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.
142 citations across 5,393 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Job #3 has $246K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 38 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.
$246K
proposed penalties
$126K
current assessed
$126K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
136 assessments are final orders; 38 contested dockets.
Of $237K in penalties contested before the Commission, $116K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-08-19.
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.
82citations taken to the federal commission · 58% of citations on record
Settled
68 · 83%
Stood as issued
8 · 10%
Vacated or withdrawn
6 · 7%
73%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 41 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
51%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$237K proposed, $116K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2018-03-27.
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.
MSHA sampling at Job #3 shows 99% of 766 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: 2026-08-19
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
766
samples
2.94
dust max (mg/m3)
2
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.
575 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 191 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.
Job #3 recorded 2.14 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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.
2.14
total case rate
2.14
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Maryland, coal mining averaged 2.79 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
2025 *
2.14
2.14
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
2.11
2.11
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
2.08
2.08
0.000
2017 *
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.
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)
2026
19
54,781
2025
38
208,775
2024
35
220,307
2023
35
243,352
2022
34
242,646
2021
34
330,270
2020
33
190,277
2019
38
283,035
2018
34
200,811
2017
34
262,738
2016
31
175,501
2015
35
270,304
2014
36
249,763
2013
41
237,781
2012
49
199,006
2011
54
227,758
2010
51
405,737
2009
46
530,628
2008
45
577,714
2007
44
377,595
2006
51
652,856
2005
53
805,028
2004
58
886,680
2003
60
743,105
2002
66
823,128
2001
63
459,581
2000
41
367,772
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Job #3 sits in Allegany County, Maryland, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Allegany County, Maryland · Population 67,762
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$57,393
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
Tri-Star Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings
A highwall measuring approx 150' long, 180' high, & 75' wide collapsed resulting in fatal injuries to 2 miners that were working beneath the highwall. One was operating an excavator & the other was operating a bulldozer. Examination of the remaining highwall indicates the highwall failure originated at the toe of the columnar section above the Pittsburgh Big Vein coal seam.
Tri-Star Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings
A highwall measuring approx 150' long, 180' high, & 75' wide collapsed resulting in fatal injuries to 2 miners that were working beneath the highwall. One was operating an excavator & the other was operating a bulldozer. Examination of the remaining highwall indicates the highwall failure originated at the toe of the columnar section above the Pittsburgh Big Vein coal seam.
The Rubber Coupler malfunctioned on a Euclid Rock truck which caused the truck to go into neutral and drift backwards. The Euclid truck upset on the passenger side.
2022 · 1 incident
June 24, 2022MD · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was climbing onto Dart Truck platform when his leg slipped out from under him. When he slipped, it must have pulled on his knee, causing the sprain.
2009 · 1 incident
January 12, 2009MD · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
At the beginning of the shift roads were being treated for ice. EE slipped on the ice, falling on his back side. He thought he was fine but as day went on he became sore. That is when he went to be checked out by a physician.
The #2 BE shovel was loading limestone boulders onto the rock trucks. The shovel operator placed a large boulder on Employee's #3025 rock truck. The boulder fell over striking the side of the truck bed causing the truck to shake suddenly. Employee was jostled causing him to strike his head.
ROCK TRUCK DRIVERS WERE DELAYED TO START THEIR SHIFT UNTIL 7:30 AM THAT MORNING DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROADS. EE WAS WALKING FROM HIS PERSONNEL VEHICLE TO THE ROCK TRUCK WHEN HE SLIPPED ON THE ROA DWAY CAUSING HIM TO FALL. THE FALL RESULTED IN AN ANGULATED FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT ANKLE WHICH WILL REQUIRE SURGERY TO CORRECT.
1998 · 2 incidents
August 10, 1998MD · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS WALKING THE CAT WALK OF THE CONVEYOR WHEN HE APPARENTLY SLIPPED AND FELL THE THE EARTH BELOW, A DISTANCE OF 8 FT. THE FALL CAUSED 5 BROKEN RIBS.
May 7, 1998MD · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
AN EE OF ALLEGHENY BELTING UNDER THEIR OWN EXLUCSIVE SUPERVISION WAS INJURED WHILE WORKING ON TRI STAR MINING S CONVEYOR BELT. A HOOK ATTACHED TO A CALBE CAME UNLEASHED AND STRUCK EE IN THE HE AD CAUSING A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION.
EE WAS DISMOUNTING FROM IRDM50 ROTARY DRILL WHENHE STEPPED UPON A STONE CAUSING THE TWISTING OS HIS KNEE. THE TWISTING OF HIS RIGHT KNEE PULLED A MUSCLE IN THE KNEE CAUSING HIS KNEE TO SWELL
March 13, 1997MD · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
MINER WAS FEEDING THE ROTORY BREAKER WITH FRONT END LOADER, THE GRATE ON THE HOPPER CLOGGED UP WITH MATERIAL. THE MINER STOPPED THE LOADER, DISMOUNTED THE MACHINE & THEN PROCEEDED TO CLEAR THE GRATE. WHEN HE INITIATED THE HYDRAULIC VALVE, THE GRATE TILTED BACK, A PIECE OF ROCK ROLLED OFF THE GRATAE & FELL ON HIS RIGHT FOOT FRACTURING THE GREAT TOE.
1994 · 2 incidents
August 11, 1994MD · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerOTHER
Tri-Star Mining Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING A CLINE COAL HAULING TRUCK. A BEE FLEW IN THE WINDOW AND STUNG THE DRIVER ON THE ARM.
WHILE DUMPING A LOAD OF OVERBURDEN FROM A EUCLID R100 END DUMP, THE HAULROAD AND EMBANKMENT GAVE WAY CAUSING THE ROCK TRUCK TO PLUMMET OVER A 35 FT EMBANKMENT.
1991 · 1 incident
August 5, 1991MD · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
OPER COAL TRUCK ENTERED CURVE IN HAUL ROAD PICKUP ENTERED SAME CURVE FORM O0PP DIRECTION DISTRACTED BY PARKED VEHICLE NEAR ROAD V EERED L OF CENTER AND COLLIDED WITHEMP TRUCK DAMAGE TO PICKUP CRACKED OIL PAN AND LEFT HEAD LIGHT ON TRUCK