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Hiram Fork: 829 MSHA citations Coal

Banner Blue Coal Company · Underground
Controlled by Metinvest B V
Wolford, Buchanan County, VA  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4406920

Hiram Fork has $333K in proposed MSHA penalties and $285K outstanding across 9 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
9
Years on record
2000–2014
Latest incident
Nov 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
829
citations
262
significant & substantial
$332,796
proposed penalties
$43,162
paid to date
13% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $289,634 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Banner Blue Coal Company's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
142
inspections on record
6,719
inspection hours
12.3
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.
829 citations across 6,719 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Hiram Fork has $333K in proposed MSHA penalties and $285K outstanding across 9 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.
$333K
proposed penalties
$328K
current assessed
$43K
paid to date
$285K
outstanding
810 assessments are final orders; 9 contested dockets.
Of $173K in penalties contested before the Commission, $168K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-07-17.
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.
32.3%
significant & substantial
3.7%
high negligence or reckless
32.2%
reasonably likely or greater
21.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 13.3% low, 83.0% moderate, 3.7% 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.
120 citations taken to the federal commission · 14% of citations on record
  • Settled 56 · 47%
  • Stood as issued 64 · 53%
100%
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 42 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
4%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$176K proposed, $169K 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 2015-09-27.
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
VA 2015-0023 Default Lesnick 2015 $95K → $95K
VA 2014-0292 Default Lesnick 2015 $37K → $37K
VA 2014-0332 Default Lesnick 2015 $16K → $16K
VA 2014-0246 Settlement McCarthy 2015 $7K → $6K
VA 2014-0245 Settlement McCarthy 2015 $7K → $5K
VA 2012-499 Settlement Koutras 2013 $6K → $6K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Hiram Fork shows 96% of 839 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: 2018-04-23, 8 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
839
samples
8.73
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.
281 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 558 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR322
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)177
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)65

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2018-04-24, 8 years ago
6.8
silica avg (%)
54
samples
22.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR25
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)21
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: 2018-04-23, 8 years ago
1%
over PEL
88
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)19
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR13
  • UTILITY MAN12
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
2018 100% 43
2017 100% 193
2016 100% 149
2015 99% 71
2014 94% 63
2013 96% 47
2012 100% 56
2011 100% 12
2002 96% 52
2001 81% 86
2000 90% 67
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2018 6.2 2
2017 6.2 7
2016 5.0 3
2015 5.7 8
2014 4.1 3
2013 5.3 2
2012 6.0 4
2002 8.9 4
2001 5.4 6
2000 8.9 15
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2018 0% 9
2017 0% 12
2016 0% 8
2015 0% 2
2014 0% 14
2013 0% 10
2012 0% 14
2011 0% 1
2002 0% 8
2001 0% 6
2000 25% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Hiram Fork recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017.

Injury rate, 2017
ⓘ 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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.48 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.02 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
2017 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2016 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 4.09 4.09 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2002 * 28.30 28.30 0.000
2001 * 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.
Ownership history
  1. Black Diamond Company 1998 to 2010
  2. Maranatha Mining & Leasing Inc 1999 to 2001
  3. Nufac Mining Inc 2001 to 2007
  4. Tech Leasing & Rebuild LLC 2010 to 2011
  5. Faith Resources, Inc. 2011 to 2013
  6. Banner Blue Coal Company 2013 to present
  7. Hanna Coal Company, Inc. 2013 to 2014
  8. D&H Mining, Inc. 2014 to 2018
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 14 21,928
2017 21 44,482
2016 20 61,833
2015 25 58,376
2014 23 49,862
2013 28 40,061
2012 20 34,007
2011 9 8,848
2009 0
2008 1
2003 0
2002 10 42,105
2001 10 38,401
2000 12 81,213
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Hiram Fork sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.
Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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 Q2 8,041 16 5 1989.8
2018 Q1 8,410 9 1 1070.2
2017 Q4 8,666 13 3 1500.1
2017 Q3 9,161 14 0 1528.2
2017 Q2 9,247 7 2 757.0
2017 Q1 12,630 7 2 554.2
2016 Q4 9,264 3 1 323.8
2016 Q3 13,131 12 2 913.9
Show 37 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2016 Q2 9,448 7 3 740.9
2016 Q1 11,882 14 5 1178.3
2015 Q4 12,861 24 3 1866.1
2015 Q3 15,286 16 4 1046.7
2015 Q2 14,848 7 0 471.4
2015 Q1 14,325 12 1 837.7
2014 Q4 18,494 8 0 432.6
2014 Q3 8,822 54 14 6121.1
2014 Q2 8,971 58 14 6465.3
2014 Q1 12,653 68 15 5374.2
2013 Q4 13,808 98 29 7097.3
2013 Q3 14,111 28 8 1984.3
2013 Q2 1,907 6 1 3146.3
2012 Q4 4,849 26 12 5361.9
2012 Q3 8,400 30 16 3571.4
2012 Q2 9,868 40 16 4053.5
2012 Q1 5,900 53 18 8983.1
2011 Q4 5,900 12 5 2033.9
2011 Q3 5,054 4 0 791.5
2011 Q2 1,208 12 5 9933.8
2009 Q2 0 0 0
2009 Q1 0 0 0
2008 Q4 31 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 0 1 1
2003 Q2 0 0 0
2002 Q4 0 0 0
2002 Q3 5,597 5 1 893.3
2002 Q2 7,201 9 3 1249.8
2002 Q1 8,406 14 7 1665.5
2001 Q4 5,659 17 10 3004.1
2001 Q3 5,549 6 1 1081.3
2001 Q2 8,405 4 3 475.9
2001 Q1 1,380 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 6,892 20 12 2901.9
2000 Q3 10 12 5 1200000.0
2000 Q2 5,490 15 7 2732.2
2000 Q1 6,841 7 3 1023.2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

9 on file

2014 · 1 incident

November 23, 2014 VA · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
D&H Mining, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Setting cribs in an intersection and a piece of draw rock fell on his lower back and hip.

2011 · 1 incident

2002 · 3 incidents

February 16, 2002 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nufac Mining Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS LIFTING AND CHANGING OUT BELT ROLLERS ON THE NUMBER ONE BELT AND FELT PAIN IN HIS RIGHT LOWER STOMACH.

February 11, 2002 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Nufac Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAD DRILLED A 42" HOLE & GOT THE DRILL STEEL HUNG IN HOLE. HE THEN PUT THE WRENCH ON THE HUNGDRILL STEEL & WHEN HE TURNED THE WRENCH THE RUBBER GLOVES HE HAD ON FOULED ON THE WRENCH & DRILL STEEL & TWISTED HIS ARM. THE AREA HE WAS WORKINGIN WAS WET & MUDDY.

February 5, 2002 VA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator POWERED HAULAGE
Nufac Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE HAD FINISHED LOADING A SHUTTLE CAR & NOTICED THAT THE CORD GOING TO THE REMOTE FOR THE MINER WAS LAYING WHERE THE TIRE OF THE SHUTTLE CAR WASGOING TO RUN OVER IT. AS HE TRIED TO GET THE COR D OUT OF THE WAY THE SHUTTLE CAR MOVED & THE TIRE RAN OVER HIS LEFT HAND.

2000 · 4 incidents

July 14, 2000 VA · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Maranatha Mining & Leasing Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MINER WAS BROKE DOWN IN #2 HEADING, HE PARKED HIS SHUTTLE CAR IN THE BREAK BEHIND MINER AND GOT OFF TO HELP. WHEN HE WENT TO GET BACK ON HIS CAROTHER EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING HIS 3 WHEELER AND CAUG HT HIS THUMB BETWEEN THE 3 WHEELER AND SIDE FRAME OF SHUTTLE CAR.

June 14, 2000 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Maranatha Mining & Leasing Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE SIAD HE WAS ROCK DUSTING BY HAND NEAR SS# 85 WHICH IS ABOUT 1100' DEEP ON #1 BELTLINE. HE SAID HE PICKED UP SOME DRAW ROCK WHICH LAYING ON BOTTOM, WAS TOSSING IT ON THE BELT WHEN HE T WISTED HIS BACK AND SHOULDER CAUSING PAIN IN HISSHOULDER, BACK, AND LEGS. HE WORKED THURSDAY AND PART OF FRIDAY AFTERWARDS.

March 24, 2000 VA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Maranatha Mining & Leasing Inc · Struck by falling object

APPROX 120'INBY SS# 126 OF THE MINER WAS CUTTING IN #3 RIGHT BREAK, THE FIRST SUMP OF THE FIRST CUT IN 3RD RIGHT AND JUST BEEN TAKEN. THE MINER CREW SET OVER AND WAS TAKING THE 2ND SUMP. THE OPERATOR WAS POSITIONED SET OVER AND WAS TAKING THE 2ND SUMP. THE OEPRATOR WAS POSITIONED AT THE 2ND ROW OF BOLTS OUTBY, WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK MEASURING 4"TX4-5'WX7-8' LONG FELL ON HIS F