Bucky Ridge Surface Mine has $24K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
1995–2009
Latest incident
Jan 2009
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
160
citations
84
significant & substantial
$23,782
proposed penalties
$23,681
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $101 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.
160 citations across 2,327 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bucky Ridge Surface Mine has $24K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$24K
proposed penalties
$24K
current assessed
$24K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
157 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-03-06.
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.
8citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
Settled
7 · 88%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 13%
100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 7 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
9%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $3K 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 2012-05-21.
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 Bucky Ridge Surface Mine shows 99% of 275 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: 2012-02-21, 14 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
275
samples
1.84
dust max (mg/m3)
193 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 82 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.
Bucky Ridge Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 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
2011 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
2.81
2.81
0.000
2007 *
4.10
4.10
0.000
2004 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2003 *
4.26
0.00
0.000
2001
2.08
2.08
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)
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
0
2022
0
2021
0
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
0
2015
4
2014
0
2013
0
2012
3
6,443
2011
12
63,873
2010
15
123,795
2009
18
125,824
2008
27
175,446
2007
16
130,001
2006
4
1,015
2005
1
683
2004
17
55,288
2003
38
431,394
2002
56
488,497
2001
71
999,947
2000
57
607,328
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bucky Ridge Surface Mine sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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 blasting accident occurred when a mud seam blew out sending rock off of the mine site and onto private property in the Fedscreek Community of Motlex Fork. No injury resulted from this accident.
2008 · 1 incident
June 23, 2008KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Operator lost control of service truck for some unknown reason. The passenger jumped from the truck, hitting the ground. He injured his head, shoulder, arm, side and hip.
Apex Energy Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
TRUCK DRIVER WAS WAITING FOR A LOAD OF COAL. WHEN HE DECIDED TO CLEAN HIS WINDOWS. HE GOT OUT AND CLIMBED ON FUEL TANK AND CLEANED HIS WINDOW AND WAS PROCEEDING TO ENTER HIS TRUCK BY SWINGIN G HIMSELF AROUND THE DOOR BY GRABBING THE DOOR HANDLE AND HAND HOLD APPARENTLY PULLING AN ALREADY TENDER MUSCLE AND CAUSING A LOT OF PAIN IN HIS BACK
CLIMBING DOWN FROM BACK OF ANFO TRUCK. HIS FOOT SLIPPED ON LADDER AND GOT CAUGHT ON RUNG. HE CONTINUED FALLING STRIKING BACK OF HEAD AND TWISTING KNEE.
July 20, 2001KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS STANDING ON THE BACK OF THE SERVICE TRUCKTAILGATE & CLOSING THE TRUCK CARGO DOORS. HIS FEET FLEW OUT FROM UNDER HIM & HE FELL ONTO THE FROZEN GROUND & HIT HIS LEFT ANKLE.
TRUCK CAME OUT OF GEAR LOADED GOING DOWN HILL, DRRIVER LOST CONTROL AND JUMPED OUT OF TRUCK--TRUCK HIT HIGHWALL ABOUT 150' FROM WHERE DRIVER JUMPED OUT.
1998 · 2 incidents
July 27, 1998KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE STATES: ON 2-2-98 I WAS LIFTING TWO 40 LB BAGS OF WET HYDROMITE AND I BEGAN TO FEEL PAIN IN MY RIGHT SIDE OF GROIN WHEN BENDING OVER- A BURNING SENSATION IN GROIN AREA AND RIGHT TESTI CLE. THE PAIN GOT WORSE THAT NIGHT.
1997 · 2 incidents
May 1, 1997KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Big Creek Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS ALIGNING A BALL ONT HE END OF THE STRUT WITH THE BOOM OF THE SERVICE TRUCK. THE BALL SLIPPED OUT AND HIT FINGER AGAINST GROUND. THE BALL WEIGHS APPROX. 200 LBS. AND FELL APPROX. 6 INCHE S.
April 10, 1997KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WHILE BENDING OVER TO CHECK A HOLE, A ROCK CAME OFF THE HIGHWALL, HIT THE GROUND AND BROKE INTO PIECES. ONE OF THE PIECES OF ROCK STRUCK OUR EE IN THE LEFT SHOULDER AND HIP.
A CUTTOFF OCCURED WHEN A BLAST WAS INITIATED. AFTER REWIRING, THE BLASTER AND HELPER SHOT THE REMAINING HOLES, FROM UNDERNEATH A D-10 DOZER, 800 FEET FROM THE BLAST. FLYROCK HIT THE DOZER BLAD E AND A PIECE BROKE OFF THE LARGER ROCK, GOING UNDERNEATH THE DOZER AND STRIKING EE IN THE NECK.
March 4, 1995KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
WHILE WORKING ON THE ASSEMBLY OF A CAT 5230 SHOVEL, REMOVING PLYWOOD PIECES WITH EXPOSED NAILS, HE STEPPED ON A PIECE OF PLYWOOD, NAIL PIERCED HIS RIGHT FOOT.