Freelandville, Knox County,
IN
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1202423
Freelandville West Underground has $237K in proposed MSHA penalties and $53K outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
2012–2016
Latest incident
Mar 2016
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2011
312
citations
76
significant & substantial
$237,423
proposed penalties
$156,568
paid to date
66% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $80,855 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.
312 citations across 7,143 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2015-05-26.
On record since 2015.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Freelandville West Underground has $237K in proposed MSHA penalties and $53K outstanding across 12 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.
$237K
proposed penalties
$209K
current assessed
$157K
paid to date
$53K
outstanding
294 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
Of $140K in penalties contested before the Commission, $112K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-01-18.
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.
35citations taken to the federal commission · 11% of citations on record
Settled
33 · 94%
Stood as issued
2 · 6%
95%
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 21 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
20%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$140K proposed, $112K 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 2016-08-23.
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 West Underground shows 91% of 648 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: 2016-03-02, 10 years ago
91%
within 1.5 mg/m3
648
samples
3.65
dust max (mg/m3)
5
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.
335 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 313 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 West Underground reported liberating 3,364 metric tons of methane to EPA in 2015.
Methane emissions (EPA-reported)
ⓘMethane figures are what the operator reported to EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (subpart FF), collected at facility level. Only EPA facilities that resolve to a single MSHA mine record are shown, and the CO2-equivalent applies the GWP-25 factor EPA's published data uses.
Freelandville West Underground recorded 4.75 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.
4.75
total case rate
4.75
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In Indiana, coal mining averaged 2.48 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 *
4.75
4.75
0.000
2015
4.29
3.21
0.000
2014
1.84
0.92
0.000
2013
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012
5.77
0.00
0.000
2011 *
0.00
0.00
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)
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
19
123,078
2015
88
573,935
2014
92
595,171
2013
106
598,937
2012
48
303,527
2011
35
167,888
2010
19
15,305
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Freelandville West Underground 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
2020 Q2
0
0
0
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 Q1
0
1
0
2017 Q4
0
0
0
Show 28 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2017 Q3
0
0
0
2017 Q1
512
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
0
0
0
2016 Q3
0
0
0
2016 Q2
10,339
9
2
870.5
2016 Q1
31,752
13
3
409.4
2015 Q4
30,485
28
7
918.5
2015 Q3
48,218
28
10
580.7
2015 Q2
55,170
27
4
489.4
2015 Q1
52,809
19
1
359.8
2014 Q4
49,990
17
6
340.1
2014 Q3
48,236
17
4
352.4
2014 Q2
56,543
5
1
88.4
2014 Q1
62,907
31
9
492.8
2013 Q4
59,878
13
4
217.1
2013 Q3
63,225
24
8
379.6
2013 Q2
61,948
31
7
500.4
2013 Q1
54,107
10
1
184.8
2012 Q4
24,913
9
3
361.3
2012 Q3
26,590
9
2
338.5
2012 Q2
25,734
6
0
233.2
2012 Q1
26,692
3
1
112.4
2011 Q4
24,746
5
1
202.1
2011 Q3
22,323
1
0
44.8
2011 Q2
14,019
1
0
71.3
2011 Q1
13,924
3
0
215.5
2010 Q4
11,061
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
4,994
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
23 on file
2016 · 2 incidents
March 3, 2016IN · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was operating a shuttle car, and was getting a load at the miner. The car got on top of the bumper of the miner and was lifted a few inches. When the car pulled away, it dropped and caused the operator to bounce and jam his head into the canopy.
August 31, 2015IN · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was tramming a single boom roof bolter and pinched their hand between the equipment and a wooden prop causing a right closed fracture of metacarpal bone, distal 2nd on the right hand.
January 28, 2015IN · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerMACHINERY
Employee was inserting drill steel in truss bolter pot with right hand, and caught cuff of left hand on the guide clamp lever catching his right hand in the guide clamp. Employees right hand required surgery.
A planned roof fall occurred on the active MMU 002 section located at x-cut 31 in the # 2 entry of the S1 M4 headings. Fall measured approximately 20' l x 17' w x 12' h.
January 15, 2014IN · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was releasing a chain tie down from a secured load. The handle sprung back, striking the employee in the face breaking/displacing the bones of the nose.
January 10, 2014IN · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Individual was roof bolting in the #3 entry, right slab @ xc 18 on unit #2. When a piece of rock fell from roof striking canopy on DBT roof bolter, flipping over and striking individual on the left side of head and left ear resulting in stitches.
Cutting prop setters, went to slide one out of truck and smashed left pinky finger between prop setter and the bed of truck. X-ray revealed a fracture.
An unplanned roof fall occurred on the 1st Submain Southeast on MMU 001 at crosscut 5 in entry 1. Fall measurements 25 feet long, 8 feet high and 16 feet wide.
An unplanned roof fall occurred in the #6 entry at xc 28 along the 1st Main Northwest intake. Fallen Material measures approximately 18'w x 18'l x 12'h.
An unplanned roof fall occurred in the #6 entry at xc 46 along the 1st Main Southwest primary escape way. Fallen material measures approximately 18'w x 18'l x 12'h.
Employee was exiting a DBT battery scoop when right foot slipped and left shin struck the deck of operators compartment causing a 2.5" x .25" laceration. Received stitches and staples.
May 23, 2012IN · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was raising canopy on double boom roof bolter and had left hand on canopy when a piece of shale (3' x 10" x 6")fell from between the bolts and struck his hand causing a laceration. Received 3 stitches.
April 10, 2012IN · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was getting ready to clean the scrubber screen when a piece of shale 24" long x 24" wide x 4" to 6" thick fell from between the bolts striking his left hand which was resting on the miner. The avulsion that occurred required 15 stitches.
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