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.
121 citations across 1,355 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Dial's Branch has $185K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 2 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.
$185K
proposed penalties
$80K
current assessed
$78K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
116 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $167K in penalties contested before the Commission, $61K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-12-17.
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.
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 Dial's Branch shows 99% of 91 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: 2007-04-25, 19 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
91
samples
2.62
dust max (mg/m3)
78 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 13 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.
Dial's Branch recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.
Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ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 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.12 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
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2003 *
7.56
5.04
0.000
2002
3.15
1.05
0.000
2001
4.73
1.18
0.000
2000
3.12
3.12
1.558
* 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)
2007
15
255,661
2006
10
133,588
2005
3
2004
4
2003
33
426,646
2002
67
929,574
2001
71
1,364,653
2000
66
1,756,269
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Dial's Branch sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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
2007 Q4
0
1
0
2007 Q3
4,199
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
23,302
4
2
171.7
2007 Q1
12,962
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
8,401
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
6,940
2
2
288.2
2006 Q2
5,051
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
3,034
0
0
0.0
Show 24 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2005 Q4
2,432
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
2,215
1
1
451.5
2005 Q2
1,575
2
0
1269.8
2005 Q1
1,064
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
813
1
0
1230.0
2004 Q3
1,586
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
4,305
3
1
696.9
2004 Q1
4,395
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
9,201
1
0
108.7
2003 Q3
19,189
10
4
521.1
2003 Q2
26,986
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
24,013
4
4
166.6
2002 Q4
44,280
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
47,612
3
2
63.0
2002 Q2
46,693
1
0
21.4
2002 Q1
52,114
9
6
172.7
2001 Q4
50,741
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
54,560
9
5
165.0
2001 Q2
46,512
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
17,474
13
9
744.0
2000 Q4
52,288
2
2
38.2
2000 Q3
31,891
10
10
313.6
2000 Q2
23,453
8
6
341.1
2000 Q1
20,702
12
9
579.7
Fatalities at this mine
2 recorded
May 18, 2000KY · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorFatality · IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
EMPLOYEE CONTACTED A 20 INCH HIGH PRESSURE GAS LINE WITH HIS LOADER BUCKET WHILE REMOVING OVERBURDEN. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN WHICH HE WAS BURNED WHILE TRYING TO GET AWAY. HE PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF THESE BURNS ON 5-19-00.
March 7, 2000KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerFatality · MACHINERY
DOZER WENT OVER SLOPE GOT SADDLEBAGGED ON ROCK CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL BLADE HIT STUMP CAUSING DOZER TO FLIP END FOR END. OPERATOR EJECTED CAUSING DEATH.
EMPLOYEE WAS SERVICING A D11 DOZER, HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND HE GRABBED THE HANDRAIL, IT CAME LOOSE, HE FELL ABOUT 4' TO THE GROUND AND HIT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. THE EE IS OFF WORK DUE TO BACK INJ URY (NO WITNESS) THIS ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
EE WAS STANDING ON THE BUMPER OF HIS ROCK TRUCK TO CLEAN THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN HIS FEET SLIPPED OFF THE BUMPER. HE FELL BACKWARD. LANDING ON ONE LEG AND BUTTOCKS. BRUISING HIS TAILBONE AND PULL ED MUSCLE IN LOWER BACK.
April 7, 2003KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS SERVICING A 785 CAT ROCK TRUCK WHEN HE HIT HIS HEAD ON THE OIL FILTER HOUSING. HE SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE TOP OF HIS HEAD THAT REQUIRED 5 CLAMPS TO CLOSE THE WOUND.
2002 · 3 incidents
October 7, 2002KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
A BEARING WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO A WISHBONE OF A 777 ROCK TRUCK, WITH A 4 POUND HAMMER. A PIECE OF BEARING BROKE OFF AND STRUCK THE EE IN THE RIGHT HAND. IT EMBEDDED BETWEEN HIS THUMB AND FIRST FINGER.
April 18, 2002KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Addington Mining, Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EE WAS HELPING THE MECHANIC REPLACE A HYDRAULIC PUMP ON A ROCK TRUCK. THE EE WAS EXPOSED TO HYDRAULIC OIL & MINERAL SPIRITS, WHICH WAS USED TO CLEAN THE PUMP. THE EE SUFFERED CHEMICAL BURNS TO BOTH HANDS.
EMPLOYEE WAS GREASING A DRILL MAST. AS HE WAS CLIMBING HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN HIS BACK. PAIN IN LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG. PAIN SHOT AT HOSPITAL. WORKED UNTIL 8/24/01 WHEN PAIN PROGRES SED. BEEN OFF FROM WORK SINCE THEN.
June 29, 2001KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING IN SERVICING TRUCK. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING AN AIR FILTER TO ANOTHER SERVICEMAN FOR INSTALLATION. THE OTHER GUY DROPPED THE USED FILTER IT STRUCK HIM IN THE HEA D. SEVEN STITCHES WAS UTILIZED TO CLOSE THE WOUND.
EE WAS CUTTING END OFF ON OIL FILTER FOR INSPECTION THE FILTER STARTED TO SLIP IN THE VISE & HE GRABBED FOR IT. HE HIT HIS FINGER ON THE EXPOSEDEDGE LACERATED INDEX FINGER 4 STITCHES
2000 · 1 incident
December 22, 2000KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MECHANIC WAS STANDING ON TIRE OF GRADER FIXING A WATER LEAK. HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL TO THEGROUND. HE FRACTURED HIS LEFT ELBOW. DR. SAYS SURGERY WILL BE REQUIRED.