Four Mile Surface Mine No 2 has $134K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Four Mile Surface Mine No 2.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2008–2017
Latest incident
Dec 2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2008
292
citations
57
significant & substantial
$133,628
proposed penalties
$124,636
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $8,992 gap.
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.
292 citations across 3,494 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Four Mile Surface Mine No 2 has $134K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 5 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.
$134K
proposed penalties
$130K
current assessed
$125K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
266 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $13K in penalties contested before the Commission, $9K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-10-27.
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.
13citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
13 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
29%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$13K proposed, $9K 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 2011-03-31.
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 Four Mile Surface Mine No 2 shows 100% of 222 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: 2021-09-27, 4 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
222
samples
2.81
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.
122 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 100 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.
Four Mile Surface Mine No 2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2018.
Injury rate, 2018
ⓘ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 3.34 and the all-US-mining average was 2.33 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.77 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
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017 *
2.85
2.85
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015
4.01
4.01
0.000
2014
3.78
2.52
0.000
2013
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012
2.69
2.69
0.000
2011
5.81
2.91
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)
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
0
2022
1
2021
3
2020
1
2019
0
2018
17
71,118
2017
27
190,784
2016
33
274,260
2015
61
472,442
2014
64
624,814
2013
60
584,872
2012
62
548,712
2011
57
569,975
2010
56
557,070
2009
61
610,790
2008
46
551,015
2007
7
15,028
2006
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Four Mile Surface Mine No 2 sits in Kanawha County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.
Kanawha County, West Virginia · Population 178,198
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$58,887
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
Removing overburden in Clarisa Pit a loader was placing a large rock in the bed of rock truck, the rock rolled to the off side of truck bed which made truck pitch to one side causing injury to driver
May 1, 2015WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Two mechanics were lifting center steering link. One mechanic slipped. As they were both letting go of center steering link, one employee held on too long and "strained" his back. Or appeared to strain his back. According to the witness he let go of steering link first. Mechanic strained back on 2/4/15. Did not notify supervisor until 2/7/15.
2014 · 3 incidents
April 16, 2014WV · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeyHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was shoveling material on 04/16/14 when he felt pain in his abdomen and noticed swelling later due to a hernia. His initial nature of medical treatment was Treated & Released. He did not begin missing work until 06/10/14 due to surgery for the hernia.
March 7, 2014WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Hanover Resources LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Employee was removing left rear hub assembly on a rock truck. While he was removing the bolts he placed his hand on the back of the impact wrench and once it engaged, his left hand on injured.
February 3, 2014WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mechanic was removing "belly pan" on 320 tractor type dozer. Upon inspection pan was "cockeyed" requiring the use if a hammer and wedge. During the removal process the wedge became dislodged and struck EE on left side of face under left eye. EE sustained a deep laceration and glue was applied.
2012 · 2 incidents
December 4, 2012WV · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was servicing equipment. When he dismounted, he hyperextended his right knee. Employee finished his shift. EMPLOYEE DID NOT BEGIN MISSING ANY WORK UNTIL 01/21/13.
Employee was drilling on middle stockton pit. He went to dismount the drill on front and caught his left little finger on the mounting bolt to handrail.
2010 · 2 incidents
October 28, 2010WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was standing on a rock truck ladder and reached out to clean off the headlights when his feet slipped out from the ladder causing him to fall to the ground, dislocating his right shoulder.
October 15, 2010WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee had installed a hose on 309 D11 dozer. When he was throwing the air hose off the dozer his ring finger went across the rain cap of the dozer causing his finger to get cut.
March 13, 2009WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Operator had a load of rock and proceeded to dump point. He did not square up to berm and backed through berm. The operator did not set park brake and did not take out of reverse. The operator jumped out of the truck. He sustained facial lacerations and a broken left forearm.
Employee was dumping a load when he caught his left ring finger between the seat and the dump lever mashing it. Employee did not report or begin missing work until 6/16/2008.
EMPLOYEE DROVE ROCK TRUCK OVER BERM CAUSING TRUCK TO ROLL OVER A HILL. EMPLOYEE CRAWLED OUT OF RIGHT DOOR WINDOW AND RECEIVED LACERATIONS ON HIS UPPER LEFT ARM BECAUSE OF BROKEN GLASS. EMPLOYEE WAS TAKEN TO MONTGOMERY GENERAL HOSP. BY AMBULANCE WHERE HE REFUSED TREATMENT AND REFUSED POST ACCIDENT DRUG TEST.