Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
English Español
← Back to search

Garmeada: 182 MSHA citations Coal

Bell County Coal Corp · Underground
Controlled by James River Coal Company
Middlesboro, Bell County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1517855

Garmeada has $48K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Garmeada.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
33
Years on record
1997–2001
Latest incident
Jun 2001
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
182
citations
97
significant & substantial
$47,703
proposed penalties
$45,138
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $2,565 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Bell County Coal Corp's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
43
inspections on record
1,292
inspection hours
14.1
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.
182 citations across 1,292 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Garmeada has $48K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$48K
proposed penalties
$45K
current assessed
$45K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
177 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $19K in penalties contested before the Commission, $16K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2001-07-18.
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.
54.8%
significant & substantial
5.6%
high negligence or reckless
54.8%
reasonably likely or greater
11.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 4.5% low, 89.8% moderate, 4.0% high, 1.7% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
KENT20000001 Settlement Feldman 2001 $11K → $10K
KENT20000212 Settlement Melick 2000 $8K → $6K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Garmeada shows 88% of 146 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: 2001-05-26, 25 years ago
88%
within 1.5 mg/m3
146
samples
3.88
dust max (mg/m3)
87 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 59 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR56
  • SUPPLY MAN14
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)12

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2001-02-15, 25 years ago
5.7
silica avg (%)
20
samples
10.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR10
  • SUPPLY MAN1
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2000-12-14, 25 years ago
18%
over PEL
11
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR2
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER2
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)2
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2001 97% 37
2000 84% 109
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2001 4.4 3
2000 6.0 17
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Garmeada recorded 19.56 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2001.

Injury rate, 2001
ⓘ 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.
19.56
total case rate
19.56
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 6.94 and the all-US-mining average was 5.26 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 7.69 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
2001 * 19.56 19.56 0.000
2000 * 16.46 9.41 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. Bell County Coal Corp 1996 to present
  2. Jackrock Llc 2000 to 2001
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)
2002 0
2001 14 90,036
2000 38 352,884
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Garmeada sits in Bell County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.6% 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.
Bell County, Kentucky · Population 23,878
3.6%
Mining share of county employment
$32,403
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
2002 Q1 0 0 0
2001 Q4 0 0 0
2001 Q3 1,242 1 0 805.2
2001 Q2 9,152 29 14 3168.7
2001 Q1 20,287 20 8 985.9
2000 Q4 20,596 62 28 3010.3
2000 Q3 11,235 17 12 1513.1
2000 Q2 26,937 10 4 371.2
Show 1 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2000 Q1 26,284 43 31 1636.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

33 on file

2001 · 3 incidents

June 13, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE PUT A PLATE ON A ROOF BOLT AND THREW IT AHEAD SO HE COULD INSTALL THE NEXT BOLT. THE BOLT BOUNCED BACK STRIKING HIM ON THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT ARM.

June 8, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

EE HAD HIS HAND ON THE DRILL BOOM WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL STRIKING HIS LITTLE FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND.

2000 · 7 incidents

June 11, 2000 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

UNROLLING MINER CABLE OFF SPOOL ONTO FLATCAR WHEN HIS THUMB GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN SPOOL & FORK- LIFT FORK, MASHING THUMB.

June 8, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS KNOCKING WATER LINE APART WITH A 16 LB HAMMER. THE HAMMER GLANCED OFF THE WATER LINE STRIKING HIM IN THE LEFT SHIN.

April 12, 2000 KY · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PULLING A PIECE OF WIRE ROPE OUT OF A RAILRUNNER WHEN THE END OF THE ROPE FLIPPED UP STRIKING HIM IN THE MOUTH BREAKING A TOOTH.

March 17, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE RELEASED TENSION ON BOLT AFTER RESIN HAD CURED. AS HE LOWERED BOLT WRENCH, RESIN CAMEOUT AROUND BOLT HEAD SPRAYING A SMALL AMOUNT INTO HIS EYES. MISSED WORK ON 3-20-00.

January 20, 2000 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS LAYING OUT TIMBERS ON THE PILLAR LINE WHEN HE STRAINED BACK.

1999 · 8 incidents

October 23, 1999 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MOVING ROCK OFF TRACK STRAINING BACK

September 21, 1999 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Bell County Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

HE WAS STANDING BETWEEN THE BELT AND TRACK BETWEEN TIMBERS. AS RAILRUNNER WENT BY, SOMETHING ON EE GOT CAUGHT ON RAILRUNNER. IT PULLED HIM BETWEEN RAILRUNNER AND TIMBERS. HE HAS A FRACTURED NE CK AND BROKEN BONES IN FACE.

August 25, 1999 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AS EE RAISED HIMSELF OUT OF RAILRUNNER HE FELT PAIN IN HIS SHOULDER. SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON 11-11-99.

August 23, 1999 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PULLING ROCK OFF TOP OF CONTINUOS MINER, ROCK STRUCK TOP OF LEFT FOOT.

August 17, 1999 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) POWERED HAULAGE
Bell County Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SPOOLING HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE FROM SPOOL TO FLATCAR. FORK ON FORKLIFT SHIFTED ALLOWING SPOOLL TO FALL & ROLL PINNING EE' LEG AGAINST FLATCAR

April 6, 1999 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

CUMULATIVE STRAIN TO BACK FROM PULLING CABLE, ETC. SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON 4-7-99.

February 23, 1999 KY · Coal MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corp · Accident type, without injuries

THE CONTINUOUS MINIGN MACHINE BECAME CAUGHT IN THE PILLAR LINE AND DISRUPTED NORMAL MINING OEPRATION SIN EXCESS OF DNE HOUR.

January 16, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bell County Coal Corp · Accident type, without injuries

WHILE EXTRACTING PILLARS ON THE 001 SECTION A ROOF FALL OCCURRED WHICH COVERED THE CONT MINING MACHINE. A FALL OCCURRED WHICH PREVENTED MOVEMENT OF THE MACHINE

1998 · 10 incidents

December 21, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM STRUCK A 180-2 CONNECTING CHAIN LINK WITHA HAMMER, WHENA PIECE A METAL CHIPPED OFF THE HAMMER & BECAME EMBEDDED IN HIS FOREHEAD ABOVE THELEFT EYE

September 28, 1998 KY · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by rolling or sliding object

WHILE RECOVERING TRACK, INJURED WAS USING A BAR TO REMOVE CROSS TIES FROM RAIL. WHEN HE REMOVED THE LAST ONE, THE RAIL ROLLED/ SLID INTO HIS LEFT LEG.

August 22, 1998 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

USING HAMMER TO DISLODGE PART ON MINER, A PIECE OF METAL CHIPPED OFF AND STRUCK HIM IN THE RIGHT LEG.

August 14, 1998 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MOVING WATER LINE, GOT A PIECE OF METAL IN FINGER & REMOVED. WENT TO DR. 8-16-98 FOR INFECTION

August 4, 1998 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED WAS LOADING A BELT SPLICE MACHINE IN RAILRUNNER WHEN HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

August 1, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE GOT HIS FINGERS CAUGHT BETWEEN A METAL AIRLOCK DOOR AND THE MINE ROOF.

May 1, 1998 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

WHILE REMOVING A BROKEN PIECE OF BELT STRUCTURE FROM CONVEYOR, EMPLOYEE PULLED HARD AND IT BROKELOOSE PULLING A MUSCLE IN HIS BACK. HE COMPLETED HIS SHIFT BEGAN MISSING WORK ON 5.4.98.

April 14, 1998 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

REMOVING 400 AMP PLUG FROM POWER CENTER AND STRUCK LEFT KNEE WITH PLUG. NO LOST TIME. UNAWARE HE WENT TO DR. UNTIL 9-16-98 WHEN HE COMPLAINED HE WAS BEING BILLED FOR SERVICE.

March 17, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

EE WAS USING A HAMMER TO STRIKE A BELT SPLICING TOOL, WHEN A PIECE OF METAL CHIPPED AND IMBEDDED IN HIS LEFT THIGH.HE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON 3-18-98. REMOVED METAL FRAGMENT. NO SUTURES.

1997 · 5 incidents

November 25, 1997 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

EE WAS CLEANING ROCK OFF OF MINER WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK PINNED HIS LEGS AGAINST THE RUB RAIL OF MINER.

October 2, 1997 KY · Coal supply man, nipper HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HELPING LIFT A ROOF BEAM ACK TO LOAD IT, WHEN IT SLIPPED AND CUT HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER.

September 11, 1997 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bell County Coal Corp · Accident type, without injuries

AN UNINTENTIONAL ROOF FALL HAS OCCURED ONE BREAKOUTBY #199 IN THE #2 ENTRY. THE FALL WAS 20'X20;X20'X0-6' HIGH.

August 22, 1997 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING A MINER HEAD JACK & STRAINED A MUSCLE IN HIS RIGHT SIDE. HE CEASED WORK APP. 1 TO 1 1/2 HOURS LATER.

August 6, 1997 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corp · Struck against stationary object

STRUCK KNEE AGAINST LIGHT ON BOLT MACHINE. WE DONOT KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL BILL ARRIVED ON 9/11/97. HE WAS GIVEN XRAYS & RX FOR INFLAMMATION.