Rockwell Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries
An unplanned roof fall occurred in the #5 entry near the surface of the mine at survey spad number 7.
Chilton Deep Mine No.1: 493 MSHA citations Coal
Rockwell Mining LLC
· Underground
Controlled by
Sev.en Global Investments a.s.
Wharton,
Wyoming County,
WV
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4609608
Chilton Deep Mine No.1 has $423K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 21 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 12
- Years on record
- 2022–2024
- Latest incident
- Feb 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2022
493
citations
145
significant & substantial
$422,860
proposed penalties
$328,336
paid to date
78% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $94,524 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2022
44
inspections on record
2,533
inspection hours
19.5
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.493 citations across 2,533 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: 2022-03-18.
On record since 2022.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Chilton Deep Mine No.1 has $423K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 21 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.$423K
proposed penalties
$328K
current assessed
$328K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
460 assessments are final orders; 21 contested dockets.
Of $378K in penalties contested before the Commission, $284K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-05-13.
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.31.5%
significant & substantial
3.3%
high negligence or reckless
31.5%
reasonably likely or greater
50.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.4% none, 33.0% low, 63.3% moderate, 3.3% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
368
citations taken to the federal commission · 75% of citations on record
- Settled 321 · 87%
- Stood as issued 47 · 13%
90%
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 123 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
25%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$378K proposed, $284K 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 2024-11-27.
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.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEVA 2024-0288 | Settlement | Sullivan | 2024 | $76K → $50K |
| WEVA 2023-0369 | Settlement | Voisin | 2024 | $59K → $50K |
| WEVA 2024-0180 | Settlement | Sullivan | 2024 | $38K → $25K |
| WEVA 2024-0136 | Settlement | Sullivan | 2024 | $35K → $20K |
| WEVA 2023-0415 | Settlement | Voisin | 2024 | $28K → $26K |
| WEVA 2024-0345 | Settlement | McCarthy | 2025 | $21K → $13K |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Chilton Deep Mine No.1 shows 100% of 797 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: 2024-04-10
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
797
samples
2.79
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.114 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 683 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR258
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)252
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)225
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2024-03-205.5
silica avg (%)
38
samples
9.2
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR15
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)14
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)8
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.
Last sampled: 2023-12-05
ⓘ
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.0%
over PEL
35
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)8
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR6
- ELECTRICIAN5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 99% | 97 |
| 2023 | 100% | 383 |
| 2022 | 100% | 317 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.5 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5.8 | 18 |
| 2022 | 5.2 | 18 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0% | 22 |
| 2022 | 0% | 13 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Chilton Deep Mine No.1 recorded 3.84 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ
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.3.84
total case rate
2.56
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.17 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.54 cases per 100 workers that year.
| Year | total case rate | days-away | fatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.84 | 2.56 | 0.000 |
| 2022 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 0.000 |
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.
Ownership history
- Rockwell Mining LLC 2021 to present
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | 33,322 |
| 2023 | 56 | 224,921 |
| 2022 | 46 | 224,554 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Chilton Deep Mine No.1 sits in Wyoming County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.Wyoming County, West Virginia · Population 20,948
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$48,038
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 18,231 | 14 | 2 | 767.9 |
| 2024 Q1 | 39,239 | 85 | 27 | 2166.2 |
| 2023 Q4 | 37,797 | 75 | 29 | 1984.3 |
| 2023 Q3 | 39,566 | 19 | 4 | 480.2 |
| 2023 Q2 | 42,595 | 63 | 20 | 1479.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 36,479 | 65 | 18 | 1781.8 |
| 2022 Q4 | 31,690 | 51 | 11 | 1609.3 |
| 2022 Q3 | 32,252 | 37 | 9 | 1147.2 |
Show 3 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Q2 | 32,785 | 60 | 14 | 1830.1 |
| 2022 Q1 | 15,966 | 14 | 5 | 876.9 |
| 2021 Q4 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file2024 · 3 incidents
January 28, 2024
WV · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockwell Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects
Injured Worker was in process of dismantling water line from roof of mine when the load of the water line on Injured Worker's shoulder was too heavy, causing Injured Worker to drop water line to ground and began feeling pain in stomach area.
Rockwell Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries
An unplanned roof fall occurred at this mine located on the Southwest Mains, #2 Belt line between 25 and 26 break, approximately 10' inby SS#: 167. There were no injuries resulting from this fall.
2023 · 5 incidents
December 12, 2023
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
POWERED HAULAGE
Rockwell Mining LLC · Struck by rolling or sliding object
Employee was attempting to place a cable reel onto a pallet. Chain was placed around cable reel. Forklift operator was setting reel down onto pallet when employee decided to step closer and remove chain from fork of forklift. At that moment, the reel rolled over onto the side of the employee's left foot near the ankle.
Rockwell Mining LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis on 9/28/2023. During preparation for a PT 50 audit, it was discovered that this occupational illness was not reported to MSHA.
Rockwell Mining LLC · Struck by falling object
Employee stated that the employee was finishing a stopping that the day shift had started to build. Employee was up on a ladder when the stopping fell and struck the ladder, knocking employee down to the mine floor, where a piece of block struck employee on the left foot. Employee was diagnosed with a fractured bone in left foot.
April 25, 2023
WV · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockwell Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object
Employee stated that EE and another employee were attempting to install a slide in a rock box when the metal they were moving slipped out of EE's hand and struck EE's knee against the side of the rock box.
Rockwell Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries
A non-injury accident occurred at this mine in the form of an unplanned roof fall. the fall occurred in the #6 primary escapeway entry at #2 cross cut.
2022 · 4 incidents
December 15, 2022
WV · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockwell Mining LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects
Employee was lifting belt structure out of an insert when they felt pain in right knee. Employee was diagnosed with a sprain and placed off work. During preparation for a Pt. 50 Audit it was discovered that this incident was not reported to MSHA but was reported internally as an NFDL. This incident was counted as an NFDL on the 7000-2, submitted for the mine for Q4 2022.
September 25, 2022
WV · Coal
section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockwell Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee stated: was installing a rib bolt on the left side of the entry when employee's foot slipped off the platform. As employee was falling, employee tried to catch self and employee's right arm went between the mast cradle and the mast jack causing a fracture to right forearm.
July 21, 2022
WV · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Rockwell Mining LLC · Struck by falling object
Employee was rolling up ventilation curtain, at which time a piece of rock/coal fell out of the rib striking the employee in right foot area causing a fracture.
Rockwell Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries
A non-injury roof fall accident occurred and was discovered at this mine. The roof fall was in #6 entry at break 4 (1cc inby spad 26). Primary Escapeway Intake. The roof fall is appox. 20' wide, 20' long and up to 8' high.