Cambria Fuel Plant has $142K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 outstanding across 13 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
1993–2022
Latest incident
Nov 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
192
citations
53
significant & substantial
$142,390
proposed penalties
$73,262
paid to date
51% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $69,128 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.
192 citations across 3,664 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Cambria Fuel Plant has $142K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 outstanding across 13 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.
$142K
proposed penalties
$74K
current assessed
$73K
paid to date
$302
outstanding
184 assessments are final orders; 13 contested dockets.
Of $110K in penalties contested before the Commission, $40K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-16.
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.
22citations taken to the federal commission · 11% of citations on record
Settled
18 · 82%
Stood as issued
1 · 5%
Vacated or withdrawn
3 · 14%
59%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 17 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
64%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$110K proposed, $40K 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 2013-06-25.
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 Cambria Fuel Plant shows 98% of 363 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: 2026-06-16
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
363
samples
2.02
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.
214 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 149 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.
Cambria Fuel Plant recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024.
Injury rate, 2024
ⓘ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 3.16 and the all-US-mining average was 2.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 3.30 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
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
3.96
0.00
0.000
2017 *
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
Year
Employees
2026
6
2025
4
2024
27
2023
37
2022
21
2021
17
2020
26
2019
24
2018
22
2017
20
2016
19
2015
19
2014
32
2013
33
2012
37
2011
35
2010
21
2009
11
2008
12
2007
11
2006
11
2000
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Cambria Fuel Plant sits in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.6% 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.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania · Population 73,255
1.6%
Mining share of county employment
$59,378
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
2026 Q2
6,379
2
0
313.5
2026 Q1
4,222
2
0
473.7
2025 Q4
3,776
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
1,226
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
1,155
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
3,073
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
4,896
2
0
408.5
2024 Q3
12,884
0
0
0.0
Show 75 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
21,500
2
0
93.0
2024 Q1
22,850
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
21,016
4
0
190.3
2023 Q3
19,929
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
19,001
5
0
263.1
2023 Q1
19,408
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
12,953
5
1
386.0
2022 Q3
13,538
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
9,362
1
0
106.8
2022 Q1
9,655
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
9,700
5
0
515.5
2021 Q3
9,999
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
8,852
2
0
225.9
2021 Q1
9,548
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
11,680
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
14,392
5
2
347.4
2020 Q2
13,042
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
15,128
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
11,429
2
0
175.0
2019 Q3
14,237
4
0
281.0
2019 Q2
14,399
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
14,262
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
12,590
1
0
79.4
2018 Q3
12,754
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
10,710
5
0
466.9
2018 Q1
14,468
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
12,718
1
0
78.6
2017 Q3
11,107
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
12,330
1
0
81.1
2017 Q1
13,670
1
0
73.2
2016 Q4
11,264
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
10,755
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
9,175
5
0
545.0
2016 Q1
9,512
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
7,937
3
0
378.0
2015 Q3
10,576
1
0
94.6
2015 Q2
10,375
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
6,703
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
14,394
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
16,980
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
14,578
5
2
343.0
2014 Q1
14,630
1
0
68.4
2013 Q4
17,686
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
15,958
1
0
62.7
2013 Q2
16,803
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
20,339
1
0
49.2
2012 Q4
18,875
7
4
370.9
2012 Q3
22,065
1
0
45.3
2012 Q2
19,952
7
1
350.8
2012 Q1
17,437
3
0
172.0
2011 Q4
17,719
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
22,904
6
1
262.0
2011 Q2
26,195
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
16,511
10
6
605.7
2010 Q4
15,233
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
12,358
2
0
161.8
2010 Q2
7,285
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
4,396
7
2
1592.4
2009 Q4
5,928
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
5,903
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
6,314
3
2
475.1
2009 Q1
2,634
3
0
1139.0
2008 Q4
686
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
450
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
504
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
480
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
528
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
450
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
360
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
420
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
275
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
640
1
0
1562.5
2006 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q1
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
16 on file
2022 · 1 incident
November 22, 2022PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee was tramming a Komatsu D65 dozer across the top of the frozen filter cake stockpile parallel to the loading face. The dozer suddenly lost traction and slid sideways down the slope. The dozer went over the loading face and fell approximately 14 feet and landed on its side. Employee complained of back pain. EMS was called and transported employee to hospital for evaluation.
