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.
114 citations across 1,979 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bull Hill has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $956 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.
$20K
proposed penalties
$20K
current assessed
$19K
paid to date
$956
outstanding
114 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 2023-03-22.
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.
3citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 33%
Stood as issued
2 · 67%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-05-11.
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 Bull Hill shows 100% of 164 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: 2017-08-18, 9 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
164
samples
1.29
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.
104 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 60 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.
Bull Hill 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 Oklahoma, coal mining averaged 9.29 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
2017 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2016 *
2.42
2.42
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2014
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011
9.53
5.72
0.000
2010 *
0.00
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
ⓘCoal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.
Year
Employees
Coal produced (tons)
2018
0
2017
16
73,681
2016
29
126,320
2015
33
173,991
2014
32
181,665
2013
33
214,408
2012
30
180,114
2011
37
200,552
2010
29
206,387
2009
22
52,568
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bull Hill sits in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, where the Census mining category is 3.0% 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.
Le Flore County, Oklahoma · Population 48,728
3.0%
Mining share of county employment
$50,027
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
2018 Q1
0
0
0
2017 Q4
3,949
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
12,972
3
1
231.3
2017 Q2
12,949
2
0
154.5
2017 Q1
14,906
4
2
268.3
2016 Q4
16,887
3
0
177.7
2016 Q3
16,869
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
18,885
3
0
158.9
Show 27 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2016 Q1
29,949
5
0
167.0
2015 Q4
22,624
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
26,023
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
25,200
4
0
158.7
2015 Q1
21,608
4
0
185.1
2014 Q4
20,377
2
1
98.1
2014 Q3
21,336
7
4
328.1
2014 Q2
38,906
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
25,597
6
1
234.4
2013 Q4
23,393
1
0
42.7
2013 Q3
22,537
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
24,588
10
2
406.7
2013 Q1
22,398
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
22,447
3
1
133.6
2012 Q3
23,724
5
4
210.8
2012 Q2
18,898
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
19,227
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
27,492
4
2
145.5
2011 Q3
28,003
6
2
214.3
2011 Q2
27,630
1
0
36.2
2011 Q1
21,802
1
0
45.9
2010 Q4
22,172
7
2
315.7
2010 Q3
22,723
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
20,103
6
3
298.5
2010 Q1
17,716
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
13,938
3
0
215.2
2009 Q3
11,966
3
0
250.7
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file
2016 · 1 incident
February 15, 2016OK · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was climbing onto a 775 End dump truck and set lunch pail on the front bumper of truck. When EE went to reach for the lunch pail and reposition it, lost footing and fell to the ground.
2012 · 1 incident
December 4, 2012OK · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While checking for an air leak on his equipment, the injured lost his balance and placed his hand on the exhaust while trying to stabilize himself and prevent falling. He burned his hand.
October 12, 2011OK · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorMACHINERY
1 of 3 drive belts broke, injured shut motor down, dismounted the crusher and approached the large pulley driving the crusher in the hopper. Pulley had slowed down but had not totally stopped rotating yet. Reached around from behind the guard to grab the broken belt from the back when the remaining 2 belts caught his arm between them and the pulley causing a fracture.
August 11, 2011OK · Coaldriller, highwall operator, highwall drill operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While dismounting from highwall drill, the injured' s foot slipped on the steps, he fell to the ground and strained his lower back area. Doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer. No other medical and no lost time.
January 24, 2011OK · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT