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Hignite #4: 165 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by James River Coal Company
Middlesboro, Bell County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1518235

Hignite #4 has $40K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
22
Years on record
2001–2002
Latest incident
Jan 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
165
citations
107
significant & substantial
$39,933
proposed penalties
$39,933
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Bell County Coal Corporation's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
29
inspections on record
1,063
inspection hours
15.5
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.
165 citations across 1,063 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Hignite #4 has $40K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$40K
proposed penalties
$40K
current assessed
$40K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
158 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2002-01-28.
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.
66.9%
significant & substantial
2.5%
high negligence or reckless
66.7%
reasonably likely or greater
11.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 0.6% low, 96.9% moderate, 2.5% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Hignite #4 shows 79% of 98 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: 2002-01-31, 24 years ago
79%
within 1.5 mg/m3
98
samples
8.45
dust max (mg/m3)
52 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 46 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR44
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)14
  • SUPPLY MAN11

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2002-01-09, 24 years ago
5.5
silica avg (%)
12
samples
8.0
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR8
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.
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
2002 79% 19
2001 78% 79
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Hignite #4 recorded 23.80 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.
23.80
total case rate
20.83
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.
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 Corporation 2000 to present
  2. Jackrock Llc 2001 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 9 28,323
2001 28 186,846
2000 3
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Hignite #4 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 Q2 0 0 0
2002 Q1 10,703 34 24 3176.7
2001 Q4 25,906 79 55 3049.5
2001 Q3 25,595 25 12 976.8
2001 Q2 14,040 20 11 1424.5
2001 Q1 1,675 6 4 3582.1
2000 Q4 0 0 0
2000 Q3 2,707 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

22 on file

2002 · 7 incidents

January 28, 2002 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AS THE RAILRUNNER WAS GOING BY A CRIB, A BLOCK FROM THE CRIB STRUCK THE COVER ON THE BATTERY CHARGER ON THE RAILRUNNER CAUSING THE COVER TO STRIKE EE IN THE LEGS BREAKING HIS RIGHT LOWER LE G.

January 28, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) POWERED HAULAGE
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AS THE RAILRUNNER WAS GOING BY A CRIB, A BLOCK FROM THE CRIB STRUCK THE COVER ON THE BATTERY CHARGER ON THE RAILRUNNER, CAUSING THE COVER TO STRIKE HIM IN THE RIBS.

January 11, 2002 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bell County Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOD FALL OF APROX 4 FEET IN THICKNESS BY 20 FEET WIDE BY 40 FEET LONG OCCURRED. NO EQUIPMENT WAS INVOLVED. THIS AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 5 FOOT FULLY GROUTED BOLTS. AT SPAD #246.

January 2, 2002 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A EE WAS USING A PRY BAR TO MOVE A PIECE OF ROCK OFF THE TRACK, HE STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK.

2001 · 15 incidents

December 15, 2001 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator POWERED HAULAGE
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck against a moving object

AS EE WAS OPERATING A SCOOP, HE RAN OVER A ROCK IN THE ROADWAY WHICH RAISED HIM UP IN THE SEAT &AS HE CAME BACK DOWN HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

December 7, 2001 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss STRIKING OR BUMPING
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck against stationary object

EE TURNED AROUND HIS HEAD STRUCK A ROOF BOLT PLATE LACERATING HIS LEFT EAR REQUIRING 5 STITCHES.

October 27, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

AS INJURED EE WAS STRAIGHTENING ROOF BOLT AFTER PUTTING IT INTO THE DRILLED HOLE, HE BEGAN TO FELL PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK AND COULD NOT STAND UP STRAIGHT.

October 26, 2001 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bell County Coal Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

AN EE WAS LIFTING UP A PIECE OF STRUCTURE, HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS GROIN. STARTED MISSING WORK ON 11-12-01 WHEN HE HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR A HERNIA.

August 9, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ANOTHER EE WAS USING A HAMMER TO SPLICE A BELT WHEN A PIECE OF THE HAMMER CAME OFF AND STRUCK EE IN THE RIGHT FOREARM.

June 29, 2001 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object

AS EE WAS MOVING THE MINER A RIB ROLL OCCURRED INFLICTING A FRACTURE OF HIS LOWER RIGHT LEG.

June 26, 2001 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck against stationary object

PIECE OF COAL/ROCK FELL OFF RIB, STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE LEFT SHOULDER WHICH CAUSED HIM TO MOVE FORWARD STRIKING HIS FACE AGAINST THE CANOPY OF THE SCOOP.

June 13, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Bell County Coal Corporation · Struck by falling object

WHILE BOLTING TOP, EMPLOYEE DROPPED A PIECE OF STEEL ON HIS LITTLE FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND.

May 3, 2001 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Bell County Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries

THIS IS A NEW MINE OPENING ON INITIAL DEVELOPMENT. SURFACE COVERAGE IS AT MINIMUM & HILL MUD SEAMS ARE SQUEEZING MUD OUT CAUSING THE IMMEDIATE &MAIN ROOF TO SEPARATE. THE EMPLOYEES ARE VERY EX PERIENCED & AWARE OF CHANGING NATURE OF ROOF. NOEMPLOYEE INJURY RESULTED FROM INCIDENT.