Mining Incidents

Cobra Coal

Big Laurel, Leslie County, KY  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 1511835

Cobra has $130K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 18 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
49
Years on record
1985–2012
Latest incident
Apr 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
554
citations
240
significant & substantial
$129,884
proposed penalties
$115,843
paid to date
89% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $14,041 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
209
inspections on record
4,622
inspection hours
12.0
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.
554 citations across 4,622 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Cobra has $130K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 18 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.
$130K
proposed penalties
$123K
current assessed
$116K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
539 assessments are final orders; 18 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-06-12.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Cobra shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.26 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 156 samples.

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.
0.26
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.29
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
156
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-01-07.
Silica (quartz)
0.2
silica avg (%)
0.2
silica max (%)
1
samples
Most recent sample: 2005-10-26.
Noise
10%
over PEL
80
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-01-07.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2019 Q1 0 2 0
2018 Q4 0 1 1
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 4 1
2017 Q2 0 0 0
Show 62 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 2 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 2 0
2016 Q1 0 2 0
2015 Q4 0 2 0
2015 Q3 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 4 0
2015 Q1 0 2 0
2013 Q1 694 1 0 1440.9
2012 Q4 9,463 4 1 422.7
2012 Q3 14,638 5 3 341.6
2012 Q2 16,525 36 4 2178.5
2012 Q1 17,703 10 4 564.9
2011 Q4 16,856 10 3 593.3
2011 Q3 16,011 2 2 124.9
2011 Q2 16,281 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 17,224 11 1 638.6
2010 Q4 14,507 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 23,405 25 3 1068.1
2010 Q2 23,088 1 0 43.3
2010 Q1 20,225 11 4 543.9
2009 Q4 19,506 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 19,692 18 14 914.1
2009 Q2 19,845 1 1 50.4
2009 Q1 22,950 31 12 1350.8
2008 Q4 22,897 5 1 218.4
2008 Q3 21,819 25 9 1145.8
2008 Q2 21,246 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 22,691 19 2 837.3
2007 Q4 12,169 2 1 164.4
2007 Q3 13,176 10 5 759.0
2007 Q2 11,339 10 1 881.9
2007 Q1 13,548 15 6 1107.2
2006 Q4 11,647 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 12,753 11 10 862.5
2006 Q2 14,067 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 14,367 4 4 278.4
2005 Q4 12,116 3 3 247.6
2005 Q3 13,620 10 10 734.2
2005 Q2 12,721 8 6 628.9
2005 Q1 12,580 24 24 1907.8
2004 Q4 11,816 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 12,987 2 1 154.0
2004 Q2 12,173 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 12,875 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 12,600 5 3 396.8
2003 Q3 12,209 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 13,449 22 9 1635.8
2003 Q1 15,378 18 10 1170.5
2002 Q4 14,645 1 0 68.3
2002 Q3 18,246 43 21 2356.7
2002 Q2 19,201 2 0 104.2
2002 Q1 18,227 2 2 109.7
2001 Q4 16,953 17 8 1002.8
2001 Q3 16,452 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 15,360 23 20 1497.4
2001 Q1 20,937 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 14,730 14 11 950.4
2000 Q3 15,610 2 1 128.1
2000 Q2 12,929 36 15 2784.4
2000 Q1 13,616 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

49 on file

2012 · 1 incident

April 26, 2012 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

While working on bridge carrier employee moved a 8" x 10" x 60" wear runner when he strained his lower back, employee was placed on light duty on 4/26/12 due to this injury.

2010 · 4 incidents

November 22, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object

Employee was changing out 10" metal pipe 9' long, when pipe fell, landing on left foot behind steel toe on boot. Employee has been placed on light duty due to this injury.

October 14, 2010 KY · Coal welder (shop) STRIKING OR BUMPING
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck against stationary object

Inspecting a weld and as he moved his head he scraped his head on a sharp piece of metal causing a small laceration to top left of head.

