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.
822 citations across 6,362 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Highsplint has $165K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 36 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.
$165K
proposed penalties
$146K
current assessed
$142K
paid to date
$4K
outstanding
801 assessments are final orders; 36 contested dockets.
Of $66K in penalties contested before the Commission, $45K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-12-05.
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.
74citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
Settled
70 · 95%
Stood as issued
4 · 5%
93%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 60 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
34%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$58K proposed, $38K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2011-11-08.
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 Highsplint shows 93% of 904 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: 2012-01-10, 14 years ago
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
904
samples
6.07
dust max (mg/m3)
498 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 406 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.
Highsplint recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 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
2011 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
5.54
5.54
0.000
2007 *
4.11
4.11
0.000
2006 *
19.57
9.78
0.000
2005 *
5.62
5.62
0.000
2004 *
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)
2012
10
3,667
2011
20
84,664
2010
30
150,890
2009
20
118,247
2008
22
84,943
2007
29
162,791
2006
25
168,620
2005
24
148,495
2004
15
82,312
2003
10
46,861
2002
24
210,772
2001
31
302,985
2000
31
301,685
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Highsplint sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
An unitentional roof fall occurred in the second left panel leading to BMP's #2 and #3 In the number #1 entry inby spad 2370 upon making weekly's The effected area has been dangered off 20.8 around fall and coming out of panela good movment of air going into and out of panel.
2008 · 1 incident
September 10, 2008KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was drilling hole steel stopped up, dropped head, steel stayed in hole, Ee put left hand on head to see if he had suction finishing steel fell out of hole, striking little finger on left hand against head.
January 27, 2006KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE RAISED THE END OF A DRIVE ROLLER WITH A SLATE BAR. HE WAS PLACING A CRIB BLOCK UNDER THE ROLLER WHEN THE BAR SLIPPED CATCHING HIS FINGERS & THUMB BETWEEN THE ROLLER & CRIB BLOCK.
May 28, 2002KY · Coalscoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ROCK FALL ON #3 BELT 2-ND X CUT INBY THE HEAD- DRIVE IN INTERSECTION. ROCK FALL WAS 20' WIDE & 25'LONG AND ABOUT 5' HIGH. THE AREA WAS CRIBBED AND DANGERED OFF AND THEN FALL WAS MOVED AND AREA WAS SUPPORTED.
September 17, 2001KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
TRAVELING INTAKE FOUND ROOF FALL IN #3 ENTRY OF NORTHWEST MAINS AT #24 XCUT 25 FT LONG, 20 FT WIDE AND 10-15 FT HIGH IN INTERSECTION. THE AREA HAS BEEN TIMBERED & DANGERED OFF.
WHILE TRAVELING RETURN FOUND ROOF FALL IN #2 ENTRY OF SOUTH WEST MAINS 26 X-CUT FROM PORTAL. THEFALL IS ~25' LONG, 20' WIDE & 4-8' THICK. THE AREA IS CRIBBED AND DANGERED OFF.
TRAVELING RETURN FOUND ROOF FALL IN SW MAINS INBY #3 DRIVE. FALL IS APPROX. 50'LONG AND 20'WIDE AND 5 1/2-6'HIGH. AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 42" RESIN BOLTS. THE AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AND DANGERED O FF.
TRAVELING RETURN FOUND ROOF FALL AT SPAD #464. IS ABOUT 25 FT LONG AND 20 FT WIDE AND 5-6 FT THICK. THE AREA IS BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS AND STRAPS. THE AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AND DANGERED O FF.
EE WAS OPERATING A MACK COAL TRUCK DOWN THE MINE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK. HE JUMPED FROM THE TRUCK CAUSING MINOR INURIESK BUT THE TRUCK WAS DAMAGED.
TRAVELING RETURN, AREA OF FALL IS 120' OUTBY SPAD 213 IN THE #3 ENTRY THE FALL IS APPROX 20' WIDE 20' LONG AND 4'TO 4 1/2' THICK THE CREW IS BAITED WITH 42" RESIN BOLT THE AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBE D OFF AND DANGERED OFF.
ROOF FALL IN RETURN #1+2 ENTRY ABOUT 500' OFF SECTION AT SPAD #283+284. FELL APPROX 100' LONG 20' WIDE &6' HIGH. CRIBBED & DANGERED OFF THE AREA & MOVED SECTION TO OUTBY FALL AREA, A.
May 19, 2000KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
FOUND ROOF FALL IN INTAKE ABOUT 1000 FT OFF SECT AT SPAD #852 IN #4 ENTRY OF 1 SOUTH MAINS. ITS APPROX 20 FT WIDE AND 25 FT LONG AND 5 FT THICK. ROOF WAS BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS. THE AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED, TIMBERED AND DANGERED OFF.
April 28, 2000KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
LOST PWER AND WHILE CHECKING HI LINE FOUND FALL ON IN LINE AREA IN 150' INBY SPAD # 150 #3 ENTRY 1 LEFT OFF 1 SOUTH. FALL IS APPROX 20'WX2 1/2' LX5 1/2'H. FALL AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS THE AREA HAS BEEN TIMBERED AND DANGERED OFF.
FOUND ROOF FALL WHILE CHECKING PUMP IN INTAKE 1900 FT OUT BY FACE 90 FT IN BY SPAD 262. FALL IS IN MIDDLE OF BLOCK ABOUT 6 FT HIGH 19 FT WIDE AND ABOUT 30 FT LONG. ROOF WAS BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS. THE AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AND TIMBERED AND DANGERED OFF.
March 22, 2000KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK