Mining Incidents

Jims Branch No 2: 634 MSHA citations Coal

Chief Mining Inc · Underground
Controlled by Kenneth R Calloway
New Richmond, Wyoming County, WV  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4608577

Jims Branch No 2 has $288K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 13 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
24
Years on record
1997–2010
Latest incident
Jun 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
634
citations
208
significant & substantial
$287,614
proposed penalties
$216,340
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $71,275 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
122
inspections on record
5,297
inspection hours
12.0
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.
634 citations across 5,297 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Jims Branch No 2 has $288K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 13 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.
$288K
proposed penalties
$216K
current assessed
$216K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
626 assessments are final orders; 13 contested dockets.
Of $163K in penalties contested before the Commission, $91K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-03-22.
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.
33.2%
significant & substantial
4.6%
high negligence or reckless
33.2%
reasonably likely or greater
15.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.3% none, 33.7% low, 60.4% moderate, 4.6% 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.
54 citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
  • Settled 54 · 100%
91%
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 34 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
44%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$163K proposed, $91K 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 2012-07-16.
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
WEVA 2011-1616 Settlement Lewis 2011 $52K → $12K
WEVA 2012-1477 Settlement Rae 2013 $26K → $20K
WEVA 2011-1897 Settlement Rae 2012 $20K → $12K
WEVA 2012-1407 Settlement Rae 2013 $19K → $10K
WEVA 2011-542 Settlement Lewis 2011 $13K → $13K
WEVA 2012-799 Settlement Rae 2013 $6K → $3K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Jims Branch No 2 shows 96% of 769 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: 2012-01-27, 14 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
769
samples
6.12
dust max (mg/m3)
305 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 464 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR415
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)91
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR41

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2012-01-03, 14 years ago
10.8
silica avg (%)
56
samples
36.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR37

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: 2011-09-06, 14 years ago
0%
over PEL
43
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)13
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR9
  • ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)9
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
2012 100% 5
2011 91% 64
2010 95% 55
2009 99% 72
2008 100% 60
2007 97% 39
2006 94% 51
2005 98% 63
2004 100% 73
2003 98% 63
2002 99% 69
2001 94% 77
2000 92% 78
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2011 6.0 4
2010 4.8 2
2009 8.2 5
2008 8.3 4
2007 36.4 1
2006 18.0 3
2005 14.0 8
2004 8.7 4
2003 6.7 4
2002 12.4 7
2001 11.2 7
2000 10.0 7
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2011 0% 5
2010 0% 5
2009 0% 5
2008 0% 4
2006 0% 5
2005 0% 5
2004 0% 5
2003 0% 5
2000 0% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Jims Branch No 2 recorded 8.18 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.

