Mining Incidents

Homer City Generating Station: 163 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by NRG Energy Inc
Homer City, Indiana County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3608222

Homer City Generating Station has $37K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
5
Years on record
2007–2018
Latest incident
Jul 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
163
citations
82
significant & substantial
$37,277
proposed penalties
$37,023
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $254 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
91
inspections on record
3,206
inspection hours
5.1
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.
163 citations across 3,206 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Homer City Generating Station has $37K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 2 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.
$37K
proposed penalties
$37K
current assessed
$37K
paid to date
$1
outstanding
160 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $703 in penalties contested before the Commission, $450 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-07-30.
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.
51.2%
significant & substantial
5.0%
high negligence or reckless
51.2%
reasonably likely or greater
39.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 26.2% low, 68.8% moderate, 3.1% high, 1.9% 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.
2 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 100%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
36%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$703 proposed, $450 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 2015-02-05.
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 2011-485 Settlement Harner 2012 $460 → $207
PENN 2015-0132 Settlement Lesnick 2015 $243 → $243
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Homer City Generating Station shows 100% of 226 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: 2020-09-02, 5 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
226
samples
1.10
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.
197 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 29 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR65
  • MECHANIC45
  • UTILITY MAN42

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2018-08-22, 8 years ago
0.8
silica avg (%)
6
samples
1.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • MECHANIC3
  • UTILITY MAN3

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: 2020-08-04, 6 years ago
0%
over PEL
107
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • MECHANIC22
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR21
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER21
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
2020 100% 11
2019 100% 13
2018 100% 13
2017 100% 14
2016 100% 14
2015 100% 14
2014 100% 10
2013 100% 4
2012 100% 10
2011 100% 15
2010 100% 5
2009 100% 11
2008 100% 10
2007 100% 10
2006 100% 14
2005 100% 10
2004 100% 10
2003 100% 5
2002 100% 10
2001 100% 13
2000 100% 10
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2018 0.3 1
2015 1.3 1
2009 0.6 1
2008 0.9 1
2005 0.8 1
2001 0.8 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2020 0% 3
2019 0% 10
2018 0% 5
2017 0% 5
2015 0% 5
2014 0% 6
2012 0% 5
2011 0% 10
2009 0% 11
2008 0% 5
2007 0% 5
2006 0% 10
2005 0% 5
2004 0% 5
2003 0% 7
2002 0% 5
2001 0% 5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Homer City Generating Station recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019.

Injury rate, 2019
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 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 4.12 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
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 5.56 0.00 0.000
2017 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2016 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 * 5.94 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. Gpu Generation Inc 1991 to 1999
  2. EME Homer City Generation L P 1999 to 2012
  3. NRG Homer City Services LLC 2012 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2020 8
2019 11
2018 12
2017 13
2016 13
2015 16
2014 17
2013 13
2012 11
2011 11
2010 11
2009 10
2008 6
2007 6
2006 6
2005 4
2004 3
2003 3
2002 3
2001 3
2000 3
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Homer City Generating Station 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
2020 Q3 4,455 5 0 1122.3
2020 Q2 3,736 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 8,761 5 0 570.7
2019 Q4 8,869 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 9,044 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 11,893 4 0 336.3
2019 Q1 11,812 7 1 592.6
2018 Q4 8,776 0 0 0.0
Show 75 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2018 Q3 9,191 3 2 326.4
2018 Q2 8,926 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 9,060 7 5 772.6
2017 Q4 8,034 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 9,049 3 0 331.5
2017 Q2 8,915 4 1 448.7
2017 Q1 9,702 1 0 103.1
2016 Q4 8,063 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 9,614 2 0 208.0
2016 Q2 8,355 4 0 478.8
2016 Q1 9,983 3 1 300.5
2015 Q4 9,592 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 11,262 2 1 177.6
2015 Q2 11,630 1 1 86.0
2015 Q1 11,730 10 4 852.5
2014 Q4 11,519 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 11,760 5 1 425.2
2014 Q2 11,722 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 11,667 3 1 257.1
2013 Q4 10,793 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 10,901 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 8,776 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 8,588 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 8,515 4 4 469.8
2012 Q3 8,664 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 8,666 1 1 115.4
2012 Q1 7,822 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 8,277 2 0 241.6
2011 Q3 8,492 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 7,701 7 5 909.0
2011 Q1 7,556 5 2 661.7
2010 Q4 8,040 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 8,208 2 2 243.7
2010 Q2 8,400 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 8,396 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 7,682 5 5 650.9
2009 Q3 7,686 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 7,650 5 2 653.6
2009 Q1 7,600 3 2 394.7
2008 Q4 4,500 1 1 222.2
2008 Q3 4,500 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,500 4 2 888.9
2008 Q1 4,500 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 4,500 3 1 666.7
2007 Q3 4,500 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 4,500 3 1 666.7
2007 Q1 4,500 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 4,500 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,500 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 4,500 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 4,500 1 1 222.2
2005 Q4 4,500 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,954 1 1 252.9
2005 Q2 3,954 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,954 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 3,954 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,954 3 3 758.7
2004 Q2 3,954 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,954 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 3,954 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 3,954 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 3,954 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 3,954 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,954 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 3,954 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 3,954 5 4 1264.5
2002 Q1 3,654 1 1 273.7
2001 Q4 3,954 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 3,954 1 0 252.9
2001 Q2 3,954 1 0 252.9
2001 Q1 3,954 2 1 505.8
2000 Q4 3,954 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 3,954 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 3,954 7 7 1770.4
2000 Q1 3,954 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

5 on file

2018 · 1 incident

July 26, 2018 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
NRG Homer City Services LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

A contractor truck driver exited the cab of their truck to investigate a malfunction of the truck's tarping system. The driver's left hand was caught between the tarp arm and the cab protector portion of the dump body. The injured driver was treated at a medical facility where they received 6 sutures to close the wound on the back of their left hand.

2014 · 1 incident

February 14, 2014 PA · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
NRG Homer City Services LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While uncoupling air hoses from railcar, residual pressure in line caused the hose coupling to fly hitting the employee in the face

2012 · 1 incident

September 21, 2012 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EME Homer City Generation L P · Struck against stationary object

Coal Maintenance Mechanic was repairing an air line in the 1R tunnel beneath the stack-out tube. While using a wrench, the wrench slipped on a fitting and the employee lightly contacted the tail end of a worm-gear hose clamp near the fitting. The edge of the metal hose clamp caused a laceration of employee's right ring finger requiring (9) sutures to close.

2010 · 1 incident

February 5, 2010 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EME Homer City Generation L P · Fall from machine

While waiting to enter Homer City Power Plant, Injury noticed that his tarp was stuck, the driver tried to actuate the tarp 3 or 4 times and it stuck in the same position, he then climbed onto the side of his truck while trying to free the tarper it released and knocked his arms off of the truck and threw him onto the ground.

2007 · 1 incident

April 19, 2007 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
EME Homer City Generation L P · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was assisting dumping coal from pheumatic railcar. Cyl. conn. pin was missing which caused cylinder to not seat properly in connection saddle. Employee attempted to adjust position of cylinder with sledge hammer. When cylinder aligned the air pressure caused it to move toward the employee about 4". Cylinder hit hammer driving the handle into his chest.