Mining Incidents

First Fork Surface Mine Coal

Clintwood JOD, LLC · Surface
Controlled by JOD Holdings LLC
Fedscreek, Pike County, KY  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 1517941

First Fork Surface Mine has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $412 outstanding across 11 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
27
Years on record
1997–2012
Latest incident
Jan 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
270
citations
129
significant & substantial
$71,132
proposed penalties
$66,267
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,865 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
129
inspections on record
3,532
inspection hours
7.6
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.
270 citations across 3,532 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

First Fork Surface Mine has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $412 outstanding across 11 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.
$71K
proposed penalties
$67K
current assessed
$66K
paid to date
$412
outstanding
266 assessments are final orders; 11 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-04-25.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at First Fork Surface Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.25 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 362 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.
0.25
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.31
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
362
samples
Most recent sample: 2024-04-25.
Silica (quartz)
15.8
silica avg (%)
34.8
silica max (%)
27
samples
Most recent sample: 2015-05-14.
Noise
3%
over PEL
135
samples
Most recent sample: 2023-08-21.
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
2025 Q4 10 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 10 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 0 0 0
2025 Q1 20 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 1,114 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 10 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 10 2 0 200000.0
2024 Q1 72 0 0 0.0
Show 95 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 450 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,170 1 0 854.7
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 11 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 200 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 1,007 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 60 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 36 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 176 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 343 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 102 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 220 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 2,300 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 0 0 0
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 0 0 0
2017 Q1 11,568 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 10,717 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 13,909 11 4 790.9
2016 Q2 11,421 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 14,174 9 1 635.0
2015 Q4 15,927 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 21,738 1 1 46.0
2015 Q2 25,510 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 22,891 2 0 87.4
2014 Q4 27,016 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 22,096 1 0 45.3
2014 Q2 27,102 3 1 110.7
2014 Q1 25,115 11 8 438.0
2013 Q4 30,837 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 26,651 15 7 562.8
2013 Q2 31,459 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 26,323 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 30,458 11 4 361.2
2012 Q3 26,219 3 0 114.4
2012 Q2 28,511 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 28,893 12 3 415.3
2011 Q4 29,483 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 22,545 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 18,050 15 3 831.0
2011 Q1 19,206 5 0 260.3
2010 Q4 20,325 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 18,017 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 20,662 8 3 387.2
2010 Q1 21,665 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 20,556 12 8 583.8
2009 Q3 22,602 2 1 88.5
2009 Q2 18,628 18 10 966.3
2009 Q1 21,859 7 3 320.2
2008 Q4 17,062 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 17,904 4 2 223.4
2008 Q2 18,095 5 2 276.3
2008 Q1 21,569 9 8 417.3
2007 Q4 16,486 1 1 60.7
2007 Q3 16,276 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 14,515 3 2 206.7
2007 Q1 16,497 2 1 121.2
2006 Q4 19,693 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 24,294 2 2 82.3
2006 Q2 21,996 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 24,488 12 4 490.0
2005 Q4 29,110 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 30,476 16 8 525.0
2005 Q2 36,571 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 21,169 2 1 94.5
2004 Q4 29,449 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 16,533 7 3 423.4
2004 Q2 21,148 1 0 47.3
2004 Q1 5,654 5 5 884.3
2003 Q4 3,122 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 0 2 2
2003 Q2 0 0 0
2003 Q1 2,831 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 0 0 0
2002 Q2 2,864 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 17,474 2 1 114.5
2001 Q4 19,829 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 20,081 7 4 348.6
2001 Q2 30,722 1 1 32.5
2001 Q1 23,245 5 2 215.1
2000 Q4 27,819 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 27,285 21 11 769.7
2000 Q2 59,888 1 1 16.7
2000 Q1 48,040 13 11 270.6

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded

Reportable incidents

26 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2012 · 1 incident

January 13, 2012 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Apex Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was hoisting a beam for a highwall miner. Was swinging beam around pinning his left hand between beam & loader bucket.

2011 · 2 incidents

November 28, 2011 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Apex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was plugging up air hose to the air system of a 785D caterpillar rock truck. He twisted his back while kneeling under truck during the work process. Employee started missing time on 12/5/11.

March 15, 2011 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Apex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

This employee started missing time on 3/15/11. On 3/15/11 this company received notice that employee filed with KY office of workers claims. This was reported to out compension currier on 5/5/11

2010 · 2 incidents

October 12, 2010 KY · Coal welder (shop) STRIKING OR BUMPING
Apex Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE was welding on excavator bucket, he stepped off bucket and hit his knee on a hook on the side of the bucket.

August 30, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Apex Energy Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was putting grease in rock truck with high pressure grease gun when hose at the end of grease gun blew up injecting grease in left forearm.

2009 · 2 incidents

July 23, 2009 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Apex Energy Inc · Struck against a moving object

Employee was cleaning highwall with front end loader when rock came off of highwall and struck the front end loader bucket causing pain in employee's back.

