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.
910 citations across 7,591 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Coal Creek has $393K 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.
$393K
proposed penalties
$240K
current assessed
$240K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
895 assessments are final orders; 21 contested dockets.
Of $212K in penalties contested before the Commission, $58K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2015-03-19.
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.
69citations taken to the federal commission · 8% of citations on record
Settled
51 · 74%
Stood as issued
9 · 13%
Vacated or withdrawn
9 · 13%
72%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 46 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
74%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$224K proposed, $59K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2013-01-30.
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 Coal Creek shows 94% of 1,119 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: 2010-08-18, 16 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
1,119
samples
8.33
dust max (mg/m3)
651 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 468 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.
Coal Creek 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 *
9.37
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
16.01
0.00
0.000
2007 *
9.12
9.12
0.000
2006 *
7.15
0.00
0.000
2005
12.51
1.79
0.000
2004
13.73
8.58
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)
2014
0
2013
0
2012
7
2011
8
2010
9
2009
13
2008
11
2007
9
2006
23
95,797
2005
48
210,930
2004
50
402,789
2003
48
484,547
2002
48
517,835
2001
45
338,049
2000
43
322,895
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Coal Creek sits in Bell County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.6% 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.
Bell County, Kentucky · Population 23,878
3.6%
Mining share of county employment
$32,403
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
2014 Q4
0
0
0
2014 Q3
0
0
0
2014 Q2
0
0
0
2014 Q1
0
0
0
2013 Q4
0
0
0
2013 Q3
0
0
0
2013 Q2
0
0
0
2013 Q1
0
0
0
Show 52 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2012 Q4
4,776
1
0
209.4
2012 Q3
4,188
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
4,345
1
0
230.1
2012 Q1
3,591
2
0
556.9
2011 Q4
3,347
5
3
1493.9
2011 Q3
4,278
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
7,606
3
1
394.4
2011 Q1
6,229
9
2
1444.9
2010 Q4
5,619
3
1
533.9
2010 Q3
5,159
6
3
1163.0
2010 Q2
5,019
4
1
797.0
2010 Q1
5,549
3
1
540.6
2009 Q4
8,467
5
1
590.5
2009 Q3
7,419
5
1
673.9
2009 Q2
7,689
1
0
130.1
2009 Q1
7,395
4
1
540.9
2008 Q4
6,965
6
1
861.5
2008 Q3
6,053
6
1
991.2
2008 Q2
6,025
5
0
829.9
2008 Q1
5,947
6
4
1008.9
2007 Q4
6,035
9
3
1491.3
2007 Q3
5,367
13
7
2422.2
2007 Q2
5,376
8
4
1488.1
2007 Q1
5,153
20
10
3881.2
2006 Q4
5,179
45
27
8688.9
2006 Q3
5,909
1
1
169.2
2006 Q2
21,924
10
3
456.1
2006 Q1
22,913
40
30
1745.7
2005 Q4
26,348
30
24
1138.6
2005 Q3
29,755
39
27
1310.7
2005 Q2
27,507
11
8
399.9
2005 Q1
28,277
43
31
1520.7
2004 Q4
30,576
49
34
1602.6
2004 Q3
28,171
42
24
1490.9
2004 Q2
26,771
31
13
1158.0
2004 Q1
31,038
35
19
1127.6
2003 Q4
27,723
36
29
1298.6
2003 Q3
27,431
10
5
364.6
2003 Q2
27,534
9
1
326.9
2003 Q1
28,212
33
23
1169.7
2002 Q4
26,927
5
0
185.7
2002 Q3
28,158
21
9
745.8
2002 Q2
30,580
24
9
784.8
2002 Q1
28,657
21
8
732.8
2001 Q4
27,612
48
15
1738.4
2001 Q3
28,057
33
19
1176.2
2001 Q2
22,373
11
8
491.7
2001 Q1
25,771
18
10
698.5
2000 Q4
23,482
15
8
638.8
2000 Q3
14,290
22
16
1539.5
2000 Q2
32,139
22
12
684.5
2000 Q1
30,010
14
10
466.5
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
June 16, 2004KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
A FATAL FALL OF ROOF ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE 003 WORKING SECTION. THE VICTIM WAS WORKING WITH THE SECTION CREW AND HAD BEEN INSTALLING TIMBERS DURING RETREAT MINING. THE CREW HAD TEMPORARILY HALTED PRODUCTION TO OBSERVE THE MINE ROOF, WHEN WITH LITTLE WARNING THE MINE ROOF BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. THE 5 MINERS RAN TO ESCAPE THE ROOF FALL. FOUR OF THE MINERS ESCAPED.
