Mining Incidents

DREDGE #1: 134 MSHA citations Coal

BIG SANDY RESOURCES INC · Surface
Controlled by Jeffery S. Kinser
Louisa, Lawrence County, KY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1513418

DREDGE #1 has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
1
Years on record
1986
Latest incident
Feb 1986
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
134
citations
30
significant & substantial
$16,406
proposed penalties
$16,406
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
91
inspections on record
2,151
inspection hours
6.2
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.
134 citations across 2,151 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

DREDGE #1 has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$16K
proposed penalties
$16K
current assessed
$16K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
133 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $508 in penalties contested before the Commission, $508 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-21.
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.
22.6%
significant & substantial
12.0%
high negligence or reckless
22.6%
reasonably likely or greater
5.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 6.0% low, 82.0% moderate, 12.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
4 citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
  • Settled 4 · 100%
100%
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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$508 proposed, $508 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 2017-10-17.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
KENT 2018-0018 Settlement Moran 2018 $508 → $508
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at DREDGE #1 shows 100% of 216 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: 2026-08-25
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
216
samples
1.46
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.
216 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER54
  • BARGE ATTENDANT48
  • UTILITY MAN42

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.

Last sampled: 2026-08-25
1%
over PEL
76
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER22
  • BARGE ATTENDANT17
  • UTILITY MAN13
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2026 100% 2
2025 100% 4
2024 100% 4
2023 100% 8
2018 100% 14
2017 100% 8
2016 100% 4
2015 100% 6
2014 100% 12
2013 100% 16
2012 100% 16
2011 100% 24
2010 100% 8
2009 100% 20
2008 100% 6
2007 100% 8
2006 100% 8
2005 100% 6
2004 100% 8
2003 100% 8
2002 100% 10
2001 100% 10
2000 100% 6
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 2
2025 0% 2
2024 0% 2
2023 0% 4
2018 0% 7
2017 0% 4
2016 0% 2
2014 0% 10
2012 0% 8
2011 0% 7
2010 0% 4
2009 0% 4
2008 0% 3
2007 0% 1
2005 0% 2
2004 0% 4
2003 33% 3
2002 0% 1
2001 0% 3
2000 0% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
  1. Maynard Branch Dredging Company Inc 1982 to 1985
  2. Maynard'S Branch Dredge 1985 to 1988
  3. Maynards Branch Dredge 1988 to 1988
  4. Big Sandy Resources Inc 1988 to present
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 3
2025 4 3,447
2024 3 2,487
2023 3 1,129
2022 3 3,367
2021 3 2,788
2020 4
2019 4 1,735
2018 5 5,564
2017 4 3,790
2016 4 276
2015 4 4,255
2014 5 4,790
2013 5 7,569
2012 6 9,341
2011 5 4,558
2010 3 870
2009 5 1,831
2008 1 1,591
2007 3 5,449
2006 3 7,940
2005 3 8,818
2004 3 10,887
2003 4 15,065
2002 4 9,741
2001 7 13,484
2000 7 19,718
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

DREDGE #1 sits in Lawrence County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.4% 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.
Lawrence County, Kentucky · Population 16,171
3.4%
Mining share of county employment
$45,584
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
2026 Q2 1,192 1 0 838.9
2026 Q1 1,150 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 1,282 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,432 2 0 1396.6
2025 Q2 1,245 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 636 1 0 1572.3
2024 Q4 963 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 660 2 0 3030.3
Show 91 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 596 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 981 2 0 2038.7
2023 Q4 1,041 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,068 1 0 936.3
2023 Q2 933 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 983 3 0 3051.9
2022 Q4 1,197 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,393 3 0 2153.6
2022 Q2 1,460 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 1,296 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 1,648 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 1,131 1 0 884.2
2021 Q2 984 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 828 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,698 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,607 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,563 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,378 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,790 1 0 558.7
2019 Q3 1,565 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,956 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 1,810 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 2,589 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 2,361 2 0 847.1
2018 Q2 2,382 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,179 1 0 458.9
2017 Q4 2,603 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 1,390 4 1 2877.7
2017 Q2 2,105 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 1,850 2 0 1081.1
2016 Q4 2,246 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 2,243 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 1,819 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 864 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 1,557 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 1,486 5 0 3364.7
2015 Q1 749 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 2,206 2 1 906.6
2014 Q2 1,958 6 1 3064.4
2014 Q1 1,368 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 1,867 5 1 2678.1
2013 Q3 2,459 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 1,366 6 0 4392.4
2013 Q1 1,813 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 2,345 12 2 5117.3
2012 Q3 2,608 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 1,241 3 0 2417.4
2012 Q1 1,863 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 2,362 5 1 2116.9
2011 Q3 2,073 2 0 964.8
2011 Q2 3,182 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 1,433 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 1,585 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 1,271 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 639 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 1,896 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,909 3 0 1571.5
2008 Q2 1,115 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 0 0 0
2007 Q4 1,440 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 1,440 2 2 1388.9
2007 Q2 1,440 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,440 2 0 1388.9
2006 Q4 1,440 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 1,440 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 1,950 9 4 4615.4
2005 Q4 1,920 1 0 520.8
2005 Q3 1,920 1 0 520.8
2005 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 680 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 1,440 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 1,920 1 0 520.8
2004 Q2 1,600 5 3 3125.0
2004 Q1 0 0 0
2003 Q4 1,280 5 1 3906.2
2003 Q3 1,920 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,920 4 1 2083.3
2003 Q1 1,920 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 1,920 2 1 1041.7
2002 Q3 1,920 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 480 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 1,920 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 1,920 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 1,440 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 3,840 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 3,200 13 5 4062.5
2000 Q4 4,800 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 1,008 6 5 5952.4
2000 Q2 0 0 0
2000 Q1 2,016 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

1 on file

1986 · 1 incident

February 21, 1986 KY · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Maynard'S Branch Dredge · Fall to the walkway or working surface

WALKING OVER TH9 HILL TO THE DREDGE AND SLIPPED IN LOOSE COAL AND TWISTED HIS RT KNEE VERY LITTLE DAMAGE DONE TO HIS KNEE