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.
187 citations across 1,612 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Convict Hollow has $75K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K 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.
$75K
proposed penalties
$75K
current assessed
$74K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
182 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $243 in penalties contested before the Commission, $243 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2019-07-18.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 100%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$243 proposed, $243 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2009-09-03.
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 Convict Hollow shows 99% of 158 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: 2025-05-07
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
158
samples
1.78
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.
104 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 54 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.
Convict Hollow 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 Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.41 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
4.54
4.54
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
5.42
0.00
0.000
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
2.98
2.98
0.000
2004 *
3.16
3.16
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)
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
0
2022
0
2021
0
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
1
2015
1
2014
2
2013
3
2012
3
3,810
2011
11
33,481
2010
16
66,302
2009
17
88,163
2008
25
270,378
2007
15
129,248
2006
11
52,608
2005
29
144,218
2004
23
157,905
2003
19
182,855
2002
12
85,754
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Convict Hollow sits in Buchanan County, 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.
Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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
turned 992 loader over into a pit. He was a contractor for Bates Contracting & Construction Inc. They reported the accident to MSHA. I got a violation issued on 7-9-09 to file an accident report on incident also.
2008 · 1 incident
November 21, 2008VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Employee was starting the equipment and as he exited a dozer he slipped on the push bar and fell to the ground approximately 2.5 feet. The condition was cold, icy, and snowy. This is a revised submittal.
2005 · 1 incident
April 29, 2005VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was working on a fuel line on a dozer, approximately seven feet off of the ground, and lost his balance and fell to the ground landing on his left side.
Employee was welding on top of a loader bucket turned over (unattached) and the next thing he remembers is waking up lying on the ground, a fall of approximately ten feet
May 18, 2004VA · Coalquality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistantHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was installing a bearing race in a 777 wheel loader using a chisel and hammer. When he struck the chisel, a piece of metal came off and lodged in lower arm.
2003 · 2 incidents
September 12, 2003VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS INSTALLING MOTOR SUPPORTS ON A LOADER HE HAD TO REMOVE THE STEPS TO DO THIS JOB. HE EXITED THE LOADER AND GO A WRENCH AND AS HE RE-ENTERED THE LOADER HE HIT HIS HEAD ON ONE OF THE META L BRACKETS THAT THE STEPS BOLTED TO.
January 9, 2003VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
THE EE WAS TRYING TO LOOSE A LARGE ROCK THAT WAS EMBEDDED. AS HE WAS PUSHING ON IT WITH THE DOZER BLADE HE GOT ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE ROCK TO LIFT THE REAR OF THE DOZER OFF OF THE GROUND APPRO XIMATELY 2 TO 3 FEET. THE ROCK BUSTED AS HE WAS APPLYING PRESSURE AND THE REAR OF THE DOZER FELL. HE WAS WEARING SEAT RESTRAINTS.
EMPLOYEE WAS EXITING THE ROCK TRUCK AND HE REMEMBERS STEPPING ON THE LAST STEP NEXT TO THE GROUND WHICH IS APPROX 2-3 FT FROM THE GROUND. THE NEXT THING HE REMEMBERS IS LYING ON THE GROUND.