Mining Incidents

First Fork Surface Mine: 1 recorded fatality 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.
Of $201K in penalties contested before the Commission, $86K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-04-25.
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.
48.1%
significant & substantial
2.3%
high negligence or reckless
48.5%
reasonably likely or greater
18.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.4% none, 21.4% low, 75.9% moderate, 2.3% 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.
26 citations taken to the federal commission · 10% of citations on record
  • Settled 17 · 65%
  • Stood as issued 9 · 35%
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 15 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$21K proposed, $16K 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 2016-12-14.
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
KENT20000163 Settlement Melick 2000 $90K → $30K
KENT20000132 Settlement Melick 2000 $90K → $40K
KENT 2010-479 Default Lesnick 2011 $5K → $5K
KENT 2017-0089 Settlement Feldman 2017 $4K → $3K
KENT 2012-1253 Settlement Simonton 2013 $3K → $2K
KENT 2013-508 Settlement Simonton 2014 $3K → $2K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at First Fork Surface Mine shows 99% of 362 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: 2024-04-25
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
362
samples
2.31
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.
243 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 119 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR116
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR69
  • BLASTER/SHOOTER/SHOTFIRER61

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2015-05-14, 11 years ago
15.8
silica avg (%)
27
samples
34.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BLASTER/SHOOTER/SHOTFIRER11
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR10
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR6

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: 2023-08-21, 3 years ago
3%
over PEL
135
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR42
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE34
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER23
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
2024 100% 1
2023 100% 2
2019 100% 1
2018 100% 2
2016 100% 30
2015 96% 26
2014 100% 24
2013 100% 12
2012 100% 12
2011 100% 17
2010 93% 15
2009 95% 21
2008 100% 13
2007 100% 24
2006 100% 10
2005 100% 12
2004 100% 12
2003 100% 5
2002 100% 10
2001 100% 39
2000 99% 74
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2015 2.8 2
2014 3.9 1
2011 13.7 1
2009 22.5 3
2007 26.9 3
2004 27.9 2
2003 14.9 1
2001 16.1 5
2000 11.6 9
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2023 0% 2
2016 0% 8
2014 0% 14
2012 0% 16
2011 0% 5
2009 0% 11
2007 7% 14
2006 0% 5
2005 20% 5
2004 0% 6
2003 0% 3
2001 0% 12
2000 6% 34
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

First Fork Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2016.

Injury rate, 2016
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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.56 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
2016 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 1.75 0.00 0.000
2011 * 4.48 2.24 0.000
2010 * 4.96 4.96 0.000
2009 * 4.78 4.78 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.
Ownership history
  1. Big Creek Mining Inc 1997 to 2000
  2. Apex Energy Inc 2000 to 2019
  3. Clintwood JOD, LLC 2019 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 1
2025 1 353
2024 1 1,115
2023 1
2022 1
2021 1
2020 1
2019 1
2018 0
2017 3
2016 34 53,868
2015 51 281,933
2014 40 271,043
2013 45 296,498
2012 47 273,519
2011 32 216,747
2010 29 128,622
2009 31 155,497
2008 31 154,350
2007 25 101,783
2006 43 92,192
2005 44 243,643
2004 29 250,745
2003 2 29,599
2002 12 35,323
2001 38 257,705
2000 58 663,840
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

First Fork Surface Mine sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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 0 0 0
2026 Q1 40 0 0 0.0
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
Show 97 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 10 2 0 200000.0
2024 Q1 72 0 0 0.0
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 8 1 564.4
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 2 1 73.8
2014 Q1 25,115 11 8 438.0
2013 Q4 30,837 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 26,651 13 5 487.8
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 8 2 276.9
2011 Q4 29,483 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 22,545 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 18,050 11 3 609.4
2011 Q1 19,206 4 0 208.3
2010 Q4 20,325 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 18,017 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 20,662 7 3 338.8
2010 Q1 21,665 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 20,556 11 7 535.1
2009 Q3 22,602 2 1 88.5
2009 Q2 18,628 12 9 644.2
2009 Q1 21,859 4 3 183.0
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 5 4 231.8
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 10 3 408.4
2005 Q4 29,110 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 30,476 14 7 459.4
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 1 1
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 3 1 149.4
2001 Q2 30,722 1 1 32.5
2001 Q1 23,245 4 2 172.1
2000 Q4 27,819 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 27,285 19 10 696.4
2000 Q2 59,888 1 1 16.7
2000 Q1 48,040 9 8 187.3

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.