Freelandville Mine has $432K in proposed MSHA penalties and $116K outstanding across 10 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
43
Years on record
1995–2014
Latest incident
Nov 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
403
citations
124
significant & substantial
$432,500
proposed penalties
$242,878
paid to date
56% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $189,622 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.
403 citations across 2,554 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Freelandville Mine has $432K in proposed MSHA penalties and $116K outstanding across 10 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.
$432K
proposed penalties
$359K
current assessed
$243K
paid to date
$116K
outstanding
401 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $88K in penalties contested before the Commission, $15K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-08-09.
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.
16citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
15 · 94%
Stood as issued
1 · 6%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 13 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
83%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$88K proposed, $15K 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 2009-03-03.
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 Freelandville Mine shows 97% of 278 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: 2025-12-23
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
278
samples
2.44
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.
182 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 96 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.
Freelandville Mine recorded 5.69 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
5.69
total case rate
5.69
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Indiana, coal mining averaged 2.80 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
2014 *
5.69
5.69
0.000
2013 *
2.46
2.46
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010
1.48
0.00
0.000
2009
1.20
1.20
0.000
2008
3.60
1.20
0.000
2007
2.49
1.24
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)
2022
0
2021
1
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
1
2015
5
2014
17
8,025
2013
35
130,715
2012
34
128,460
2011
46
341,691
2010
53
327,152
2009
64
502,882
2008
61
567,295
2007
59
585,617
2006
58
642,283
2005
56
619,225
2004
35
408,185
2003
35
456,440
2002
39
583,722
2001
44
664,039
2000
33
611,874
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Freelandville Mine sits in Knox County, Indiana, where the Census mining category is 2.0% 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.
Knox County, Indiana · Population 36,108
2.0%
Mining share of county employment
$58,863
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
2022 Q1
0
0
0
2021 Q4
252
1
0
3968.3
2021 Q3
232
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
236
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
0
3
1
2020 Q4
0
0
0
2020 Q3
0
0
0
2020 Q2
0
0
0
Show 81 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2020 Q1
0
0
0
2019 Q4
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
400
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
0
0
0
2017 Q3
0
0
0
2017 Q2
0
0
0
2017 Q1
0
0
0
2016 Q4
0
1
0
2016 Q3
0
0
0
2016 Q2
298
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
184
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
6,516
5
1
767.3
2015 Q3
8
2
0
250000.0
2015 Q2
152
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
791
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
1,538
1
1
650.2
2014 Q3
11,440
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
9,790
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
12,408
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
17,688
2
1
113.1
2013 Q3
21,505
2
2
93.0
2013 Q2
21,594
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
20,473
3
1
146.5
2012 Q4
20,476
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
23,890
1
1
41.9
2012 Q2
15,985
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
26,362
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
32,651
1
1
30.6
2011 Q3
30,868
2
2
64.8
2011 Q2
25,957
2
0
77.1
2011 Q1
26,219
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
26,356
9
1
341.5
2010 Q3
32,766
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
36,654
5
0
136.4
2010 Q1
39,126
6
1
153.4
2009 Q4
40,367
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
43,567
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
42,841
12
1
280.1
2009 Q1
40,377
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
39,051
12
4
307.3
2008 Q3
43,087
27
3
626.6
2008 Q2
41,050
1
0
24.4
2008 Q1
43,314
23
5
531.0
2007 Q4
39,223
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
39,742
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
40,001
47
21
1175.0
2007 Q1
41,759
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
39,727
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
39,075
3
3
76.8
2006 Q2
37,890
16
6
422.3
2006 Q1
42,316
3
3
70.9
2005 Q4
40,872
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
38,243
12
2
313.8
2005 Q2
38,490
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
41,001
7
1
170.7
2004 Q4
26,904
3
0
111.5
2004 Q3
25,506
10
2
392.1
2004 Q2
24,716
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
23,868
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
25,679
4
1
155.8
2003 Q3
22,564
6
2
265.9
2003 Q2
22,081
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
21,278
3
1
141.0
2002 Q4
24,848
6
1
241.5
2002 Q3
23,476
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
25,721
2
1
77.8
2002 Q1
32,723
1
0
30.6
2001 Q4
32,808
1
1
30.5
2001 Q3
31,381
10
2
318.7
2001 Q2
30,071
2
0
66.5
2001 Q1
24,556
13
3
529.4
2000 Q4
23,350
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
22,761
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
20,402
2
0
98.0
2000 Q1
24,775
10
2
403.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
43 on file
2014 · 1 incident
November 12, 2014IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was moving a piece of pipe with a chain fall, the load became unbalanced and tilted and struck employee's right foot. Causing a small fracture.
Operator said his end dump was over heating. The operator stopped to check coolant level and as he was loosening the filler cap it came off suddenly and sprayed his face and chest and arm with hot coolant. It resulted in first and second degree burns on his face, arm, and chest.
February 4, 2005IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee states he was climbing back to the platform with an air hose and wand when the air line hose hit him in the back and he lost his footing and fell approximately 4 feet on his neck and back.
May 19, 2004IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS EXITING THE PREP PLANT TO DO HIS REGULAR LABORER'S JOB WHEN ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THREW A CHUNK OF COAL OUT THE WINDOW, HITTING EE ON THE HEAD.
INSTALLING A BUCKET TOOTH ON CAT 988B LOADER. HE WAS HITTING IT WITH A HAMMER AND A PIECE OF METAL BROKE OFF AND HIT HIM IN THE ARM AND WAS IMBEDDED THERE.
1999 · 1 incident
July 6, 1999IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
WELDER WAS WELDING ON AN END DUMP WHEN A PSRAK CUASED A FIRE ON WELDING TRUCK AIR COMPRESSOR. EE STEPPED UP TO BACK OF TRUCK OF EXTINGUISH A HOLE WAS APPARENTLY BURNED INTO AIR COMPRESSOR AIR HOSE CUASING FLAMES TO BLOW ONTO EE.
1997 · 5 incidents
December 27, 1997IN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING MISC PARTS FROM TRAILER TO PICK UP AND STEPPED INTO PICK UP FROM TRAILER WHEN RIGHT ANKLE TWISTED. EMPLOYEE SAT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THOUGHT IT WAS OK THE WENT BACK TO P ARTS TRAILER AND THE RIGHT ANKLE GAVE OUT. THAT WAS WHEN EMPLOYEE NOTICED DISCOLORATION AND KNOT FORMING.
September 12, 1997IN · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Triad Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
IT WAS DAR AND EEE WAS TRYING TO HURRY TO GET CRUSHR FIXED. SHOULD HAVE LOOSENED BRACKETS BEFORE TRYING TO PUT BELT ON.
July 22, 1997IN · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING COAL UP AROUND CONVEYOR WHEN HE BUMPED HIS HARD HAT ON BOTTOM OF CONVEYOR KNOCKING HARD HAT OFF. WHEN HE BENT DOWN TO GET IT HE BUMPED HIS HEAD ON THE CONVEYOR CUTTING TO P LEFT OF THE HEAD.
1995 · 2 incidents
August 1, 1995IN · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
WORKING IN PIT CLEANING #6 SEAM OF COAL. DUMP LOADER BUCKET OFF EDGE OF COAL AND HIT ROCK IN SPOIL BANK AND JERKED BACK SUDDENLY. 4-22-96 CLEANING #7 SEAM OF COAL ON TOP PIT AND TIRE DROPPED O FF IN SEAM AND JERKED BACK AGAIN.
July 24, 1995IN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY