New Richmond, Wyoming County,
WV
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4608662
Joe Branch No 1 has $34K in proposed MSHA penalties and $32K outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
39
Years on record
1998–2003
Latest incident
Feb 2003
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
138
citations
56
significant & substantial
$34,084
proposed penalties
$1,875
paid to date
5% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $32,210 gap.
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.
138 citations across 1,596 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Joe Branch No 1 has $34K in proposed MSHA penalties and $32K 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.
$34K
proposed penalties
$34K
current assessed
$2K
paid to date
$32K
outstanding
136 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $140K in penalties contested before the Commission, $45K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2003-02-06.
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.
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 Joe Branch No 1 shows 88% of 181 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: 2003-03-03, 23 years ago
88%
within 1.5 mg/m3
181
samples
6.55
dust max (mg/m3)
82 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 99 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.
Joe Branch No 1 recorded 15.02 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.
Injury rate, 2002
ⓘ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.
15.02
total case rate
15.02
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 6.89 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 9.17 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
2002 *
15.02
15.02
0.000
2001 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2000 *
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)
2003
39
92,840
2002
37
184,196
2001
15
97,809
2000
37
225,129
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Joe Branch No 1 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
2003 Q2
17,312
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
17,111
2
0
116.9
2002 Q4
17,059
2
0
117.2
2002 Q3
22,470
10
3
445.0
2002 Q2
24,711
4
0
161.9
2002 Q1
2,345
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
0
0
0
2001 Q3
0
0
0
Show 6 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2001 Q2
17,952
13
3
724.2
2001 Q1
19,771
13
6
657.5
2000 Q4
19,267
8
6
415.2
2000 Q3
22,878
15
7
655.7
2000 Q2
26,859
48
19
1787.1
2000 Q1
26,356
23
12
872.7
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
March 12, 1999WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Copperas Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS LEAVING THE SIDE OF THE FEEDER IN #7 ENTRY TO RETURN TO THE MINER HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN UP #8 ENTRY. HE MUST HAVE STARTED HIS TURN TOO LATE WHICH LET THE DECK AREA OF THE CAR STRIKE THE RIB THROWING HIM PARTIALY OUT OF THE CAR CRUSHING HIM BETWEEN THE RIB AND THE SHUTTLE CAR.
Reportable incidents
38 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2003 · 3 incidents
February 20, 2003WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
EE WAS LOADING HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE INTO A HAULER, HE STARTED TO GO AROUND THE HAULER, OPERATOR THOUGHT HE WAS FINISHED AND BEGAN TO PULL OUT RUNNING OVER EE'S FOOT.
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A ROOFBOLTING MACHINE, WHEN HIS GLOVE GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DRILL HEAD AND DRILL STEEL. EE STARTED ROTATING STEEL AND TWISTED ARM AROUND STEEL.
4'X18'X40'L UNINTENTIONAL ROOF FALL IN OLD NO.2 PANEL. FOUND DURING FIRE BOSS RUN BY JOHN SHORT REPORTED 8-19-02. AT SPAD 1117 FALL OCCURRED AT BATTERY CHARGING STATION.
INJURED HAD COMPLETED INSTALLING BOLTS IN FACE AREA OF #8 ENTRY AND WAS WALKING BESIDE ROOF BOLTING MACHINE WHEN RIB ROLL OCCURED STRIKING INJURED ON HEAD AND LEFT FOOT.
INJURED AND ONE OTHER EE WERE WORKING ON CONTINUOUS MINER IN #4 ENTRY WHEN RIB ROLL OCCURED (ROCK AND COAL) RIB ROLL FELL FROM BEHIND AND STRUCK LOWER LEGS. HEIGHT OF ENTRY 7 1/2'.
INJURED AND ONE OTHER EE WERE WORKING ON CONTINUOUS MINER IN #4 ENTRY WHEN RIB ROLL OCCURED (ROCK AND COAL) RIB FELL FROM BEHIND STRIKING LOWER LEGS. HEIGHT OF ENTRY IS 7 1/2'.
July 23, 2002WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A S-CAR HAULING COAL. THE TIRE OF THE S-CAR RAN OVER AN ANCHOR PIN USED TO SECURE THE BELT TAILPIECE TO THE MINE FLOOR. THE PIN FLIPPED UP AND STRUCK HIM IN THE RIBS CA USING THE INJURY.