Injury rate, 2010
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.
8.18
total case rate
8.18
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.50 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
2010 * 8.18 8.18 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2008 * 2.97 2.97 0.000
2007 * 6.66 3.33 0.000
2006 * 7.31 7.31 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 4.16 4.16 0.000
2003 * 6.36 3.18 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. Chief Mining Inc 1996 to present
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)
2011 18 37,824
2010 24 72,512
2009 24 87,261
2008 32 127,762
2007 33 123,737
2006 35 106,128
2005 32 92,487
2004 31 168,806
2003 23 162,626
2002 26 160,292
2001 25 162,998
2000 22 168,774
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Jims Branch No 2 sits in Wyoming County, West 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.
Wyoming County, West Virginia · Population 20,948
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$48,038
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
2011 Q2 11,035 26 7 2356.1
2011 Q1 9,797 12 2 1224.9
2010 Q4 7,540 19 3 2519.9
2010 Q3 10,870 18 9 1655.9
2010 Q2 16,440 21 7 1277.4
2010 Q1 14,026 24 1 1711.1
2009 Q4 7,549 9 0 1192.2
2009 Q3 10,648 32 11 3005.3
Show 38 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2009 Q2 7,670 19 5 2477.2
2009 Q1 14,746 19 8 1288.5
2008 Q4 16,784 25 10 1489.5
2008 Q3 13,650 22 9 1611.7
2008 Q2 18,455 7 6 379.3
2008 Q1 18,449 17 6 921.5
2007 Q4 14,148 16 4 1130.9
2007 Q3 13,105 8 5 610.5
2007 Q2 17,582 8 3 455.0
2007 Q1 15,212 4 2 263.0
2006 Q4 12,131 8 3 659.5
2006 Q3 12,208 7 1 573.4
2006 Q2 17,483 30 7 1716.0
2006 Q1 12,874 4 0 310.7
2005 Q4 10,931 24 3 2195.6
2005 Q3 10,969 7 4 638.2
2005 Q2 11,739 5 3 425.9
2005 Q1 11,986 6 2 500.6
2004 Q4 11,145 5 1 448.6
2004 Q3 13,733 17 10 1237.9
2004 Q2 11,809 7 4 592.8
2004 Q1 11,372 9 3 791.4
2003 Q4 12,657 16 14 1264.1
2003 Q3 10,455 2 0 191.3
2003 Q2 28,702 5 0 174.2
2003 Q1 11,127 10 5 898.7
2002 Q4 8,051 2 0 248.4
2002 Q3 10,831 6 1 554.0
2002 Q2 15,528 2 0 128.8
2002 Q1 13,383 5 0 373.6
2001 Q4 15,728 4 0 254.3
2001 Q3 12,765 4 1 313.4
2001 Q2 15,059 4 2 265.6
2001 Q1 16,614 3 2 180.6
2000 Q4 10,736 6 0 558.9
2000 Q3 11,440 20 8 1748.3
2000 Q2 12,496 23 7 1840.6
2000 Q1 12,672 25 13 1972.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

24 on file

2010 · 2 incidents

June 11, 2010 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chief Mining Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While making a belt splice on the #1 Belt line, the com-a-longs slipped allowing the belt clamps to strike the lower right leg!

January 29, 2010 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Chief Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object

When switching seats on shuttle car to change direction, he had pain in his back!

2008 · 1 incident

October 2, 2008 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Chief Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

While operating the S & S 482 scoop, the victim placed his arm outside the operator's compartment. While holding on to the stop block, the machine was turned fully to the right and the machine mashed the end of his finger.

2007 · 2 incidents

May 4, 2007 WV · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Chief Mining Inc · Struck against stationary object

While shoveling belt, the employee hit his hand aganst a belt splice causing a cut.

April 20, 2007 WV · Coal belt cleaner, picker HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The Employee was not following instructions on cleaning belt. After repeated warnings, he was teminated. The following week the company was notified that the employee strained his knee while getting on the personnel 3 wheeler to go outside.

2006 · 2 incidents

October 4, 2006 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler POWERED HAULAGE
Chief Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was riding on a boss hoss mantrip. To avoid the possibility of getting wet, he raised up off the mantrip striking the roof and getting pushed into the battery compartment.

July 11, 2006 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee stated that while operating a scoop, a piece of draw rock measuring 2" x 12" x 14" fell approximately 6" and struck employee on the cap light. Roof bolts in this area were installed according to the approved roof control plan.

2004 · 1 incident

December 31, 2004 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee was positioned out by the continuous miner (x-cut out by block being mined) when a piece of draw rock fell between roof bolts and rib striking employee.

2003 · 4 incidents

October 30, 2003 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PICKED UP 5 GAL OIL CAN & THREW WITH LEFT HAND.

April 1, 2003 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL 70' LONG X 20' WIDE X 5' HIGH BOLTED WITH 36" RESIN BOLTS AREA SPOT BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS.

March 12, 2003 WV · Coal

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A CRIB BLOCK FROM UNDERNEATH A SHUTTLE CAR, HE GOT HIS FINGERS PINCHED BETWEEN THE SHUTTLE CAR AND CRIB BLOCK.

January 14, 2003 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL AT 1 BREAK INBY SPAD #1899. 25' WIDE, 6' HIGH. AREA WAS CRIBBED. AREA WAS CRIBBED AND TIMBERED OFF 25'+ LONG.

2002 · 2 incidents

August 28, 2002 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

ROCK FALL AT SPAD 2687. 70' X 15' X 3' HIGH.' ONE SIDE OF FALL WAS A SLIP. CLEANED ROCK & BOLTED PLACE.

2001 · 1 incident

June 28, 2001 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Chief Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS USING A BOLTER WRENCH TO BEND A ROOF BOLT THAT WAS HANGING FROM THE TOP. WHILE PUTTING UP PRESSURE ON THE BOLTER BOOM, THE WRENCH SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT AND BOOM WENT AGAINST THE TOP. HIS LEFT HAND WAS RESTING ON THE BOOM AND HIS MIDDLE FINGER GOT PINCHED AGAINST THE TOP.

2000 · 3 incidents

September 27, 2000 WV · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE BELT CONVEYOR BROKE WHILE HOISTING BELT BACK TOGETHER, VICTIM PULLED MUSCLE IN BACK.

August 17, 2000 WV · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss OTHER
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

FOREMAN WAS SUPERVISING AND STRAINED HIS NECK. CAUSE UNKNOWN

April 10, 2000 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INSTALLING ROOF BOLT IN THE TOP PUSHING ROOF BOLT TOWARD THE DRILL POT & THE BOLT TWISTED AROUND PULLED MUSCLE WHEN BOLT TWISTED AROUND Y

1999 · 2 incidents

September 7, 1999 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Chief Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object

WHILE OPERATING SCHUTTLE CAR, THE OPERATOR DROVE THRU A SERIOUS OF RUTS IN THE ROADWAY. HIS HAT BOUNCED OFF AND HE CONTINUED TO OPERATE SHUTTLE CAR WHILE TRYING TO RETRIEVE HIS HAT. HE THEN ST RUCK HIS HEAD AGAINST THE TOP.

June 30, 1999 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE HELPING ELECTRICIAN CHANGE MOTOR ON CONTINUOUS MINER, THE VICTIM CLAIMED OF A BURNING SENSATION IN HIS STOMACH AREA., HE ASKED TO BE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE CLAIMED OF A BACK STRAI N.

1998 · 3 incidents

June 1, 1998 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Chief Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TRAMMING FROM FACE OF #3 TO FACE OF #4. CUT CORNER SHORT W3HILE TURNING INTO #4 ENTRY. LEFT FOOT WAS OUTSIDE OF BOLTER. CAUGHT FOOT BETWEEN THE BOLTER & RIB.

March 12, 1998 WV · Coal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chief Mining Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

DUCK WALKING AROUND SHUTTLE CAR - FOOT SLIPPED AND STRAINED KNEE LIGAMENT.

January 20, 1998 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Chief Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE SECTION WAS ADVANCING FROM AN AREA THAT HAD SOLID COAL IN THE POEA-HONAS 3 SEAM BELOW ONTO AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN PILLARED. THE TOP WAS SOFTER THAN NORMAL. THE BREAK THRU TOOK PRESSURE AND THE SLATE TOP BROKE UP AND FELL ONTO.

1997 · 1 incident

November 18, 1997 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator MACHINERY
Chief Mining Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MINER OPERATOR BACKED THE MINER UP. THE OPERATOR TURNED THE MINER OFF. THE VICTIM STARTED TO CRAWL UP THE OPERATOR'S SIDE OF MINER TO TIMBER. THE MINER OPERATOR DIDN'T SEE THE VICTIM. THE OPER ATOR PROCEEDED TO RESTART MINER AND STRAIGHTEN BOOM. HE INADVERTENTLY SWUNG THE BOOM THE WRONG WAY, STRIKING THE VICTIM.