A roof fall was discovered at spad 99. The fall is approximately 30 feet long x 30 feet wide x 6 feet high. The fall did not affect persons nor equipment and has been dangered and cribbed off.
A roof fall was discovered 3 x-cuts inby spad 4587 in the number 1 entry during the weekly examination. The fall did not affect persons, equipment nor ventilation. The area is dangered and cribbed off.
A roof fall was discovered in the intersection at spad 1731. The area was 16'X 20'long X 5'high. The fall did not affect miners nor equipment. The travelway was re-routed and supplemental roof support in the form of cribs and timbers installed.
2010 · 1 incident
March 19, 2010KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was conducting a pre-shift inspection when he slipped as he was walking back to the rail runner. He fell striking his ribs on the rail runner resulting in one fractured rib. EE was examined at the ER and returned to work on that day.
A roof fall was discovered in the primary escapeway between spad 117 and 98. The fall did not affect persons nor equipment but the escapeway had to be rerouted. The roof fall was 20'x20'x5'high. The area is in the process of being cleaned up.
Fall is in the intersection off spad 1842 i break outby power center in the #2 entry on the old 003 section. Fall is approximately 15' wide by 20' long and 4' high. Does not block any airways.
A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED 1 CROSSCUT INBY SPAD 4512 IN THE #5 ENTRY WHICH IS THE NEUTRAL. THE FALL DID NOT AFFECT PERSONS, EQUIPMENT NOR VENTILATION. THE FALL WAS APPX. 20' X 20' X 8'HIGH. THE FALL WAS DANGERED AND TIMBERED OFF.
A rock fall was discovered at Spad 1709 in the 1st left panel. The fall was appx. 50' x 20' x 5'. No persons, equipment nor ventilation were affected. The fall was dangered and timbered off and will not be cleaned up at this time.
A roof fall was discovered at spad 1726 in the 1st left panel between number 3 and 4 entry. The fall did not affect persons, ventilation nor equipment. The fall is apx. 50' x 20' x6' and has been dangered and timbered off. The fall will not be cleaned up at this time.
August 8, 2008KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The flat car had derailed and EE was jacking the flat car back onto the track, when the jack slipped and pinched his left 5th finger between the jack and a header board. EE received 7 stitches and returned to work.
A roof fall was discovered in the left return at spad 1696. The fall was approximately 20 feet long X 18 feet wide X 4.5 feet thick. The fall was reported immediately to MSHA. The area has been cribbed off and a travelway made around the area. No persons nor equipment were involved.
March 3, 2008KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE was using a lifting jack to put a rail runner back on the track when the jack kreeled out and the bar that he was using as a lever struck him above the left eye. He recieved 5 stitches and returned to work on 03/04/08.
2007 · 3 incidents
March 30, 2007KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE loading header boards by hand onto a flat car to be transported underground when he set the boards down onto his left index finger. He was transported to the hospital and recieved 4 stitches to the tip of his finger. EE ret'd to duty next shift and continued normal duties.
February 13, 2007KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE WAS WORKING BUILDING A SEAL WHEN HE TURNED WITH A SOLID CONCRETE BLOCK IN HIS HANDS AND STRUCK ANOTHER BLOCK WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. HE WAS X-RAYED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIPS OF HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER AND HIS RING FINGER WERE BROKEN.
Employee was pulling loose material from the rib when material rolled off and struck him on the left foot. He continued to work the rest of the shift and went to the doctor that night. There were no fractures and he was told to take the next 2 days off. He was released to come back to work on regular duty on 01/19/07.
A roof fall was discovered in the fourth crosscut outby spad 4737 in the #1 entry leading to the cabin hollow bleeder. The fall is approximately 70' long x 20' wide x 6' high. The fall had no affect on employees, ventilation, nor equipment. The area has been dangered and cribbed off.
A roof fall was discovered at spad location 1727 off the 2nd south main in the 1st left panel. The area is approximately 85'long x 20'wide x 6' high. The fall had no affect on employees, ventilation nor equipment. The area has been dangered and cribbed off.
Piece of sandstone rolled rib striking employee on back. Rock measured 72" long, up to 24" wide, by 1" to 5" thick. The employee started restricted duty on 4/01/06.
February 24, 2006KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
As employee was getting out of pinner, he put his hand on top of canopy. The pinner teeter-tottered causing employee's right middle finger to get caught between canopy and an installed roof bolt head. The finger was fractured.
Three additional roof falls have been discovered in old works. Fall #1 is one break inby spad 4268 and is 20'X40' with an unknown thickness. Fall #2 is in the three left crosscut at spad 4032 and is 20'X50' with an unknown thickness. Fall #3 is located in the #4 entry inby spad 4054 and is 20'X190' with an unknown thickness.
Three roof falls have been discovered. Fall #1 is at spad 4247 and is 20'X25' with an unknown thickness. Fall #2 is one break outby spad 4235 and is 20'X25' with an unknown thickness. Fall #3 is outby spad 4230 and is 20'X20' with an unknown thickness.
A roof fall has occurred in an intersection two breaks inby spad # 4670 in the #3 entry. The fall measured 20' X 20' X 7' in thickness. This was not on an active working section. Additional roof support was placed in the area after the fall.
An unplanned roof fall occurred outby 003 section measuring 20' x 20' x 4' thick. The fall was located in #6 entry at Spad #4525. Fall was timbered, cribbed and dangered off. Roof was previously supported with 4' resin bolts.
August 3, 2005KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
Employee started to sit down to operate continuous miner when his right knee popped causing pain to the knee. Employee started working restricted duty the next day.
April 6, 2005KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossPOWERED HAULAGE
There was a rock fall at spad #4221 in return interupting ventilation; timbered and dangered off, set brattice line over one break re-establishing return.
January 13, 2005KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EE WAS HANGING CURTAIN WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND HIT HIS RIGHT FOOT BEHIND STEEL TOE ON BOOT, BREAKING LITTLE (5TH) TOE. EE IS WORKING RESTRICTED DUTY.
2004 · 8 incidents
September 30, 2004KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
RIGHT SHOULDER STARTED HURTING DURING SHIFT. POSSIBLE REPETIVE MOTION INJURY. EMPLOYEE SHOVELS & GREASES EQUI9PMENT THROUGHOUT SHIFT. HAD SURGERY AND BECAME LOST TIME ON 8-26-04.
June 22, 2004KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
ON THIS DATE THE EMPLOYEE REPORTED THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE HAD CARPAL TUNNEL DISORDERS IN BOTH WRISTS. HE STARTED MISSING WORK ON 7-19-04 TO HAVE SURGERY ON HIS WRIST.
EMPLOYEE WAS SPLICING CABLE NEAR PERSONNEL CARRIER WHEN HE BUMPED HIS RIGHT ELBOW AGAINST THE CARRIER. EMPLOYEE HAD SURGERY ON 6/16/04 AND BEGAN MISSING WORK AT THAT TIME.
March 16, 2004KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EE WAS DRIVING A RUBBER THREAD MANTRIP WHEN HE RAN OVER SOME MUCK/ROCK IN THE ROADWAY STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE TOP INJURING HIS NECK. HE BEGAN MISSING ON 1-8-2004.
EE WAS JACKING UP A ROOF BOLTER WHEN THE BAR SLIPPED CAUSING EE TO FALL FOREWARD STRIKING HIS JAW AGAINST THE ROOF BOLTER. HE SUFFERED A BROKEN TOOTH WHICH REQUIRED A FILLING.