September 8, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was installing a coarse cleaner coal screen, when his left foot hung causing him to fall, cutting his leg on sharp edge located in the chute. Employee received 10 staples to left leg.

2009 · 2 incidents

June 6, 2009 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was moving metal into a rack when he caught his left thumb between the piece of metal and the metal rack crushing the tip of his left thumb.

February 11, 2009 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was trying to remove a lge. rock off belt when rock was set down on left hand, he continue to work, on 2/27/09 due to this injury fractured left little finger, surgery required. Employee returned to reg. duty with no restrictions on 2/28/09

2006 · 1 incident

November 8, 2006 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Fall from machine

Employee was exiting the Cat 988 end loader when he slipped and fell straining his groin muscles.

2004 · 2 incidents

September 2, 2004 KY · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE PICKED UP A BELT ROLLER & STRAINED HIS BACK. NOTE: EMPLOYEE WORKED UNTIL 9/13/04 & THEN STARTED MISSING WORK.

August 16, 2004 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee alleges he strained his back pulling on the chain to clean the metal magnet from the coal stockpile.

2003 · 3 incidents

September 13, 2003 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE ATTEMPTED TO CATCH A LINER AND STRAINED HIS BACK.

June 6, 2003 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE ALLEGES HE STRAINED HIS UMBILICAL WHILE PULLING A CHAIN.

2002 · 4 incidents

April 17, 2002 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS USING HANDTOOLS ON THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT OF A LOADER WHEN THE COMPARTMENT LID CLOSED ON HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER.

March 25, 2002 KY · Coal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS USING HANDTOOLS TO ADJUST AN INTERIOR LIGHT WHEN A FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERED HIS RIGHT EYE.

February 26, 2002 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REMOVING A GUARD TO CHECK THE CRUSHER WHEN A FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERED HIS LEFT EYE. EE WAS PRESCRIBED EYE DROPS AND WAS RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK.

2001 · 3 incidents

2000 · 1 incident

July 7, 2000 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE ALLEGES HE STRAINED A MUSCLE IN HIS LEFT HAND WHEN HE OPENED AN INSTPECTION DOOR ON THE CYCLONE OVERFLOW BOX.

1999 · 4 incidents

July 6, 1999 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS OPERATING A MUD TRUCK AND WHN HE TURNED TO CROSS A BRIDGE, THE TRUCK BROKE THROUGH A GUARD RAIL AND DROPPED INTO THE CREEK BELOW.

May 25, 1999 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE ALLEDGES HE SLIPPED ON OIL ON THE PLANTAND STRUCK HIS KNEE ON THE METAL FLOOR. (NOTE: EMPLOYEE'S FIRST DAY AWAY FROM WORK IS 06/03/99).

January 28, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE SLIPPED AND FELL GETTING IN BED OF PICK-UP TRUCK. NOTE: EMPLOYEE WORKED UNTIL 2-9-99 THEN STARTED MISSING TIME.

1998 · 3 incidents

June 24, 1998 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STRUCK THE CLEAN COAL TRANSFER CONVEYOR STRUCTURE WHEN HE TURNED AROUND TO FINISH CLEANING UP THE COAL ON THE PLANT FLOOR.

January 16, 1998 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE PICKED UP A BAG OF CATATONIC AND THE BAG HAD A HOLE IN IT AND THE GRANULES FLEW INTO HI EYES.

1997 · 3 incidents

June 22, 1997 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT INDEX FINGE WAS CUT WHILE LOADING A SCREEN INTO A TRUCK.

June 21, 1997 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE ALLEDGES HE STRAINED HIS BACK WHILE SHOVELING THE TUNNEL.

1996 · 5 incidents

August 29, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HANDLING A 6" REFUSE LINE AND MASHED HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER.

June 8, 1996 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS STRUCK BY A GRINDER WHEN IT KICKED BACK WHILE REMOVING BURTS FROM THE CLEAN COAL BIN.