February 1, 2001WV · Coallw propman, propman helper, move crew if lw, move-up man, jacksetter, advanceman lw helperHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE COULDNT GIVE A SPECIFIC TIME OF ACCIDENT. HE SAID AFTER HIS SHIFT HE GOT VERY SORE IN HIS LOWER BACK AND BY THE TIME HE GOT HOME. THE PAIN WAS SO BOAD HE COULDNT WORK. THE DR TOLD HIM HE HA D A STRAIN AND HE SHOULD TAKE OFF WORK FOR 1 WEEK. HE DID NOT TELL US ABOUT IT IN TIME, SO THIS REPORT WILL BE LATE.
EE WAS HELPING CHANGE A WHEEL UNIT ON A 21-SC. HE WAS PUSHING ON A LONG HANDLE BREAKER BAR WITH HIS FOOT. WHEN THE BOLT BROKE LOOSE, THE BREAKER BAR HANDLE MOVED CAUSING HIS KNEE TO TWIST CAUS ING THE INJURY. HE WORKED UNTIL 1/30/01. HE THEN WENT TO THE DR AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE OFF WORK.
Copperas Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE WAS HELPING MOVE A POWER CENTER BY PULLING IT WITH A SCOOP. THE CHAIN GOT IN A BIND AND WHILEHE WAS TRYING TO FREE THE CHAIN THE SCOOP SWIVILED CATCHING HIS FINGER IN THE LINK CRUSHING THE END OF HIS FINGER.
EMPLOYEE WAS USING A SCOOP TO CLEAN AN INTERSECTION IN THE ESCAPEWAY. HE STARTED PUSHING GOO INTO A R-BK. WHEN A ROCK 3' X 30" X 18" FELL FROM THE RIB PINNING HIM IN THE DECK FROM BEHIND.
May 20, 2000WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Copperas Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
THE R-BOLT OPERATOR HAD INSTALLED HIS BOLT IN THE CURTAIN BOARD, ND WAS REPOSITIONING THE MACHINE TO INSTALL A BOLT. SOMEONE CALLED WHICH DREW HIS ATTENTION AWAY AT THE SAME TIME THE MACHINE WAS MOVING. HE FAILED TO MOVE AWAY WHICH LET THEMACHINE COME IN CONTACT WITH HIS FOOT.
Copperas Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS UNLOADING SUPPLY'S FROM THE BUCKET OF THE SCOOP BY PUSHING THEM OUT WITH THE RAM. TO KEEP THE SCOOP FROM BACKING UP HE PUT PRESSURE DOWN ON THE BUCKET AS HE DID OS THE CANOPY PINNED HI S HAND (WHICH HE HAD PLACED ON THE SIDE O THE CANOPY) BETWEEN THE RIB AND THE TOP OF THE CANOPY.
WHILE MAKING A FIREBOSS RUN, EE FOUND A FALL IN THE #1 MAINS STARTING 1 BK INBY SPAD 2118, 210 FT STRAIGHT AHEAD THEN LEFT 4 BKS MEASURING 5 TO 8 FT THICK.
WHILE MAKING A FIRE BOSS RUN, EE WITNESSED A FALL IN #5 ENTRY OF THE 1 RIGHT MAINS. THE FALL WAS 20FT X 20FT X 5 FT THICK. IT WAS LOCATED 1 BK OUTBY SPAD #2167.
March 29, 2000WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A FALL OF ROOF 60 FT LONG #2 ENTRY AND 25 FT LONG IN #2 LEFT BY 18 FT WIDE TO 72" THICK IN BY SPAD #2137 HAPPENED JUST AFTER BEING CRIBBED OFF. THE FALL WAS WITNESSED BY SUPERINTENDENT.
February 21, 2000WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EE WAS ON HIS KNEES WATCHING THE MINER CABLE WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK 3 FT LONG BY 2 1/2 FT WIDE BY 2 TO 4 INCHES THICK FELL FROM THE TOP STRIKING HIM AND PUSHING HIM TO THE BOTTOM.
A FALL OF ROOF APPROX 4 FT THICK BY 70 FT LONG BY 20 FT WIDE OCCURRED IN #8 ENTRY. FALL WAS FOUND AT 1:30 AM BY EMPLOYEE WHO WAS IN THE AREA WITH A CREW OF MEN TO CORRECT ANOTHER ROOF CONTR OL PROBLEM.
1999 · 11 incidents
November 3, 1999WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE PUT THE DRILL STEEL AGAINST THE TOP TO BEGIN DRILLING THE HOLE. HE THEN TURNED AROUND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE MACHINE BEFORE STARTINGROTATION. A FEW SECONDS LATER HE TURNED AROUND TOWARD THE WORK AREA TO BEGIN DRILLING. AFTER HE STARTED THE ROTATION A PIECE OF ROCK 3'LONG BY 15' WIDE BY 2' THICK FELL FROM THE TOP CAUSING THE INJURY.
September 17, 1999WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE HAD JUST MOVED HIS DRILL BOOM TO THE INSIDE BOLT AND STARTED DRILLING THE HOLE WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK, 3'L X 4'W X 3"T FELL FROM THE INBYSECTION OF THE CUT TO THE AREA WHERE HE WAS WORK ING, STRIKING HIS LOWER LEG AREA CAUSING INJURY.
A FALL OF THE ROOF APPROX 35' LONG BY 20' WIDE BY 5' TICK OCCURED ON THE #4 BELT IN #5 ENTRY IN THE MAINS. IT WAS LOCATED 1 BK INBY SP[AD #1479 ON THE MAINBELT. THE BELT STOPPED AT 12:40 P.M. WHICH GAVE US THE TIME OF THE FALL. IT WAS ABOVETHE ANCHORAGE.
EE WAS USING A MECHANICAL LIFTING JACK TO PUT A WRECKED MAN-BUS BACK ON THE RAILS, WHEN HE FELT SHARP PAINS IN HIS LOWER BACK. HIS JOB WAS ELIMINATED ON 7-22-99 DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS. I DID NOT KNOW HE HAD GONE TO THE DR UNTIL 8-6-99. THAT IS WHY THIS REPORT IS DELAYED.
June 22, 1999WV · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING A SHUTTLE CAR TIRE ONTO A MANBUS AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE TIRE, HE FELT SHARP PAINS IN HIS LOWERBACK. HE WAS TRANSPORTED OUTSIDE AND TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.
EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A NEW TIRE ON A SHUTTLE CAR AND WHILE TRYING TO LIFT AND POSITION THE TIRE ON THE CAR HE FELT PAIN AND A BURNING SENSATION IN HIS BACK.
EE WAS MOVING THE MINER FROM ONE ENTRY TO ANOTHER AND WHILE MOVING THE MINER CABLE OUTOF THE ROADWAY HE FELT PAIN & A BURNING SENSATION IN HIS LOWER BACK. HE WORKED THE REST OF THE SHIFT & THE NEXT DAY HE THEN WENT TO THE DR WHO PUT HIM ON HOME REST
EE WAS HELPING TO HOLD A CABLE AGAINST THE TOP TO BE HUNG WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LWOER BACK. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. AND AFTER BEING EXAMINED HE WAS RELEASED AND REFERRED TO ANOT HER DR WHO TOLD HIM NOT TO WORK.
February 18, 1999WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS TRAMMING THE SHUTTLE CAR UP THE ROADWAY WHEN ONE OF THE WHEELS DROPPED INTO A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM JAMMING HIM DOWN IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE INJURY. HE CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 02/25 /99. HE SAW A PHYSICIAN WHO GAVE HIM A PRESCRIPTION AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE OFF WORK FOR A FEW DAYS. EMPLOYEE RETURNED TO WORK ON 03/01/99.
Copperas Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE AND COWORKER WERE IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING AN ELECTRIC PUMP MOTOR ON A SHUTTLECAR WHEN THE MOTOR SLIPPED OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, CATCHING EE'S FINGER BETWEEN THE MNOTOR AND THE FRAME OF T HE SHUTTLECAR.
EE WAS TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS ON A SHUTTLE CAR AND TO DO THIS HE WAS APPLYING DOWN PRESSURE ON A 3/4" RACHET. AN INTERNAL PART OF THE RACHET MECHANISM GAVE WAY LETTING THE TOOL JERK DOWN CAUS ING THE INJURY. HE FINISHED THE SHIFT AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.
1998 · 4 incidents
December 2, 1998WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE INJURED WORKER WAS PUTTING UP THE INSIDE BOLT IN THE #5 ENTRY WHEN A ROCK THE SIZE OF A VOLLEYBALL STRUCK HIM IN THE HEAD CAUSING A HEADACHE AND SYMPTOMS OF SHOCK.
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