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.
83 citations across 2,173 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
HWM 58 has $36K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 1 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.
$36K
proposed penalties
$36K
current assessed
$33K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
79 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $512 in penalties contested before the Commission, $460 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-06-05.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
10%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$512 proposed, $460 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2008-05-15.
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 HWM 58 shows 100% of 185 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: 2025-06-18
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
185
samples
1.23
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.
164 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 21 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.
HWM 58 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024.
Injury rate, 2024
ⓘ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 3.16 and the all-US-mining average was 2.08 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.51 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
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
6.42
6.42
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
30.86
15.43
0.000
2013 *
17.86
17.86
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)
2025
14
43,907
2024
11
240,934
2023
10
199,306
2022
10
183,296
2021
10
113,811
2020
11
113,799
2019
7
73,673
2018
16
113,221
2017
5
88,362
2016
6
37,786
2015
6
62,598
2014
5
71,758
2013
10
56,004
2012
24
116,534
2011
23
168,399
2010
13
127,564
2009
15
55,275
2008
21
73,251
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
HWM 58 sits in Nicholas County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 6.1% 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.
Nicholas County, West Virginia · Population 24,446
6.1%
Mining share of county employment
$49,280
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
EE was removing the radiator cap on the generator. EE thought EE had all the pressure released but when EE twisted the cap off it blew hot antifreeze on EE's back. Burns to EE's back.
2018 · 6 incidents
December 6, 2018WV · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Miner was performing maintenance on the highwall miner when a rod struck a piece of metal that then struck them in the foot, causing fractures to bones in the midfoot.
The employee was attempting to remove a sprocket from the cutter head of the superior high wall miner by striking it with a 4 lb. hammer. Where upon a small piece of metal broke off of the sprocket striking the employee and becoming lodged in his left eye.
2013 · 2 incidents
May 21, 2013WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Drive shaft broke because driver shifted on hill, truck rolled back down hill and overturned. Brakes were working - driver panicked - let truck roll back down hill. Driver was not wearing seatbelt.
April 25, 2012WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was working outdoors in high temperature. Heat index high 90 degrees - low 100 degrees. Suffered heat prostration vomiting etc. Very dehydrated.
Employee trying to pull slack on CB radio coaxial cable & cut a zip tie with pocket knife when knife slipped off and cut his left index finger. Had 7 stitches in wound at E.R. and returned to work at 11 PM.