Charger Mine East has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $731 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
33
Years on record
1983–2023
Latest incident
Mar 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
55
citations
22
significant & substantial
$13,363
proposed penalties
$12,632
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $731 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.
55 citations across 1,563 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: 2023-04-20.
On record since 2023.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Charger Mine East has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $731 outstanding across 2 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$731
outstanding
53 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $45K in penalties contested before the Commission, $25K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-11-14.
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 · 2% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 100%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$100 proposed, $100 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 2010-06-14.
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 Charger Mine East shows 98% of 121 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: 2025-01-28
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
121
samples
1.70
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.
77 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 44 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.
Charger Mine East 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 Indiana, coal mining averaged 3.82 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 *
3.67
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001 *
7.90
7.90
0.000
2000 *
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)
2026
2
2025
4
4,563
2024
17
71,158
2023
20
155,540
2022
11
177,727
2021
3
12,518
2020
11
118,395
2019
28
363,469
2018
4
2017
1
2016
1
2015
2
2014
4
2013
10
2012
6
2011
4
2010
2
2009
1
2008
0
2007
0
2006
0
2005
0
2004
0
2003
0
2002
4
51,873
2001
19
303,363
2000
17
269,239
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Charger Mine East sits in Pike County, Indiana, where the Census mining category is 2.5% 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, Indiana · Population 12,187
2.5%
Mining share of county employment
$66,250
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
OPERATOR WAS PREPARING TO MARKING HIGHWALL, TO MARK EDGE OF SHOT. WHEN SEVERAL LARGE PIECES OF ROCK FELL FROM THE HIGHWALL STRIKING HIM AND COVERING HIS BODY. THIS RESULTED IN HIS DEATH.
Employee was assisting contractor replace windshield in 1900 shovel. IE stepped to grab a tool and strained their left knee. IE continued to work thinking the pain would go away, Pain increased IE went to ER after work.
2002 · 1 incident
February 3, 2002IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
EE WAS STANDING ON THE WATER PUMP FRAME. HE HAD COVERALLS ON THE ALT, FAN PULLEY WAS RUBBING HIS LEG AND HE DIDN'T KNOW IT. THE HEAT BUILT UP EMOUGHT TO BLISTER HIS LEG.
2001 · 2 incidents
December 3, 2001IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WERE PUTTING UP BELLY PAN ON 637 SCRAPER HAD 1 BOLT STARTED WERE LINING HE BOLT HAULING WITH PRYBAR. THE BELLY PAN FELL AND THE PRYBAR HITT EE IN THE RIGHT LEG REQUIRING 4 STITCHES. THE THREAD S WERE STRIPPED IN THE BOLTHOLE.
June 10, 1999IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS FUELING THE HIGHWALL, DRILL STEPPED OFF THE DRILL AND TWISTED HIS ANKLE. HE SAID HE TWISTED HIS ANKLE EARLIER IN THE DAY ON A ROCK WALKING TO A WATER PUMP.
May 16, 1999IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS FUELING UP FUEL TRUCK. STEPPED ON BOTTOM STEP OF LADDER ON TRUCK. FOOT SLIPPED ON BOTTOM STEP AND WHEN HIT GROUND TWISTED RT FOOT. TWISTED RT ANKLE, PULLED TENDONS IN ANKLE.
EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING ON STACKER IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS STEPPED BACK AND DOWN WITH RIGHT FOOT AS LEFT TOE BECAME LODGED UNDER THE STACKER, LEFT FOOT WAS HYPER-EXTENDED.
April 27, 1998IN · Coalcoal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shovelerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
AT SOLAR SOURCES MINE. HE WAS CLIDMBING UP ON DOZER TO TALK TO OPERATOR WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE. HE GRABBED THE BATTERY BOX TO STOP HIS FALL. WHEN HE GRABBED THE BOX, THE LID WAS OPEN AND FEL L SHUT ON HIS FINGER. HE CONTINUED FALLING AND HIS FINGER WAS PULLED OUT FROM THE FORCE OF THE FALL, RESULTING IN A FRACTURED RT THUMB.
May 15, 1997IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
MECHANIC WAS CUTTING ONT EH HUB OOF A WHEEL WHICH WAS REMOVED OFF A FRONT END LOADER. HE FAILED TO DEFLATE THE TIRE. HEAT FROM THE CUTTING PROCESS THEN EXPANDED THE AIR INSIDE HTE TIRE CAUSI NG THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE TO FAIL.
EMPLOYEE WAS USING CUTTING TORCH TO BURN OUT A BEARING ONT HE BUCKET OF BACKHOE. AS THE BEARING BURNED THROUGH SOME HOT GREASE ENTRAPPED BEHIND IT SHOT OUT INTO THE EMPLOYEE'S FACE. HE WAS B URNED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF FACE AND FOREHEAD. 1ST & 2ND DEGREE BURNS.
1992 · 3 incidents
October 2, 1992IN · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
MECHANIC WAS USING AN AIR IMPACT WRENCH WHEN THE ROLLED PIN FLEW OUT OF THE SOCKET STRIKING HIM IN THE PALM OF HIS RIGHT HAND RESULTING APPROX ONE INCH LACERATION.
1990 · 1 incident
June 5, 1990IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS HAULING COAL FROM PIT AREA TO COAL BREAKER. THE BREAKER CLOGGED UP AND THE EMPLOYEE LEFT THE OPERATORS CAB TO ASSIST THE COAL BREAKER OPERATOR. HE SLIPPED ON CATWALK AND FELL TO THE GROUND LANDING ON HIS BACK.
1989 · 3 incidents
November 13, 1989IN · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorMACHINERY
EMPL WAS SETTING WATER PUMP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOWER JACK STANDS THE PUMP BEING HEAVIER ON THE REAR TIPPED UP STRIKING EMPL ACROSS LOWER PART OF R ARM
January 14, 1989IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
VICTIM WAS STAN8ING ON PLATFORM ATTEMPTING TO UNCLOG COAL HOPPER ON BREAKER A TRUCK DUMPED A LOAD INTO THE TRUCK HOPPER ABOVE VICTIM SOME COAL OVERSHOT HOPPER & FELL STRIKING VICTIM ON ARM & HEAD THE HEAD W5S LACERATED WHICH REQUIRED SUTURING OF THE WOUND
1983 · 1 incident
September 6, 1983IN · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
CLIMBING LADDER TO CAB OF TRUCK PREPARING TO START SHIFT.CARRIED LUNCH IN ONE HAND SO ONLY HAD ONE FREE HAND TO CLIMB UP WITH.HAND SLIPPED OFF HAND RAIL FELL 5\ LANDING ON LEFT FOOT.
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