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.
183 citations across 1,063 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Joes Branch #2 has $21K in proposed MSHA penalties and $135 outstanding across 0 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.
$21K
proposed penalties
$21K
current assessed
$21K
paid to date
$135
outstanding
182 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2005-02-08.
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.
MSHA sampling at Joes Branch #2 shows 96% of 160 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: 2005-01-27, 21 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
160
samples
2.95
dust max (mg/m3)
96 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 64 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.
Joes Branch #2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005.
Injury rate, 2005
ⓘ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 5.11 and the all-US-mining average was 4.21 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.46 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
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004
4.81
4.81
0.000
2003
3.14
1.57
0.000
2002 *
6.41
4.27
0.000
2001 *
14.30
10.21
0.000
2000
1.76
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)
2006
0
2005
13
19,934
2004
49
176,571
2003
48
188,871
2002
34
198,750
2001
37
240,169
2000
44
230,083
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Joes Branch #2 sits in Letcher County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.5% 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky · Population 21,146
3.5%
Mining share of county employment
$40,501
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
2006 Q2
0
0
0
2006 Q1
0
0
0
2005 Q4
6,706
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
0
0
0
2005 Q2
0
0
0
2005 Q1
21,195
12
1
566.2
2004 Q4
29,952
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
34,146
0
0
0.0
Show 18 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2004 Q2
34,824
10
4
287.2
2004 Q1
25,778
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
31,564
11
4
348.5
2003 Q3
32,993
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
39,332
16
1
406.8
2003 Q1
23,589
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
23,246
15
3
645.3
2002 Q3
23,549
2
2
84.9
2002 Q2
23,587
19
7
805.5
2002 Q1
23,211
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
23,571
21
5
890.9
2001 Q3
22,205
17
2
765.6
2001 Q2
24,971
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
27,153
15
6
552.4
2000 Q4
29,888
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
24,682
11
7
445.7
2000 Q2
25,853
1
1
38.7
2000 Q1
33,043
14
6
423.7
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
18 on file
2004 · 3 incidents
April 16, 2004KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Operating a bulldozer and had dismounted to talk to the foreman and as he was remounting the dozer he felt severe pain in left leg and he went to hospital.
April 13, 2004KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE GOT OUT OF HIS LOADER AND WAS ON THE GROUND OVERLOOKING THE BERM. HE SLIPPED & ROLLED DOWN A 15 FOOT EMBANKMENT CAUSING 2 FRACTURED RIBS, AND CONTUSIONS TO HIS FACE & ARMS.
2003 · 2 incidents
October 9, 2003KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS WORKING ON RD 15. HE WAS CUTTING SOME CHIP REFLECTOR MATERIAL WITH A UTILITY KNIFE AND THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND WENT INTO HIS RIGHT FOREARM AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE WHITSBURTG ER TO HAVE ST ITCHES AND THEN HE CAME BACK TO THE JOB AND WORKED THE REST OF THE SHIFT.
August 28, 2003KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
CLIMBING UPON THE EXCAVATOR TO PULL AN ENGINE OIL SAMPLE, HE WAS LEANING OVER TO PULL THE SAMPLE AND HAD EXTREME PAIN IN THE CENTER OF HIS BACK. HE WAS EVALUATED BY THE MET & THEN TAKEN TO THE E.R. BECAUSE OF SEVERE PAIN. X-RAYS TAKEN.
2002 · 4 incidents
October 9, 2002KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS UPON THE LOADING DECK OF A HYDROSEEDER & HE PICKED UP A 50 LB.BAG OF SEED MIX TO PASS TO ANOTHER EE AND HE HEARD HIS LOWER BACK POP, CAUSING HIS LEGS TO GIVE AWAY UNDER HIM. HE WAS EVAL UATED BY AN MET AND THEN TAKEN TO THE ER. HE WAS GIVEN A PAIN SHOT & X-RAY & WENT HOME.
CONTRACTOR WAS LOADED & PULLING OUT OF COAL PIT WHEN STRAP BROKE ON THE MAIN DRIVE LINE OF HIS COAL TRUCK. THE LOADED TRUCK WENT UP ON A BANK & TURNED OVER. THE CONTRACTOR WAS TAKEN BY CAR TO THE HOSPITAL & ADMITTED FOR 6 BROKEN RIBS. HE WAS RELEASED ON 10/4/02.
WHILE WELDING, A PIECE OF FLAG FELL DOWN INTO HIS BOOT LANDING ON. HIS LEFT ANKLE CAUSING A SWERE BURN ON HIS ANKLE AND HE KEPT WORKING. HIS BOOT CAUSED THE BURN TO BECOME MORE IRRITATED.
June 1, 2002KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HE WAS STEAMING THE RADIATOR ON A SMALL DOZER & WAS TIGHTENING THE BOLTS BACK UPON THE GRILL & SLIPPED ON STABILIZER BAR & FELL TO THE GROUND SCRAPING HIS RIGHT THIGH & BUMPED HIS LEFT KNEE. T OOK HIM TO ER. HE HAD X-RAYS & WENT BACK TO WORK
HE WAS INSIDE THE CAB OF THE AUGER PREPAREIN TO CHANGE OUT THE HEADS. HE WAS REACHING FOR THE TODOOR AND CAUGHT HIS HAND BETWEEN CROWD LIVER AN DGUARD HE WAS TAKEN TO THE WHITSBURG ARN ER. THE Y DID PARTIAL AMPUTATION ON HIS MIDDLE FINGER OF THE RIGHT HAND AND KEPT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL.
HE WAS CLIMBING DOWN THE LADDER OF THE POWDER TRUCK AND SLIPPED PULLING HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. HE WAS TAKEN TO E.R. THEY X-RAYED IT AND NOTHING WAS BROKE. HE HAS PULLED A MUSCLE AND PUT IT IN A S LING.
November 1, 2001KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE WAS SETTING AN ENGINE OF A 992 LOADER DOWN INTO THE COMPARTMENT AND STEPPED INTO A METAL FRAME OVERHEAD HITTING HIS HEAD. HE REQUIRED A CUT IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD LESS THAN 1 INCH LONG. HE WAS TAKING TO E.R. AND THEY GLUED IT BACK TOGETHER.
June 8, 2001KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS CHECKING FUEL IN SIDE TANK ON SALEM AUGERAND STEDPPED DOWN AND CAUGHT HIS LEFT LEG BEFORE THE FUEL TANK AND AUGER CARRIAGE ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. BRUISED HIS LEFT LEG IN THE CALF PART .
CLIMBING UPON THE GRADER AND FELT HIS BACK POP. HE WENT TO DR. 3-1-01 AND HE HAD X RAYS AND WAS REFERRED TO PHYSICIAL THERAPY FOR 2 WEEK BECAUSE OF STRAIN IN LOWER BACK.
February 5, 2001KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
EE WAS TARPING HIS COAL TRUCK AND BAR BROKE LEAVING HIM HANGING ON THE TRUCK BED. STRAIN UPPER ARM, INCLUDING CLAVICLE & SCAPULA. NO LOST TIME AT WORK. HE DOES THERAPY IN THE EVENINGS.
2000 · 1 incident
September 26, 2000KY · Coaldrill helperDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS