Mining Incidents

Combs Branch Job Coal

Leburn, Knott County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1516606

Combs Branch Job has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Combs Branch Job.

Fatalities
1
Total incidents
27
Years on record
1989–2006
Latest incident
Jan 2006
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
93
citations
54
significant & substantial
$11,820
proposed penalties
$11,542
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $278 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
54
inspections on record
1,253
inspection hours
7.4
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.
93 citations across 1,253 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Combs Branch Job has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60 outstanding across 1 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.
$12K
proposed penalties
$12K
current assessed
$12K
paid to date
$60
outstanding
93 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-12-06.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Combs Branch Job shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.21 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 185 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.
0.21
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.34
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
185
samples
Most recent sample: 2006-12-12.
Silica (quartz)
16.1
silica avg (%)
30.2
silica max (%)
7
samples
Most recent sample: 2006-12-18.
Noise
5%
over PEL
81
samples
Most recent sample: 2006-03-23.
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
2007 Q2 3 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 3,423 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 7,620 4 3 524.9
2006 Q3 17,019 10 5 587.6
2006 Q2 17,961 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 24,709 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 36,400 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 35,230 0 0 0.0
Show 22 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2005 Q2 39,392 13 6 330.0
2005 Q1 38,422 12 8 312.3
2004 Q4 51,774 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 60,048 1 1 16.7
2004 Q2 46,641 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 46,758 3 2 64.2
2003 Q4 40,375 2 0 49.5
2003 Q3 39,362 9 3 228.6
2003 Q2 51,166 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 38,801 2 0 51.5
2002 Q4 34,399 3 3 87.2
2002 Q3 31,440 4 1 127.2
2002 Q2 27,642 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 32,004 2 2 62.5
2001 Q4 33,292 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 33,621 13 9 386.7
2001 Q2 33,759 1 0 29.6
2001 Q1 50,786 12 10 236.3
2000 Q4 54,136 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 49,134 2 1 40.7
2000 Q2 31,401 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 43,950 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
July 10, 1989 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING DOWN TREE WHEN HIS SAW BECAME HUNG-UP. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, WITH SAW BEGAN TO CUT TREE TO REMOVE SAW WHEN TREE FELL ONTO EMPLOYEE.

Reportable incidents

26 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2006 · 1 incident

January 26, 2006 KY · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Miller Bros Coal LLC · Struck by flying object

Windy Conditions, Employee was welding on a frame of a rock truck a piece of metal flew in his eye. He was wearing goggles.

2004 · 4 incidents

November 26, 2004 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee got out of loader, tripped, grabbed the rail but couldn't hold on and fell to the ground. He hurt his right shoulder and back.

August 26, 2004 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck against a moving object

Employee was in rock truck the loader loaded the truck with a big rock the big rock jared the truck.

August 2, 2004 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was changing cutting edges on a grader when he lifted cutting edge; right side of stomach started hurting.

2003 · 2 incidents

December 11, 2003 KY · Coal drill operator

EE SAID HE HIT A BUMP WHILE HE WAS TRAMMING HIS DRILL AND SAID HIT BACK, STARTED HURTING.

2002 · 2 incidents

May 30, 2002 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS PRYING ON LARGE ROCK BUCKET SLIPPED OFF ROCK CAUSING EE TO BRUISE LOWER BACK.

March 13, 2002 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE KNEELING ON THE GROUND TO LOOSEN TRACK ADJUSTER. GOT UP & TURNED AROUND TO GET A TOOL & LEFT KNEE POPPED VERY LOUD.

2000 · 2 incidents

March 24, 2000 KY · Coal miner, nec MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS WORKING THE FILL ON A D-6 DOZER HE WAS MOVING FROM 1 WORK AREA TO ANOTHER WHEN HE RAN OVER A LARGE ROCK STICKING UP & JARRED HIMSELF HE HAS CHRONIC BACK PROBLEMS BUT HIS CAUSED PAIN & N UMBNESS IN LEGS

January 14, 2000 KY · Coal truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TARPING HIS TRUCK(AUTOMATIC TARPER) AND THE TARP BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE TARP FRAME. HE REACHED UP TO UNTANGLE THE TARP AND FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN HIS LOWER BACK (14TH). THE PAIN B ECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL HE BEGAN LOSING TIME (24TH).

1999 · 1 incident

February 9, 1999 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck by falling object

WORKER WAS CUTTING A SMALL TREE. HE DIDN'T LEAVE A HINGE ON THE TREE. THE TREE DROPPED OFF THE STUMP AND FELL BACK AND AND HIT HIS HEAD AND BACK.

