Mining Incidents

Highland No 5 Coal

Freeland, Luzerne County, PA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3606862

Highland No 5 has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $414 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
10
Years on record
1986–2019
Latest incident
Jul 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
70
citations
24
significant & substantial
$9,482
proposed penalties
$9,068
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $414 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2005
72
inspections on record
2,864
inspection hours
2.4
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.
70 citations across 2,864 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Highland No 5 has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $414 outstanding across 0 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.
$9K
proposed penalties
$9K
current assessed
$9K
paid to date
$414
outstanding
67 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-11-19.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Highland No 5 shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.16 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 368 samples.

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.
0.16
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.37
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
368
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-17.
Silica (quartz)
2.8
silica avg (%)
8.2
silica max (%)
17
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-11.
Noise
3%
over PEL
143
samples
Most recent sample: 2025-12-03.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2025 Q4 14,820 1 0 67.5
2025 Q3 16,588 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 13,585 1 0 73.6
2025 Q1 14,300 2 1 139.9
2024 Q4 15,600 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 16,016 1 1 62.4
2024 Q2 13,650 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 18,252 0 0 0.0
Show 74 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 15,600 1 0 64.1
2023 Q3 15,444 1 1 64.8
2023 Q2 16,250 2 2 123.1
2023 Q1 12,870 2 1 155.4
2022 Q4 13,650 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 14,820 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 13,260 14 1 1055.8
2022 Q1 14,560 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,180 1 1 314.5
2021 Q3 2,364 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 874 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 1,469 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,778 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,820 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,484 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 3,007 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 4,862 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,544 5 3 1410.8
2019 Q2 5,056 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,076 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,020 1 0 331.1
2018 Q3 4,120 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 5,541 3 1 541.4
2018 Q1 2,852 1 0 350.6
2017 Q4 5,477 1 0 182.6
2017 Q3 4,379 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 5,564 2 1 359.5
2017 Q1 3,322 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 7,427 1 1 134.6
2016 Q3 3,324 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 2,700 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 8,421 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 8,504 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 9,247 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 10,214 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 9,868 1 1 101.3
2014 Q4 9,586 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 9,724 1 0 102.8
2014 Q2 10,113 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 11,290 1 0 88.6
2013 Q4 11,305 1 0 88.5
2013 Q3 10,941 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 11,098 1 0 90.1
2013 Q1 11,844 2 1 168.9
2012 Q4 11,859 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 11,960 1 0 83.6
2012 Q2 11,734 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 12,687 2 1 157.6
2011 Q4 11,765 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 12,639 4 2 316.5
2011 Q2 12,179 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 12,320 2 2 162.3
2010 Q4 11,087 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 12,431 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 12,235 1 0 81.7
2010 Q1 12,343 1 0 81.0
2009 Q4 10,053 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 5,079 1 0 196.9
2009 Q2 4,830 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 6,867 5 0 728.1
2008 Q4 4,962 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 5,394 1 1 185.4
2008 Q2 6,351 1 1 157.5
2008 Q1 6,281 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 5,171 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,778 1 1 209.3
2007 Q2 5,088 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 5,665 2 0 353.0
2006 Q4 4,762 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,533 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 3,597 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,329 1 0 300.4
2005 Q4 3,439 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 506 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

10 on file

2019 · 1 incident

July 21, 2019 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Northampton Fuel Supply Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

PRODUCT STUCK IN TRAILER CAUSED UNIT TO ROLL ONTO RIGHT SIDE. DRIVER WAS THROWN ONTO RIGHT SIDE OF CAB CAUSING NECK, BACK AND RIB INJURY.

2018 · 1 incident

January 3, 2018 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON

At approx. 6:25 am the manager was informed of an accident involving an EE operating a front end loader. A truck driver reported over the CB radio that the operator was on the ground bleeding from a head injury. Evidence suggests the EE was cleaning a mirror outside the cab and fell off the platform just under 6 feet.

2014 · 2 incidents

February 12, 2014 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Northampton Fuel Supply Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Fall on packed snow/ice while doing a 360 inspection after fueling mobile equipment. Injury to left hip/hand initially self-treated. Taken to clinic 2/13/14, x-rays negative, no prescription. Follow-up visit on 3/13/14 employee given script for muscle relaxant for back causing recordable accident.

February 10, 2014 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Northampton Fuel Supply Company Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee attempted to move a section of suction hose for a diesel pump when he slid on some loose stone and fell. His right side struck some frozen material. Called NurseLine and they recommended medical examination at our local clinic. Fall/contact resulted in injury to right side ribs (2 fractured). Doctor prescribed pain medication and gave restricted duty instructions.

2013 · 2 incidents

October 10, 2013 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON

Changing primary fuel filter on CAT 980F. Employee descended ladder and lost grip/fell. Employee landed on left hip/buttock. NurseLine called and advised self-care with ice/ibuprofen for pain/swelling. Case handled as first aid until employee requested follow-up care 10/14/2013. X-ray and CatScan were negative, but doctor put employee off work 7 days.

May 8, 2013 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Northampton Fuel Supply Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee was replacing a broken screen on Screen Plant 4. As he dismounted ladder on west side of screen plant he turned his left ankle on a rock. It was raining, which may have been a contributing factor. Employee stated he was not looking at the ground where he was coming down the ladder, so he did not notice where his foot was landing as he stepped off the ladder.

2010 · 1 incident

March 23, 2010 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U.S. Operating Services Company, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Incident occurred at night with light rain condition. Employee's foot slipped while climbing wheeled loader ladder. Employee strained right shoulder when he started to fall. Employee worked with some pain from 3/23/10 until 4/12/10. On 4/12/10 he was seen by medical service, diagnosis rotator cuff strain. on light duty 4/12/10.

2005 · 1 incident

November 19, 2005 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U.S. Operating Services Company, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee reported that he had been working on a silt pan. He exited the pan by climbing over the side. Upon exiting he felt a strain in his back. On 11/21/05 employee visited a physician who believed he had a pinched cyatic nerve. It wasn't reported until 11/21/05

1987 · 1 incident

1986 · 1 incident

October 14, 1986 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Jeddo-Highland Coal Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SHOVELING UNDER3FEED BELT AT SILT DRYER & TWISTED BACK

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Highland No 5

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.