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.
272 citations across 2,323 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Job #45 has $78K in proposed MSHA penalties and $15K 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.
$78K
proposed penalties
$74K
current assessed
$60K
paid to date
$15K
outstanding
264 assessments are final orders; 13 contested dockets.
Of $17K in penalties contested before the Commission, $13K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-09-05.
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.
49citations taken to the federal commission · 18% of citations on record
Settled
48 · 98%
Stood as issued
1 · 2%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 6 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
23%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$17K proposed, $13K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-06-06.
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 #45 shows 100% of 208 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: 2013-10-31, 12 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
208
samples
1.12
dust max (mg/m3)
154 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 54 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 #45 recorded 1.53 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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.
1.53
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.35 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2012
1.53
0.00
0.000
2011
2.89
1.93
0.000
2010
2.95
1.97
0.000
2009
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
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)
2013
37
151,054
2012
57
393,425
2011
74
617,748
2010
71
886,197
2009
67
859,252
2008
29
421,018
2007
3
2006
3
2005
10
59,713
2004
8
44,392
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Job #45 sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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
2013 Q3
11,982
5
2
417.3
2013 Q2
25,530
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
30,100
6
3
199.3
2012 Q4
23,455
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
28,380
11
3
387.6
2012 Q2
33,185
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
45,602
14
3
307.0
2011 Q4
55,117
0
0
0.0
Show 28 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2011 Q3
50,465
10
1
198.2
2011 Q2
51,500
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
50,375
10
1
198.5
2010 Q4
49,852
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
48,453
9
0
185.7
2010 Q2
53,040
3
1
56.6
2010 Q1
52,058
26
3
499.4
2009 Q4
47,246
15
2
317.5
2009 Q3
45,432
9
2
198.1
2009 Q2
48,127
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
41,260
12
2
290.8
2008 Q4
35,753
2
0
55.9
2008 Q3
28,963
7
2
241.7
2008 Q2
9,336
6
1
642.7
2008 Q1
259
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
1,658
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
2,644
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
1,750
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
1,503
2
0
1330.7
2006 Q4
521
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
1,270
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
3,483
3
0
861.3
2005 Q4
0
0
0
2005 Q3
19,268
3
1
155.7
2005 Q2
0
5
2
2005 Q1
8,097
8
3
988.0
2004 Q4
8,966
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,088
1
0
478.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
11 on file
2012 · 1 incident
January 20, 2012KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Employee was lifting blocks in front of dozer blade to prevent against motion when he injured his lower back. He began missing work on 7/11/2011 as a result of this injury.
Removing chain hoist, chain slipped down and caught finger cutting off tip of left hand ring finger. Employee began missing work as a result of this injury on 01/25/11.
2010 · 3 incidents
June 2, 2010KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was mounting loader when his Right ankle turned, causing him to fall, straining his neck and back. Employee began missing work as a result of this injury on 9/27/10.
May 26, 2010KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dozer tracks were being loaded onto a truck, when the hook broke, dropping a section of track. A piece of metal then chipped off the dropped track and struck the employee in the chest, resulting in a laceration that required suturing.
May 7, 2010KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
On May 7th, 2010, the employee was both pulling and lifting on a hose to attach to the water truck when he began experiencing upper back pain. Then, on 5/28/2010, the employee began missing work as a result of this accident.
2009 · 3 incidents
November 2, 2009KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was helping replace a tooth on a bulldozer and was in a squating position. When he attempted to stand up from his work position, he twisted his left knee.
January 8, 2009KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Operator saw smoke and pulled over. The operator then saw smoke and fire in the engine compartment when he raised the hood. He then retrieved his fire extinguisher in an attempt to put out the fire, but to no avail.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Premier Elkhorn Coal Company