June 5, 2009 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was getting a 1 gal bottle of windshield washer fluid from foreman when he slipped and fell landing on the track of the d-9 dozer he was operating. He started loosing time on 6/8/09

2008 · 2 incidents

April 9, 2008 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Apex Energy Inc · Struck by falling object

Moving 5 gal buckets of oil from oil trailer to put on service truck. Dropped bucket of oil striking himself on top of right foot. This employee returned to work on 4/10/08 restricted duty. He started losing time on 4/29/08.

February 25, 2008 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Apex Energy Inc · Struck against a moving object

One of the trucks over traveled the berm causing the bed to over turn. The employee was thrown around in the cab causing alleged injury.

2007 · 2 incidents

July 28, 2007 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was exiting 992G loader. Foot slipped on top step of ladder and he fell on his back down the steps and onto the counterweight.

June 18, 2007 KY · Coal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

Operator was standing on machine checking coolant. He lost hand grip; to avoid falling he jumped causing injury.

2005 · 2 incidents

December 6, 2005 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Apex Energy Inc · Struck by powered moving object

#337 rock truck ran into bed of 335 rock truck

May 23, 2005 KY · Coal pumper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting off the back of fuel truck & his foot slipped, pulling his left knee & twisting it.

2004 · 1 incident

January 14, 2004 KY · Coal

EE HELPED HOOK A TOW CABLE FROM HIS DOZER TO A ROCK TRUCK. AFTER HE WAS GOING BACK TO HIS WORK AREA, HE SAID HE HAD PAIN IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER & ARM AREA. EE SAID HE HAD BEEN HAVING SOME PAIN IN AREA FOR A FEW DAYS.

2001 · 3 incidents

April 26, 2001 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

THE 135 DEMAG WAS LOADING 777C CAT ROCK TRUCK WHEN BOLTS SECURING CAB OF MACHINE BROKE LETTING CAB TIP FORWARD OFF THE FRAME OF MACHINE.

March 20, 2001 KY · Coal drill helper OTHER
Apex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TRAMMED DRILL TO BENCH, MARKED OFF HOLES TO DRILL AND STARTED DRILLING. OPENED DOOR OUT OF DRILL DECK, WIND WAS BLOWING VERY HARD, GOT SMALL PIECES OF SOMETHING IN EYE.

January 2, 2001 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Apex Energy Inc · Fall onto or against objects

CLIMBING OUT OF D9 DOZER STEPPED ON PUSH BEAM FOOT SLIPPED, FELL & HIT BEAM ON RIBS, FELL TO GROUND ON BACK

2000 · 2 incidents

November 9, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Apex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TIGHTENING A BOLT ON THE BRAKE CALIPER OF A KOMATSU 330M ROCK TRUCK. THE SOCKET AND RATCHET SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT, CAUSING EE TO TWIST HI S RIGHT ANKLE.

October 29, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Apex Energy Inc · Struck by flying object

WHILE INSTALLING AN ENGINE IN A CAT 988B LOADER, MECHANIC WAS USING A DISC GRINDER TO SMOOTH OFF A ROUGH PIECE OF METAL. A SLIVER OF METAL CAME UNDER HIS SAFETY GLASSES AND HIT HIS R EYE.

1999 · 1 incident

July 13, 1999 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Big Creek Mining Inc · Fall from machine

EE WAS RE-ENTERING TRUCK #5-777 WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING AT OR NEAR TO D STEP OF LADDER RESULTING INA FALL. HE LANDED ON HIS FEET THEN ROLLED OVER TO HIS BACK.

1998 · 5 incidents

July 30, 1998 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Big Creek Mining Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

CLEANING WINDSHIELD ON ROCK TRUCK. WHILE WALKING ON CATWALK IN FRONT OF WINDOW, FOOT TRIPPED ON A.C. COVER AND FELL FROM WALK TO GROUND.

July 23, 1998 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Big Creek Mining Inc · Fall from machine

DISMOUNTING 777 ROCK TRUCK MISSED A STEP FELL TO GROUND APPROX 4'

July 22, 1998 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Big Creek Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MOVING ROCK OUT OF HAUL ROAD. FELT PAIN IN BACK

February 26, 1998 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Big Creek Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object

WORKING HAUL ROAD INTO PINT AND RAN OVER LOOSE ROCKS.

February 10, 1998 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Big Creek Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object

TRUCK WAS BEING LOADED WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL FROM THE SAFETY BENCH ONTO THE CAB SHIELD OF THE TRUCK.

1997 · 1 incident

September 2, 1997 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Big Creek Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object

LOADING ROCK TRUCKS ENTERED SPOIL REAR OF LOADER CAME OFF GROUND, REBOUND SENT OPERATOR INTO ROOF.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on First Fork Surface Mine

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.