2018 · 1 incident
July 11, 2018PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Employee was taking plow bolts out of cutting edge on a loader. EE was holding up on plow bolt with EE's hand and had an air impact on the nut. When EE spun the nut, the head of the bolt came down slightly and spun, causing a laceration to EE's left index finger.
A miner injured his right ankle when he stepped backwards onto a coal lump and rolled his right ankle. This report is being completed to terminate citation 9057388 issued on 11/18/2015.The injured miner continued to perform his normal job duties as a shift supervisor. The injured miner did not miss any scheduled workdays and his injury should have been considered first aid.
2014 · 3 incidents
May 3, 2014PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
The injured miner was dismounting a 988F front end loader and rolled his right ankle when he stepped onto frozen area of ground that was elevated. The injured miner did not fall but he did roll his right ankle. The injured miner went to an orthopedic doctor on 03/31/2014 and was told he would need surgery to repair a torn ligament between the tibia and fibula.
Employee exited 1/2 ton truck at shop area. When he stepped out of the truck, his foot slipped on ice. He held onto the door handle with his left hand to keep from falling to the ground and injured his left shoulder. The injured miner was seen by an orthopedic doctor on February 27, 2014 and will not return to work until the injury is healed.
Driver was dumping load on an uphill grade on a new modified material surface. While in the process of raising the bed of the truck the surface sank on the driver side of the power unit causing the truck to lay over with partial load still in the bed.
2011 · 1 incident
July 29, 2011PA · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
An employee was spraying water into the discharge area of the filter shoot with wash down hose. A bolt that holds the filter disk in place caught his shirt sleeve and injured his right forearm.
2010 · 1 incident
December 14, 2010PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
An employee was closing doors on the train cars. The employee was pulling down on a bar to close the car door and it slipped causing the employee to fall backwards onto his right foot. The employee notified PBS Coals, Inc. on December 16, 2010 that he would need surgery to repair the broken fibula bone.
2009 · 6 incidents
July 22, 2009PA · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE states he was holding a pc of steel to cut it and steel fell pulling his arm down causing pain in his right shoulder. EE did not report this injury or seek medical treatment until 8/7/09 when pain worsened. There is no est time associated with this injury. EE on modified duty pending orthopedic consult.
March 28, 2009PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Two employees were installing 8" pipe. While tacking pipe in place, a spark entered a piece of PVC stub protruding from floor. This spark ignited the PVC glue gasses that were trapped in the piping system, creating an explosion that sent PVC pipe fragments throughout the plant. Two employees received medical treatment for shrapnel injuries.
March 28, 2009PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Two employees were installing 8" pipe. While tacking pipe in place, a spark entered a piece of PVC stub protruding from floor. This spark ignited the PVC glue gasses that were trapped in the piping system, creating an explosion that sent PVC pipe fragments throughout the plant. Two employees received medical treatment for shrapnel injuries.
March 7, 2009PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE states that as he bent over to pick up welding rods, a 4' piece of angle broke loose over head and fell on EE, causing a concussion and contusions to the neck, head and (R) shoulder. EE is off work until cognitive evaluation is performed for stage 3 concussion.
January 12, 2009PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanDISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Working outside with steel in extremely cold weather for number of days. He didn't realize how cold his feet were until developed blisters and numbness. Let it go & condition got worse. Probable frostbite. Reported injury to office 2/10/09. Employee did not begin missing work until 2/08/2009. Employee worked from 1/12 thru 2/07/09.
1993 · 1 incident
September 20, 1993PA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON