Mining Incidents

Gillhouser Run Mine: 463 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by J Clifford Forrest III
Homer City, Indiana County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3609033

Gillhouser Run Mine has $227K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 57 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
31
Years on record
2006–2014
Latest incident
Aug 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
463
citations
138
significant & substantial
$227,314
proposed penalties
$160,836
paid to date
71% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $66,479 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2006
122
inspections on record
10,519
inspection hours
4.4
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.
463 citations across 10,519 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Gillhouser Run Mine has $227K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 57 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.
$227K
proposed penalties
$161K
current assessed
$161K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
460 assessments are final orders; 57 contested dockets.
Of $157K in penalties contested before the Commission, $89K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2016-05-02.
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.
30.0%
significant & substantial
2.0%
high negligence or reckless
29.1%
reasonably likely or greater
25.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.9% none, 45.0% low, 52.2% moderate, 2.0% 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.
112 citations taken to the federal commission · 24% of citations on record
  • Settled 98 · 88%
  • Stood as issued 11 · 10%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 3 · 3%
62%
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 92 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
43%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$157K proposed, $89K 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 2016-02-17.
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
PENN 2014-15 Settlement Harner 2015 $33K → $17K
PENN 2014-121 Settlement Harner 2015 $12K → $9K
PENN 2015-0135 Settlement Lewis 2016 $12K → $6K
PENN 2014-0204 Settlement Harner 2015 $11K → $8K
PENN 2009-264 Settlement Andrews 2011 $7K → $1K
PENN 2012-424 Settlement Lewis 2013 $6K → $4K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Gillhouser Run Mine shows 98% of 888 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: 2016-05-10, 10 years ago
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
888
samples
3.38
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.
410 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 478 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR344
  • MOBILE BRIDGE OPERATOR78
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)38

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2015-09-30, 10 years ago
5.8
silica avg (%)
58
samples
31.2
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR31

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: 2015-01-27, 11 years ago
9%
over PEL
103
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • MOBILE BRIDGE OPERATOR18
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)15
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)14
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
2016 100% 5
2015 99% 69
2014 99% 78
2013 100% 101
2012 100% 88
2011 98% 114
2010 99% 136
2009 100% 86
2008 94% 96
2007 93% 89
2006 92% 26
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2015 3.8 10
2014 2.4 7
2013 2.9 3
2012 2.8 1
2011 3.8 2
2010 10.6 11
2009 4.9 2
2008 5.7 10
2007 5.3 9
2006 11.0 3
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2015 0% 7
2014 29% 7
2013 0% 18
2012 0% 2
2011 20% 20
2010 0% 14
2009 0% 11
2008 0% 7
2007 14% 14
2006 33% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Gillhouser Run Mine reported liberating 635 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.
635
t CH4 reported, 2015
15,875
t CO2e equivalent
Year t CH4 t CO2e
2015 635 15,875
2014 840 20,996
2013 931 23,280
Source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, subpart FF (underground coal mines), reported annually.

Gillhouser Run Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2015.

Injury rate, 2015
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 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 2.72 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 3.79 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
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 4.48 1.49 0.000
2013 1.38 0.00 0.000
2012 6.15 0.00 0.000
2011 6.12 0.00 0.000
2010 4.48 0.00 0.000
2009 * 2.03 2.03 0.000
2008 7.85 1.96 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. Laurel Energy, L.P. 2001 to 2003
  2. AMFIRE Mining Company LLC 2003 to 2014
  3. Rosebud Mining Company 2014 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)
2018 0
2017 0
2016 1
2015 22 130,758
2014 59 266,705
2013 65 255,712
2012 57 210,146
2011 55 166,315
2010 53 247,733
2009 42 348,080
2008 39 323,545
2007 31 272,282
2006 20 40,276
2005 2
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Gillhouser Run Mine sits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 2.4% 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.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania · Population 83,213
2.4%
Mining share of county employment
$58,739
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
2018 Q1 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 0 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 2 0
Show 44 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2016 Q1 114 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 7,992 2 0 250.3
2015 Q3 13,693 7 2 511.2
2015 Q2 15,620 19 2 1216.4
2015 Q1 16,220 19 4 1171.4
2014 Q4 30,756 20 12 650.3
2014 Q3 34,213 11 2 321.5
2014 Q2 32,524 18 9 553.4
2014 Q1 36,313 16 5 440.6
2013 Q4 33,536 19 9 566.6
2013 Q3 36,004 19 6 527.7
2013 Q2 36,478 12 5 329.0
2013 Q1 39,391 20 7 507.7
2012 Q4 30,048 13 7 432.6
2012 Q3 32,118 13 2 404.8
2012 Q2 32,703 12 2 366.9
2012 Q1 35,308 7 0 198.3
2011 Q4 29,071 16 2 550.4
2011 Q3 32,379 5 0 154.4
2011 Q2 33,324 8 2 240.1
2011 Q1 36,020 10 0 277.6
2010 Q4 36,152 9 2 248.9
2010 Q3 35,016 17 8 485.5
2010 Q2 35,101 10 2 284.9
2010 Q1 27,646 9 2 325.5
2009 Q4 24,991 13 3 520.2
2009 Q3 24,155 7 1 289.8
2009 Q2 22,229 13 3 584.8
2009 Q1 27,030 10 1 370.0
2008 Q4 26,305 11 5 418.2
2008 Q3 25,391 14 8 551.4
2008 Q2 25,673 19 6 740.1
2008 Q1 24,533 19 5 774.5
2007 Q4 21,156 6 4 283.6
2007 Q3 20,725 4 3 193.0
2007 Q2 20,913 13 4 621.6
2007 Q1 19,385 4 2 206.3
2006 Q4 17,555 7 0 398.7
2006 Q3 12,449 2 0 160.7
2006 Q2 5,207 5 0 960.2
2006 Q1 5,798 1 0 172.5
2005 Q4 2,467 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 93 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

31 on file

2014 · 3 incidents

August 28, 2014 PA · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck against stationary object

IE was cutting plastic from J-Hook when knife came off end of hook cutting the palm of his left hand.

April 23, 2014 PA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

IE was replacing top structure on #6 belt when he strained his left shoulder. IE continued working his regular job until 08/21/14 when he had surgery to repair left rotator cuff.

March 13, 2014 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

IE was making splice, machine slid off belt rails pinching right hand between rails and belt splice machine. IE was wearing metacarpal gloves.

2013 · 2 incidents

November 15, 2013 PA · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

IE was uncoupling skid from rear of scoop, when pin was pulled out of top of pin area, scoop rolled forward making pin go at angle catching fingers between pin and rear frame.

May 20, 2013 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall was found in a section of the mine that was idle and has no equipment. Fall was found on a pre-shift examination. No ventilation affected and no escape ways.

2012 · 4 incidents

October 31, 2012 PA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was pulling hitch over to hook to ride, he pulled hard on tongue and smashed left index finger against receiver plate. Employee was wearing Metacarpal gloves.

July 25, 2012 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was adjusting head on bolter when he instructed the RB Operator to lower the head. The operator lowered the head and employee got his finger tip pinched between the long & short bars .

June 18, 2012 PA · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was throwing bags of rock dust onto scoop when he felt pain in lower left back. Employee released to full duty with attention not to aggravate the injury, with stipulation of no underground work.

May 4, 2012 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was installing 6'Roof Bolt, after pushing the first half of the bolt into the roof and he pushed on bolt to take bend out of bottom of bolt, he lost grip on the bolt allowing it to spring back striking him on upper lip causing a laceration requiring sutures.

2011 · 4 incidents

December 1, 2011 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting metal band and band went through gloves.

December 1, 2011 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Rubbed or abraded

Employee states that both knees swell up from repeated crawling.

November 22, 2011 PA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting off of Red Johnson and slipped and twisted left knee on wet ground. Employee is a Shift Foreman. ** AMFIRE IS FILING A PROTEST ON HAVING TO COMPLETE THIS REPORT!

June 14, 2011 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee reported that when twisting while roof bolting he felt a pain in his left knee. Diagnosed as "Osteochrondritis Dissects (OCD) a disease caused by a repetitive injury that take place over an extended period of time that may have initially developed when he was a kid. Employee has worked full duty until 7/20/11 off for pre op and had surgery 07/21/11.

2010 · 4 incidents

June 22, 2010 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Accident type, without injuries

A roof fall was discovered by a mine examiner during his entry into 6-Right off of 9-Left worked-out area. The fall was located on the #5 entry 20 feet inby SS 1243. Cave dimensions were approximately 55-feet x 18-feet x 4 to 4 1/2 feet high. The area had been supported by 4-foot fully grouted resin bolts. An outby cutter may have extended into this area.

February 28, 2010 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was hanging waterline at belt drive and when he lowered his left hand he cut left hand on a hose clamp.

February 19, 2010 PA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling miner and mobile cable when he rolled and twisted his left ankle. The conditions were wet and sloppy.

February 18, 2010 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting off a corner of belt edge with a razor knife, the knife slipped, cutting his right small finger and right ring finger.

2009 · 2 incidents

September 20, 2009 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was working with a coworker unloading blocks for a stopping. As he reached to pick up a block, the coworker threw a block and caused his right thumb to get caught between the two blocks.

February 17, 2009 PA · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was going down hill when Tram pedal on #176 ride stuck. Personnel Carrier hit rut causing steering wheel to spin and knob hit employee on right forearm. Knob broke off wheel.

2008 · 5 incidents

October 8, 2008 PA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was hauling a piece of top structure in the back of a 4 wheeler. The structure slid off the back of the ride striking the belt causing the structure to swing cutting the employee's right ear.

August 22, 2008 PA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling on a 2" hard plastic water line. The line was being pulled with a 4 Wheel Johnson and pull rope broke causing 2" inch hose clamp to pull through employee's right hand causing laceration on right thumb.

July 31, 2008 PA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was roof bolting and a piece of draw slate fell. Left thumb was caught between drill head and draw slate.

July 9, 2008 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting a roll of messenger line and felt pain in his right shoulder. Employee has continued to work full duty until 10/10/08, which is date he had surgery.

February 6, 2008 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler OTHER
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by flying object

Injured man was sitting on a mantrip when another employee threw his hammer in a fit of rage and struck the injured man on the forehead above his right eye causing a laceration that required stitches.

2007 · 4 incidents

September 14, 2007 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee claims he was tramming bolter and put his right hand on top edge of canopy on cab while trying to see where he was going. Machine was getting stuck on material and he trammed machine while right hand was on canopy. Machine went against rib, catching right thumb between canopy and rib.

May 15, 2007 PA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck against stationary object

While employee was operating back MBC, the miner and front MBC was moving forward. Employee had his front part of the bridge in the air, when he ran out of slide, pulling the front part of the mobile down causing the back part of the mobile (kitchen) to roof out, causing the employee to jam his head against the roof.

February 12, 2007 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hanging S/C cable across entry and when he turned his head, the end of the wire previously tied, went under his safety glasses and scratched his eye.

February 4, 2007 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated he was lifting 50 lb bags of rockdust to load into a rockduster and felt a pain in his groin area.

2006 · 3 incidents

November 13, 2006 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was breaking a chain with a hammer and a pice of metal came off the pin in the chain. This metal became lodged in employee's right hand.

October 27, 2006 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee reported that both hands have been going numb for one to two years when operating his roof bolter.

May 15, 2006 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was helping to install chain link fence and metal hook dislodged and hit employee on right side of ear causing laceration.