1998 · 5 incidents

December 16, 1998 KY · Coal HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Fall from machine

EE USING A PRY BAR TO HELP SET TRACTOR ENGINE INPLACE THE PRY BAR SLIPPED CAUSING EE TO LOSE HISFOOTING HE FELL INTO TRACTOR TRACKS CAUSING HIS LEFT ELBOW TO BE SEVERLY BRUISED Y

October 13, 1998 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HELPING A MECHANIC UNLOAD A BUCKET LINK FOR A LOADER. THEY USED A CHAIN TO UNLOAD IT. THE CHAIN SLIPPED AND THE OILER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BUCKET LINK AND THE CHAIN CUA SING SEVERE BRUISING TO THE RIGHT WRIST

May 5, 1998 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS SLOPING #27 HOLLOWFILL WITH #746 D9L BULLDOZER. EMPLOYEE SAID DOZER KICKED OUT OF GEAR COMMING UP SLOPE FORWARD HE THEN JUMPED FROM DOZER LANDING IN ROCK PILE.

April 20, 1998 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Fall from machine

STANDING ON COUNTER WEIGHT WITH THE PILER CHECKING THE AUTOMATICE GREASER ON LOADER 421, 992C. HIS FOOT SLIPPED, HE FELL APPROX. 5' TO THE GROUND, LANDING ON LEFT HAND.

1997 · 1 incident

September 30, 1997 KY · Coal SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

GOT OUT OF LOADER TO CHECK OPUT THE COAL REMAINING IN THE PIT. HE WALKED OVER TOWARD THE FOREMAN STEPPED ON A PIECE OF COAL, TRIPPED AND FELL. HE HAD A COUPLE OF SCRATCHES, BUT SEEMED OK. HE F INISHED HIS SHIFT. HE LATER WENT TO ER DUE TO LOW BACK PAIN.

1996 · 1 incident

January 18, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS REPLACING TRACKS ON A D11N DOZER. THE TRACKS WERE ON A BOOM BEING LOWERED INTO PLACE, THE HOOK SLIPPED ON THE CHAIN AND THE TRACKS FELL ONTO THE FINAL DRIVE CATCHIN HIS LEFT HAND BETWE EN THEM. THE LITTLE FINGER WAS ALMOST SEVERED AND THE INDEX FINGER WAS CUT AND CRUSHED.

1995 · 2 incidents

November 16, 1995 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman FIRE
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

THE OTHER CUTTERS BUILT A FIRE TO EAT DINNER BY. AFTER DINNER WORKER FILLED HIS SAW UP WITH GASOLINE AND OIL. WORKER THEN WALKED BY THE FIRE TO GET A CHAIN FILE FROM THE OTHER WORKERS WHEN HI S CLOTHING IGNITED. HE WAS CARRING THE SAW. HE AQUIRED 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO HSI RIGHT HAND AND BOTH LEGS.

October 10, 1995 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS WAITING TO UNHOOK DOZER FROM TREE IT WAS PULLING. JUST BEFORE THE DOZER STOPPED A LIMB LODGED BEHIND A STUMP, SPRUNG FREE AND SWUNG AROUND HITTING EMPLOYEE ON THE OUTSIDE OF HIS L EFT KNEE. MCL & ACL TEAR & POSSIBLE MEDIAL MENISCUL TEAR OF HIS LEFT KNEE.

1994 · 1 incident

January 3, 1994 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED, A MEACHANIC, WAS HELPING TO CLEAN TRACKS ON A DOZER AT THE END OF THE SHIFT WHEN HIS SHHOVEL BECAME LODGED VERY SUDDENLY CAUSING HIM TO SEVERELY SPRAIN HIS WRIST. HE CONTINUED TO WORK REQULAR HOURS UNTIL MONDAY 1-11-94 WHEN THE PAIN & SWELLING BECAME SEVERE. HIS DOCTOR THEN ADVISED HIM NOT TO WORK.

1991 · 1 incident

1990 · 1 incident

September 28, 1990 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

I NAME WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOAD A COAL TRUCK TIRE ON TO THE BACK OF THE TIRE TRUCK WHEN HE STRAINED HIS BACK. HE AT FIRST THOUGHT HE WOULD BE ALRIGHT THEN AS THE DAY WENT ON HE EXPERIENCED MORE, AND MORE PAIN. HE THEN REPORTED IT TO THE SUPERVISOR, WHO SENT HIM HOME TO GO TO THE DR.

1989 · 2 incidents

July 10, 1989 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING ON TREE TO REMOVE ANOTHER SAW THAT WAS HUNG-UP TREE BROKE & FELL ON OTHER EMPLOYEE AND CAUSING THIS EMPLOYEE TO FALL DOWN.

June 12, 1989 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Miller Brothers Construction Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

I.NAME WAS ON THE HILLSIDE CLEARING BRUSH, ONE OF THE TREES HE AHD CUT HAD A VINE IN THE TOP OF IT CONNECTING IT TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT TREE. WHEN THE CUT TREE FELL, IT BROKE A LARGE LIMB OUT OF THE ADJOINING TREE, WHICH FELL AND STRUCK I.NAME ACCROSS THE BACK OF THE NECK AND SHOULDERS. I.NAME WAS ABLE TO GET INTO A TRUCK ON HIS OWN POWER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE CLINIC.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Combs Branch Job

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.