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.
213 citations across 3,968 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2014-05-19.
On record since 2014.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Equality has $158K in proposed MSHA penalties and $791 outstanding across 46 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.
$158K
proposed penalties
$112K
current assessed
$111K
paid to date
$791
outstanding
210 assessments are final orders; 46 contested dockets.
Of $99K in penalties contested before the Commission, $52K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-04-02.
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.
89citations taken to the federal commission · 42% of citations on record
Settled
82 · 92%
Stood as issued
5 · 6%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 2%
66%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 56 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
47%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$99K proposed, $52K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2018-05-17.
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.
MSHA sampling at Equality shows 99% of 248 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: 2024-04-11
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
248
samples
1.84
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.
163 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 85 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.
Equality recorded 3.78 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017.
Injury rate, 2017
ⓘ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.
3.78
total case rate
1.26
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
About average. The US coal mining average was 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.48 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.33 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2017
3.78
1.26
0.000
2016
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015
2.25
2.25
0.000
2014
2.69
2.15
0.000
2013
0.52
0.52
0.000
2012
1.07
1.07
0.000
2011
0.61
0.00
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
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)
2024
10
2023
2
2022
5
2021
5
2020
2
2019
4
2018
0
2017
76
1,019,901
2016
97
1,644,701
2015
122
2,168,969
2014
146
2,802,973
2013
151
2,704,744
2012
142
2,868,100
2011
125
2,016,809
2010
53
330,753
2009
0
2008
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Equality sits in Ohio County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 1.0% 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.
Ohio County, Kentucky · Population 23,704
1.0%
Mining share of county employment
$54,369
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
Two employees were in route to begin shift loading holes in #11 Pit. As they traveled into the West end of this pit and attempted to drive up ramp onto work area the highwall collapsed resulting in death to both employees.
Two employees were in route to begin shift loading holes in #11 Pit. As they traveled into the West end of this pit and attempted to drive up ramp onto work area the highwall collapsed resulting in death to both employees.
Employee was in the process of removing an impeller when the ratchet the employee was using slipped mashing finger causing a laceration requiring three stitches
October 14, 2017KY · Coalutility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was cleaning outside widows on unit #107 777F Cat end dump, lost their footing causing them to pivot around while holding the handrail striking the handrail with their left rib area.
April 11, 2017KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee was assisting a contract mechanic install a track on a dozer, the contract mechanic hit the alligator link on the track with a sledge hammer and a piece of the hammer splintered off and hit the employee in the arm.
Employee was traveling from the parking area to the PC800 Track hoe that he was going to operate, when he reached his destination he stepped out of the F-350 man trip van and stepped into a hole or on a rock and turned his right ankle.
September 4, 2014KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was removing grease in the tub of Unit #347 dragline when he started feeling light headed, ee and another ee exited the tub of the dragline to get some water upon getting the water ee collapsed and struck his chin on the floor of the dragline causing a laceration. he was transported by ambulance to O.C.H. where he received eleven stitches
June 7, 2014KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was in the process of replacing the drag ropes on Dragline, he was removing the u-bolts that attach the new cable to a wooden spool. As he pried the u-bolt out, the cable spun on the spool and the end of the cable hit him on left shoulder resulting in a fractured shoulder blade. As he fell he sprained his left wrist also.
April 22, 2014KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was operating a 773F haul truck and stated the bed was bouncing up and down when empty, causing him to injure his lower back. Employee did not Communicate to anyone that he was injured until 04/29/2014.
Employee was operating a 777F Haul Truck, and sometime during the shift employee injured his back, employee did not report the incident until 3/1/14. Employee stated the incident actually occurred on 2/14/14.
2013 · 1 incident
February 11, 2013KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee's truck was in the maint. area, his truck had just been in for repair. He proceeded to do his pre-op check on the truck when he lost his footing and sprained his knee.
2012 · 2 incidents
August 1, 2012KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
A mechanic was installing brakes on a piece of equipment using a pry bar to hold tension on brake shoes while he inserted the rollers when the bar slipped catching his finger causing a small cut on it.
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