 15.0% 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia · Population 22,979
15.0%
Mining share of county employment
$39,527
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
2016 Q3
0
0
0
2016 Q2
0
0
0
2016 Q1
0
0
0
2015 Q4
0
0
0
2015 Q3
0
0
0
2015 Q2
0
0
0
2015 Q1
0
0
0
2014 Q4
0
0
0
Show 42 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2014 Q3
0
0
0
2014 Q2
0
0
0
2014 Q1
0
0
0
2013 Q4
0
0
0
2013 Q3
10
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
0
0
0
2013 Q1
0
0
0
2012 Q4
0
0
0
2012 Q3
0
0
0
2012 Q2
0
0
0
2012 Q1
0
0
0
2011 Q4
0
0
0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
0
0
2011 Q1
0
0
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q3
0
0
0
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
0
0
0
2009 Q3
0
0
0
2009 Q2
35,748
15
2
419.6
2009 Q1
33,253
20
4
601.4
2008 Q4
28,407
12
3
422.4
2008 Q3
26,533
16
9
603.0
2008 Q2
27,441
19
3
692.4
2008 Q1
28,806
16
6
555.4
2007 Q4
31,114
26
10
835.6
2007 Q3
26,927
16
6
594.2
2007 Q2
27,858
4
0
143.6
2007 Q1
26,088
5
1
191.7
2006 Q4
23,937
8
3
334.2
2006 Q3
17,267
1
0
57.9
2006 Q2
18,771
15
6
799.1
2006 Q1
19,080
43
11
2253.7
2005 Q4
17,596
10
3
568.3
2005 Q3
17,216
7
2
406.6
2005 Q2
16,290
21
7
1289.1
2005 Q1
15,503
17
4
1096.6
2004 Q4
14,801
6
4
405.4
2001 Q3
0
0
0
2001 Q2
0
0
0
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
September 3, 2007WV · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorFatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EE was operating continuous miner in the #4 heading was cutting right lift. Approx. 25' when top broke starting at the face falling outby into intersection. Positioned on the right side of the intersection miner from kneeling position located between the 3 & 4th row of bolts outby the face. Head and body trauma resulting in death
Reportable incidents
36 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2013 · 1 incident
July 9, 2013WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Employee was standing on porch of guard house. A stray cat approached him near his feet & legs. As he tried to shoo the cat away, the cat bit him on his hand.
While taking the 1st lift of the #6 block on 1st rt panel, a fall occurred in the inby intersection at #5 xcut. The fall was approx. 20' wide by 20' long feathered from 2' up to 10' thick in the middle. Reason for late report: The MRS's were recovered & the mine was idled and put in inactive status.
June 8, 2009WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee stated while operating shuttle car he ran over a rock in the roadway bouncing him against canopy. Employee sustained compression fx to the L1 vertebrae.
2008 · 2 incidents
July 28, 2008WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was installing roof bolt, had placed drill bit against top, started rotation when glove on right hand got caught by drill steel twisting his right hand. Employee sustained fractures to his right wrist.
An unintentional roof fall occurred in the #5 entry at spad #731. Size of fall was estimated to be 22'W x 22'L x 5-6'H. The area had been supported with 4' fully grouted resin bolts with additional support consisting of 2 cribbs. No injuries, ventilation was not interrupted, no equipment caught. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered in the #9 entry at #28 break (Intake). Size of fall was estimated to be 50'L x 20'W x 5'H. The area had been supported with 4' resin bolts. No injuries, no equipment caught, ventilation was not interrupted. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered in the #7 entry at #27 break (Intake). Size of fall was estimated to be 55'L x 20'W x 6'H. The area had been supported with 4' fully grouted resin bolts with additional support consisting of 10' cable bolts. No injuries, no equipment caught, ventilation was not interrupted. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered in the #9 entry at #29 break (Intake). Size of fall was estimated to be 30'L x 20'W x 5'H. The area had been supported with 4' resin bolts. No injuries, no equipment caught, ventilation was not interrupted. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered at spad #962 in the cross cut between #6 & #7 entries (returns). Size of fall was est to be 35' L X 18'-20'W X 6' H. Area had been supported with 4' fully grouted resin bolts. No injuries, no equipment caught and ventilation not interrupted. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered 30 feet outby spad #985 in the #6 entry (return). Size of fall was estimated to be (50'L x 20'W x 4'-5'H.) Area had been supported with 4' fully grouted resin bolts with supplemental support consisting of 10' cable bolts in the intersections. No injuries, no equipment caught, ventilation not interrupted. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discoverd in the #1 entry (return) one break outby spad #816. Size of fall was estimated to be 5'H X 18'-20'W X 20'L. Fall will not be cleaned up. No injuries occurred, no equipment caught and ventilation was not interrupted. Area had been bolted with 4' fully grouted resin bolts. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered between #2 & #3 entry at spad #785 at break #28. Size of fall was estimated to be 5'H X 18'-20'W X 55'L. Fall will not be cleaned up. No injuries occurred, no equipment caught and ventilation was not interrupted. Area had been bolted with 4' fully grouted resin bolts. Fall will not be cleaned up.
An unintentional roof fall was discovered in the #3 entry at spad #793 at break #29. Size of fall was estimated to be 5'H X 18'-20'W X 60'L. Fall will not be cleaned up. No injuries occurred, no equipment caught and ventilation was not interrupted. Area had been bolted with 4' fully grouted resin bolts. Fall will not be cleaned up.
2006 · 5 incidents
October 25, 2006WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Went to stopping and bent over to pick up a bucket of plaster. When employee raised back up, a piece of draw rock 12" x 6" x 1/4" thick fell on his left forearm.
WORKING ON MINER, SITTING AROUND ON GROUND USING LEGS TO PUT CAP ON. DRAW ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN BOLTS & STRUCK HIM BETWEEN HIS SHOULDER BLADES BELOW NAP OF NECK.
February 27, 2006WV · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
He said several things: A belt clamp came loose, hitting him in the nose, he jerked backwards and hurt his back. He was lifting on a feeder motor and hurt his back. Then wrecked a mantrip and hurt his back.
July 21, 2005WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK