Coalburg No 1 Mine has $1.1M in proposed MSHA penalties and $12K outstanding across 49 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
60
Years on record
2005–2011
Latest incident
Sep 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
1,005
citations
407
significant & substantial
$1,094,338
proposed penalties
$630,223
paid to date
58% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $464,115 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.
1,005 citations across 6,476 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.
3
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-08-27.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Coalburg No 1 Mine has $1.1M in proposed MSHA penalties and $12K outstanding across 49 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.
$1.1M
proposed penalties
$642K
current assessed
$630K
paid to date
$12K
outstanding
980 assessments are final orders; 49 contested dockets.
Of $940K in penalties contested before the Commission, $470K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-11-28.
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.
444citations taken to the federal commission · 44% of citations on record
Settled
430 · 97%
Stood as issued
12 · 3%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 0%
94%
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 241 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
50%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$940K proposed, $470K 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 2013-07-31.
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 Coalburg No 1 Mine shows 93% of 504 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: 2011-08-25, 15 years ago
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
504
samples
6.01
dust max (mg/m3)
226 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 278 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.
Coalburg No 1 Mine recorded 7.01 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.
7.01
total case rate
7.01
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.45 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2011
7.01
7.01
0.000
2010
4.33
2.16
0.000
2009
11.51
10.47
0.000
2008
6.21
4.66
0.000
2007 *
16.72
16.72
0.000
2006 *
9.14
9.14
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)
2012
3
2011
62
331,623
2010
79
480,622
2009
73
647,239
2008
55
502,819
2007
28
351,654
2006
50
294,568
2005
14
56,781
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Coalburg No 1 Mine sits in Boone County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 10.1% 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.
Boone County, West Virginia · Population 21,312
10.1%
Mining share of county employment
$56,152
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
Fall extended above anchorage point, reported to be 8 feet high and the immediate roof appeared to be laminated shale with slickensides. Fall blocked roadway and occurred at No.17 Break of 1Rt.-Southwest Mains, one break inby No.6 Belthead and one break outby spad 1646. Dimensions: 20 feet wide and 23 feel long.
Fall extended above anchorage point, reported to be up to 10 feet high and the immediate roof appeared to be laminated shale with slickensides. Fall blocked roadway and beltline. Fall occurred at No.2 Break of No.5 Belt between spads 11655 and 1507, No. 1 Entry and No.2 Entry. Dimensions: 17 to 18 feet wide and 60 to 70 feet long.
Fall extended above anchorage point, reported to be 6 to 8 feet high and the immediate roof appeared to be laminated shale with slickensides. Fall occurred at No.17 Break of No.4 Belt between spad 1400 and 1409, between No. 2 Entry and No.3 Entry. Dimensions: 17 to 18 feet wide and 20 to 30 feet long.
August 23, 2011WV · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
A small piece of rock fell between roof bolts, hitting the victim on the upper left shoulder and knocking him to the ground. The victim received bruising to his left shoulder, upper back, and laceration to his mouth. The laceration caused from being knocked to the ground, not the rock itself. (His teeth cut his mouth)
Worker was walking away from the continuous miner to help repair a burst waterline. A rib approx. 4'6"x 32"x 9" rolled off striking the victim in the back and knocking him down. Injuries include 2 fractures to pelvis, fractured tailbone and right ankle.
Worker was moving MRS unit out of area where mining was completed. He stopped the MRS & walked toward it. When he was appr 8' from front of MRS & about 4' away from ribline a piece of top part of rib broke loose & fell about 6' striking victim on left side of upper torso. He finished working shift. Accident occurred in xcut. Mine ht was about 11 1/2'. He declined med treatment.
Employee was rolling out tensar on the corner of intersection with two other employees. A section of the rib, 62" long, 12" thick and 2" wide rolled off striking employee on his left lower leg, causing a compound fracture.
January 6, 2011WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
While employee was checking supplies on bolter, rock about 4' wide, 3' long, 8" to 10" thick fell out between bolts hitting the left side of his body; including his head, face, neck, shoulder, arm and hand.
2010 · 11 incidents
December 22, 2010WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was hitting miner motor with sledge hammer to knock it in place. The motor slipped down when the employee swung hammer and the employee caught his finger between sledge hammer handle and miner.
Employee slipped in the mud and when he tried to catch himself he cut his little finger and hand and stoved his wrist on belt guard. Return to work 3/10/10 light duty.
Roof in intersection fell above anchorage in #3 entry. Surface crack present. 10' cables in star pattern with 6' fully grouted as primary support (no injuries).
Roof in intersection fell above anchorage in #3 entry. Surface crack present 10' cables in star pattern with 6' fully grouted as primary support. (No injuries.)
Roof fall in intersection. Fell above anchorage in No. 2 entry L.O.B. Slick-n-side roof. 8" cable bolts installed in intersection in a star pattern with 5 foot resin bolts as primary support.
October 28, 2009WV · Coalelectrician, linemanELECTRICAL
Employee was working on lights on the feeder. He was opening the electrical panel on the feeder when something shorted out in the panel causing burns to his hands and face.