January 29, 1996 KY · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE ALLEDGES HE STRAINED HIS STOMACH WHILE OPENING CLEAR COAL CHUTE.

January 22, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Bledsoe Coal Corporation · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE BURNED HIS RIGHT FOOT WHILE WELDING. EMPLOYEE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 2-5-96.

1995 · 1 incident

February 7, 1995 KY · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bituminous-Laurel Mining Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING AROUND TRUCK WHEN HE SLIPPED ON THE ICE. HE LANDED ON HIS SIDE, BREAKING ONE RIB.

1991 · 2 incidents

December 23, 1991 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING A 4' X 8' SCREEN FROM BOTTOM FLOOR TO #4 FLOOR UP STAIRS AND STRAINED BACK.

April 1, 1991 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING A PUMP CASEING INTO THE BUCKET OF A LOADER. HE BEGAN GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT ON THE DATE STATED IN ITEM NO 6 FOR BACK INJURY.

1990 · 1 incident

October 23, 1990 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

REMOVING PUMP DROPPED IT ON HIS FINGER

1989 · 1 incident

December 4, 1989 KY · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

I,NAME CAUGHT HIS LITTLE FINGER BETWEEN THE CABLE & THE SHEAVE ON THE HOIST IN WHICH CAUSED A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED THREE STITCHES.

1988 · 2 incidents

March 24, 1988 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMP. WAS FIXING A FLAT TIRE, WHILE STRIKING THE TIRE RIM OUTER EDGE WITH A HAMMER, THE HAMMER GLACED OFF AND STRUCK THE EMP. ON HIS ANKE CAUSINBG A CHIPED BONE INJURY HIS ANKLE.

March 18, 1988 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WENT OVER THE EMBANKMENT TO TURN THE POWER ON THE PUMP WHEN HE FELL STIIKING ON HIS LEFT LEG WHICH CAUSED PULLED MUSCLE TO HIS LEFT LEG.EMPLOYEE WAS NOT USING THE ( ) PROVIDED ON THE EMBANKMENT.

1987 · 5 incidents

September 3, 1987 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STRIKING OR BUMPING
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

WHILE UNDER A F9EDER HE RAISED UP AND HIT A PIPE .THE IMPACT CAUSE HIM TO GO FOWARD HITTING HIS MOUTH AGAINST A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON BREAKING HIS #9 FRONT TOOTH. T) 3

August 18, 1987 KY · Coal MACHINERY
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

HE WAS CUTTING 6OLTS FROM OIL FILTER HOUSING ON A 21 S.CAR AND THE HOUSING FELL FROM THE 21S. CAR AND HIT HIS LEFT FOOT AND BROKE HIS #5 TOE.

May 12, 1987 KY · Coal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

USING A HAMMER 7O BREAK LOOSE BOLTS THE ALLEN WRENCH FLEW OUT WITH FORCE AND HIT HIM IN THE FACE.HE WAS CUT ON THE UPPER LIP REQUIRED 5 STITCHES.

January 23, 1987 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Fall from machine

THE DRIVER OF R9FUSE TRUCK LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK WHEN MAKING A RT TURN AND BRAKING THE TRUCK ON A SLIGHT GRADE, DOWNHILL. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A SKID AND RAN THROUGH THE GURARDING AND STOPP WITH THE FRONT 9ND OF THE TRUCK HANGING OVER THE BRIDGE ,THE DRIVER INJURED HIS BACK WHEN HE JUMPED FROM THE TRUCK TO THE GROUND

1985 · 1 incident

June 12, 1985 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Shamrock Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

WHILE UNLOADING A PIECE OF SHEET METAL ONTO THE PREP. LANT ELEVATOR THE METAL FELL DOWN AND HIT HIS LOWER LEG AND ANKLE, WHEN THE METAL SLIK OFF ONTOT THE ELEVATOR FLOOR.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Cobra

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.