AS THE MINER WAS CUTTING THE SECOND PILLAR CUT IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NO. 2 ENTRY A ROOF FALL OCCURRED COVERING THE CONTINUOUS MINER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. LOCATION OF FALL WAS ON BREAK AB OVE SPAD #2418.
March 15, 2002KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
AS EE WAS TRAMMING THE ROOF BOLTER TO NO B ENTRY HE RAN OVER A ROCK IN THE ROADWAY CAUSING HIS HEAD TO BE JAMMED INTO THE TOP INJURING HIS NECK & SHOULDER.
2001 · 5 incidents
November 5, 2001KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderPOWERED HAULAGE
AS INJURED EE WAS REMOVING A CANOPY FROM THE ROOF BOLTER, A POST ON THE CANOPY FELL OVER STRIKING THE EE RIGHT THUMB. ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF THE THUMB WAS AMPUTATED.
August 18, 2001KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ROCK FALL WAS IN RETURN ONE BREAK INBY SPAD # 176 AND DID NOT INTERFEAR WITH VENTILATION AND ACTIVE SECTION. FALL WAS 42" THICK AND 20 FT LONG, 20 FT WIDE. NO PEOPLE OR EQUIPMENT OR EQUIPMENT INVOLVED.
July 25, 2000KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
FOUND ROCKFLL IN NEUTRAL ENTRY, ONE BREAK OUTBY SPAD #1164. ROCKFALL WAS IN PILLARLINE FROM THE START OF ONE PILLAR TO THE OTHER END. APPROX. 20' X 50'. CRIBBED ALL AROUND ALL SIDES AND DANGER ED OFF.
ROCKFALL IN #1 ENTRY OF LEFT SIDE RETURN ONE BREAK INBY SPAD 1176. ROCKFALL WAS 24'L X 20'W. SET BRATTICE LINE OVER TO ESTABLISH RETURN AND CRIBBED AND DANGERED AREA OFF.
HE WAS CUTTING A CAR CABLE TO SPLICE IT. HE HADTHE CABLE ON A HEADER PULLING THE KNIFE TOWARDS HIMSELF, WHEN HE CUT HIS LEFT LEG ABOVE KNEECAP.THE KNIFE CUT THROUGH HIS KNEE PADS.
June 12, 2000KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EE WENT IN #5 TO SCOOP THE HEADING & WAS SCOOPING THE RIGHT RIB ON DECK SIDE WHEN THE RIB & ROCKROLLED OFF & HIT HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD FORCING HIS CHIN INTO HIS CHEST & MAKING A SMALL CU T IN BACK OF HEAD & SEVERAL SCRATCHES ON HIS NECK
December 10, 1999KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EMPLOYEE WAS PUSHING UP ROOF BOLT WITH BOLT WRENCH LYING ON FRAME BEHIND DRILL POT. THE BOLT WRENCH GOT CAUGHT AND FLIPPED UP, STRIKING EMPLOYEEIN THE CHIN.
November 15, 1999KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
CABLE REEL WAS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION. WHEN EE STARTED BOLT MACHINE, IT STARTED TAKING UP CABLE AND KNOCKED HIS FEET OUT FROM UNDER HIM, CAUSING HIM TO GO FACE FIRST INTO THE BOTTOM. HE SUFFE RED A BROKEN FOOT.
November 12, 1999KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HAD REAR END OF MANTRIP BLOCKED UP FRAMING BRAKEAXLE & HAD MEN CLEANING IT OUT. WAS STRAIGHTENING THE FRONT WHEEL IT ROLLED OFF THE CRIB BLOCK & HIT EE'S FOOT
November 8, 1999KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
RUNNING OVER SUBMERGED ROCK IN WATER HOLE ON ROADWAY CAUSING SHOULDER TO BE BUMPED AGAINST SCOOP. ACCIDENT BECAME LOST TIME ON 7/28/99 WHNE EE SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT.
June 21, 1999KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY