Mining Incidents

F-9 Prater Branch Coal

Gunlock, Magoffin County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1517834

F-9 Prater Branch has $424K in proposed MSHA penalties and $30K outstanding across 28 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
35
Years on record
1996–2011
Latest incident
Nov 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
463
citations
237
significant & substantial
$423,687
proposed penalties
$290,424
paid to date
69% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $133,263 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
63
inspections on record
3,130
inspection hours
14.8
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.
463 citations across 3,130 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

F-9 Prater Branch has $424K in proposed MSHA penalties and $30K outstanding across 28 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.
$424K
proposed penalties
$320K
current assessed
$290K
paid to date
$30K
outstanding
456 assessments are final orders; 28 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-12-12.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at F-9 Prater Branch shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.24 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 156 samples.

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.
0.24
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.83
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
156
samples
Most recent sample: 2012-04-10.
Silica (quartz)
38.0
silica avg (%)
38.0
silica max (%)
1
samples
Most recent sample: 2006-02-23.
Noise
13%
over PEL
78
samples
Most recent sample: 2012-03-05.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2013 Q4 512 1 0 1953.1
2013 Q3 432 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 560 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 448 1 0 2232.1
2012 Q4 544 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 608 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 7,146 1 1 139.9
2012 Q1 51,815 33 18 636.9
Show 42 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2011 Q4 73,147 2 1 27.3
2011 Q3 82,636 31 18 375.1
2011 Q2 77,801 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 86,103 51 9 592.3
2010 Q4 97,690 25 9 255.9
2010 Q3 99,308 33 18 332.3
2010 Q2 66,528 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 74,537 1 1 13.4
2009 Q4 71,140 15 11 210.9
2009 Q3 69,570 2 0 28.7
2009 Q2 38,796 15 8 386.6
2009 Q1 61,713 4 2 64.8
2008 Q4 27,467 14 13 509.7
2008 Q3 63,945 20 9 312.8
2008 Q2 49,119 17 6 346.1
2008 Q1 55,074 32 12 581.0
2007 Q4 44,960 6 3 133.5
2007 Q3 49,571 21 12 423.6
2007 Q2 31,282 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 31,751 8 4 252.0
2006 Q4 54,063 1 1 18.5
2006 Q3 59,074 9 5 152.4
2006 Q2 78,771 8 3 101.6
2006 Q1 70,099 25 18 356.6
2005 Q4 64,654 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 61,051 18 10 294.8
2005 Q2 42,027 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 41,130 10 9 243.1
2004 Q4 28,837 24 14 832.3
2004 Q3 21,096 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 23,337 15 11 642.8
2004 Q1 0 0 0
2003 Q4 5,424 10 5 1843.7
2003 Q3 2,376 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 2,600 5 3 1923.1
2003 Q1 1,260 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 612 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 1,200 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 4,900 2 1 408.2
2002 Q1 400 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 0 0 0
2000 Q1 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

35 on file

2011 · 3 incidents

November 9, 2011 KY · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Walking on drill bench stepped in sink hole, hurt right leg.

September 10, 2011 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

While turning and backing down a slope, the 30D Volvo mud truck turned over on its side, the driver was not injured.

July 18, 2011 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

As employee started to climb up the ladder to his rock truck, he stepped in a hole causing a sharp pain to his groin area. Diagnosis is pending.

2010 · 5 incidents

September 22, 2010 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Operator had a virus with nausea & diarrhea. The reason this report is late we were trying to find out from the Dr. if ee was off work because of the bump on his head or the virus, we could not get an answer.

July 25, 2010 KY · Coal FIRE
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Security guard made rounds and saw that a 992G CAT Loader was on fire. This was a late Sunday night/early Monday morning, no employees were present.

June 30, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Mechanic was changing a tooth on a loader when the tooth fell off and landed on his foot.

May 21, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck by flying object

Mechanic was driving in a pin and a piece of metal flew off and lodged in upper left arm. Object was removed by an ER physician.

February 16, 2010 KY · Coal driller, highwall operator, highwall drill operator STRIKING OR BUMPING
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

*****Just received the medical, 1 staple received*****Coming out from under a drill, hit head.

2009 · 4 incidents

July 23, 2009 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Left rear step had been welded on the right side, when operator steeped on ladder the weld broke on right side causing the left shoulder to be pulled more than normal

July 9, 2009 KY · Coal drill operator POWERED HAULAGE
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck by powered moving object

Two EEs were injured in an accident involving a pickup truck & a highwall drill. The truck traveled down the drill bench slope & struck the drill. The two EEs were apparently outside the drill, both on foot at the time of the accident & were struck by the truck. The exact location of these 2 EEs have not been determined at this time & the accident is still under investigaton.

July 9, 2009 KY · Coal drill operator POWERED HAULAGE
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck by powered moving object

Two EEs were injured in an accident involving a pickup truck & a highwall drill. The truck traveled down the drill bench slope & struck the drill. The two EEs were apparently outside the drill, both on foot at the time of the accident & were struck by the truck. The exact location of these 2 EEs have not been determined at this time & the accident is stil under investigaton.

May 18, 2009 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Operator was pushing shot rock out of shot with D11 dozer. As he was backing up a rock rolled in behind him and he didn't see it. When he backed up on the rock the dozer slide off and jarred him and the machine and hurt his back.

2008 · 2 incidents

April 9, 2008 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Cutting lid off a box, struck hand with the box cutter.

2007 · 1 incident

September 17, 2007 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Frasure Creek Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

The 988 coal loader was chopping coal to load and the 992 spread was working same pit. As 988 was backing up chopping coal, the bumper of the Loader hit the bumper on rock truck.

2006 · 6 incidents

August 26, 2006 KY · Coal miner, prospector, nec POWERED HAULAGE
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck against a moving object

Two individuals on ATV's were trespassing on jobsite when they drove off a highwall, causing a fatality and one injury.

August 14, 2006 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was changing the cover on the intake on blower when the wrench slipped and caused his rt. elbow to hit the housing.

May 23, 2006 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck against a moving object

Two coal trucks collided on the haul road. Sunlight effected drivers vision.

May 6, 2006 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck against stationary object

EE was pulling on a roller frame with a slate bar and hit his right elbow. **First reported as first aid--EE began lost time on 7/10/06.**

April 18, 2006 KY · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 4/18/06 employee was loading holes with the prill truck when the boom swung out and employee twisted using his arm to block the boom. He twisted his lower back and felt pain in groin area. Employee RTW 4/19/06. Employee sought medical care on 5/8/06 and now off work due to scheduled hernia surgery on 5/22/06.

April 1, 2006 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was laying cat-head and cable over in the HWM car when the bottom of the pusher jack caught his left foot, resulting in 11 stitches.

2005 · 4 incidents

October 21, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was checking for a chipped tooth on the bucket on the shovel. He pushed a rock out of the way which in turn fell on his left hand & fingers.

September 3, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TIGHTENING APPROX. 200 LUG BOLTS ON THE WHEELS OF CAT 793 TRUCK USING AN AIR GUN FOR APPROX. 45-60 MINUTES.

February 7, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was installing a blade on a Caterpillar 16-G Grader. The chain holding the blade upright slipped off and the blade fell forward. The top edge of the blade struck his left foot just behind the steel toe. He incurred a deep laceration to the top of his foot and fractured three metatarsus bones (big toe and the next two). He is still off from work.

February 2, 2005 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Appalachian Fuels LLC · Struck against a moving object

This operator had been off work for several weeks with a back injury that happened at home during an ice storm. He returned to work on 2/2/05 and worked one full shift. The next day he notified his supervisor that he had hurt his back the previous night when he backed over a rock with the D-11 dozer he was operating. He is still off from work.

2004 · 1 incident

June 17, 2004 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
D.F.M. Inc. · Struck by flying object

EE was removing a segment and he was pecking on it using a small sledge hammer. A piece of metal came off the segment and hit him in his lower left arm.

2003 · 1 incident

November 27, 2003 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
AEP Kentucky Coal, L. L. C. · Struck against a moving object

LOADER WENT INTO SHOT TO GET A BUCKET OF ROCK TO LOAD ROCK TRUCK, LOADER HAD STOPPED SUDDENLY. TAKEN OFF WORK JANUARY 14, 2004.

1999 · 1 incident

1998 · 1 incident

September 17, 1998 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING STEERING JACK ON 789 ROCK TRUCK. WHILE USING PRY BAR ON JACK, HE SLIPPED AND FELL CAUSING STRAIN TO UPPER RIGHT ARM.

1997 · 5 incidents

June 18, 1997 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EE CLIMBED UP ON THE D11 TRACTOR TO TAKE THE HOURS METER READING AND SERIAL #. SLIPPED ON LEFT HAND STEP DUE TO MUDDY BOOTS AND HIT HISKNEE ON THE BATTERY BOX LATCH.

March 4, 1997 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

THE DRIVER WAS CLEANING COAL FROM IN FROMT OF HIS TIRES WHEN THE LOADER PADDED THE TOP OF TRUCK. COAL FELL OFF AND HIT DRIVER ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD.

March 2, 1997 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Fall from machine

EE WAS HAULING ROCK WITH 789 TRUCK. HOSE BLEW ON TRUCK AND OIL SHOT ON TURBO, CAUSING TRUCK TO CATCH FIRE. OPERATOR JUMPED OUT OF TRUCK CAUSING SORE SHOULDER. EE'S FIRST DAY OFF FROM WORK WAS 3-8-97.

February 24, 1997 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A PILOT VALVE INTO A 5230 CAT SHOVEL. WHILE LIFTING PART FROM SERVICE TRUCK, EMPLOYEE STRAINED HIS BACK.

1996 · 1 incident

November 6, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HOLDING TRACK PAD FROM DOZER. WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PUT A BOLT IN TRACK, CABLE FROM TRUCK BROKE AND TRACK PAD FELL ON BOTH LEGS AND RT. FOOT. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM A L OCAL HOSPITAL

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on F-9 Prater Branch

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.