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.
183 citations across 1,271 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Discovery has $146K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 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.
$146K
proposed penalties
$75K
current assessed
$75K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
183 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $109K in penalties contested before the Commission, $38K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-08-11.
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.
22citations taken to the federal commission · 12% of citations on record
Settled
22 · 100%
50%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 16 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
65%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$109K proposed, $38K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2008-05-06.
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 Discovery shows 100% of 61 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: 2010-08-16, 16 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
61
samples
1.00
dust max (mg/m3)
61 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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.
Discovery recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.
Injury rate, 2010
ⓘ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 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In Indiana, coal mining averaged 3.57 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
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009
1.99
1.99
0.000
2008
2.05
1.37
0.000
2007
5.29
3.96
0.000
2006
1.96
1.96
0.000
2005
2.75
2.07
0.000
2004
3.76
1.88
0.000
2003
1.09
1.09
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)
2011
0
2010
11
2009
36
435,732
2008
93
2,220,257
2007
100
2,523,700
2006
100
2,535,542
2005
95
2,423,241
2004
70
1,829,861
2003
59
1,329,785
2002
27
814,483
2001
27
781,758
2000
14
32,828
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Discovery sits in Gibson County, Indiana, where the Census mining category is 2.7% 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.
Gibson County, Indiana · Population 32,986
2.7%
Mining share of county employment
$67,763
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
While mounting haul truck the miner missed the top handhold on the ladder causing him to fall to the ground.
September 26, 2008IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Victim rolled truck on its side while returning on haul road to shovel after experiencing steering failure, incurring bruising on left side of body and head.
April 16, 2007IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
During a previous incident, victim was standing on a ladder working on front of dozer. Victim felt discomfort in right shoulder. On 4/16/07 victim visited doctor for x-ray and MRI and physical therapy was ordered.
March 12, 2007IN · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Prior incident occurred when operator was dismounting truck and leg became lodged between door & catwalk. First aid only required with no lost time. Medical attention was received on 3/12/07 resulting in scheduled surgery.
March 5, 2007IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Victim was changing hose on D-11 blade hoist cylinder, slipped and fell to the ground.
January 23, 2007IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
While driving on haul road, truck slid into berm turning wheels and steering wheel rapidly. Victim's hand became entangled in steering wheel breaking wrist.
Traveling down haul road ramp into pit 5 and failed to negotiate curve at the bottom of the ramp. Proceeded through berm adn over approximately 12 foot high spoil wall over turning truck on it's side causing injury to head and chest. Appeared to have fallen asleep. During investigation marijuana & methamphetamine were found.