October 23, 2009WV · Coallw propman, propman helper, move crew if lw, move-up man, jacksetter, advanceman lw helperMACHINERY
Roof Fall occured on pillar line outby.Roof fell about 20'in front of jacks blocking the path of entry #6. Fall measured approx. 7-8' high.Area was bolted with 5'resin bolts. Fall was slick and slided about 20-25' long and 19-20' wide.
Roof fall above anchorage to the left of intersection going towards return. Undermining in Dorothy seam at this location. 8 foot cable bolts installed in intersection in a star pattern with 5 foot resin bolts as primary support.
Employee's tool box was broken into so the lock was broken. The employee was going to put a hole in the tool box to run a chain through so the tools could be locked. He knocked a hole in the box and was using a chisel when his finger slipped and was cut on the jagged edges of the hole.
August 26, 2009WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Co-worker and EE were putting in a belt structure. Co-worker was trying to straighten a bent piece of structure by hitting it with a sledge hammer. EE walked behind him as he was drawing back to hit the structure and therefore was struck in the head.
May 4, 2009WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was bolting in #6 entry, west section, when a piece of rock approx 3' long 18" wide and 6" thick broke off of canopy and fell down into platform striking ee in right leg ankle.
April 18, 2009WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS TAKING HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE LOOSE INSIDE 3-B BELT TRANSFORMER TO ISOLATE A PROBLEM (GROUNDED CABLE) AND DID NOT LOCK AND TAG OUT CAUSING HIM TO BE SHOCKED AND BURNED.
January 3, 2008WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The employee was helping bolter operator back out of #3 face. The operator turned the reel on, when the cable pulled down, it struck employee on the right knee.
September 7, 2007WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING A BLOCK & FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS ARM. MISSED WORK 9/10 & 9/11 RTW 9/12 THEN BEGAN MISSING 9/13/07 TO CURRENT. QUESTIONABLE INJURY.
August 15, 2007WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
A roof fall occurred in #1 return entry between stopping #13 and stopping #14. 1 break outby spad #80. fall is approx 40' long X 5' thick X 16' wide. Fall is 6000' from active section. A plan will be submitted for clean-up. Fall was report to state and federal at 12:10pm.
2006 · 8 incidents
October 31, 2006WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was tramming scoop off section to get bolt supplies when shuttle car operator bumped him with s/c. Operator said he did not see him. He finished shift and went to doctor - had xray on back. Returned to work on 11/2/06; missed one shift.
Unintentional roof fall occurred in #8 entry, just outby spad 132 in intake entry. No persons or equipment involved, fall did not affect passage of people. Fall will not be cleaned up, and will be breakered off. Fall area approx. 2900' from section. Fall is 20' wide, 90' long and 0-4' in thickness.
October 7, 2006WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was unloading supplies from scoop to roof bolter. While loading roof plates, stack fell over & sharp edge cut middle finger & ring finger on left hand. Went to doctor & cleaned up cut - no sutures.
An unintentional roof fall occured in # 6 Entry at break 18, spad # 66. No people or equipment involved. Fall is approximately 12' wide X 5' thick X 25' long. Fall is in intake entry but did not occur in escapeway. Fall will be timbered off and not cleaned up. Fall is 2500' from section.
June 27, 2006WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee, general labor, was outside in supply yard loading timbers in scoop bucket when he slipped and fell and hit his tailbone on scoop bucket. Went to doctor - bruised - will be off couple of shifts.
An unintentional roof fall above anchorage occurred in #3 entry BK#16 Spad #87. Personnell or equipment were not involved. Fall did not block air course or escapeway. Nor does it block the passage of employees. Fall has been breakered off. Fall was approx 6' thick, 20'wide 40' long
March 23, 2006WV · Coalelectrician, linemanMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS USING TORCH TO CUT LINK OUT OF CONVEYOR ON FEEDER WHERE THE HOSE CONNECTS TO THE HANDLE. THE HOSE RUPTURED & BURNT HIS LEFT ARM. EE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL & WAS TREATED & RELEASED. EE WORKED HIS NEXT SHIFTS ON FRIDAY & SUNDAY & THEN WAS OFF DUE TO THE INJURY, HE PLANS TO RETURN TO WORK ON 4/3/06.
Roof fall occurred in #1 return entry at spad #89 approximately 350' outby section. Fall is 3-5' thick, 16' wide & 23' long. No injuries/equipment involved. Area was fully bolted with 4' resin bolts. Area that fell resembles a horse-back slip. Fall will not be cleaned up - has been breakered off.
Ee electrican was helping install belt head outside, when he slipped on a metal rail & fell striking left forearm against a piece of expanded metal-causing laceration to left forearm recieved 12 sutures.
A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN THIS MINE AT APPROX. 5:10 PM IN THE #3 ENTRY (MAINS), ABOUT 10'INBY SPAD #19. THIS FALL TRAPPED THE ROOF BOLT MACHINE BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. FALL IS APPROX. 90'L X 10-15'W X 6'THICK. PLAN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO CLEAN UP THIS FALL.