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.
461 citations across 4,000 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
K-4 Mine has $154K in proposed MSHA penalties and $16K outstanding across 44 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.
$154K
proposed penalties
$100K
current assessed
$84K
paid to date
$16K
outstanding
450 assessments are final orders; 44 contested dockets.
Of $131K in penalties contested before the Commission, $70K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-04-15.
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.
209citations taken to the federal commission · 45% of citations on record
Settled
193 · 92%
Stood as issued
3 · 1%
Vacated or withdrawn
13 · 6%
95%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 124 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
47%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$131K proposed, $70K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2014-11-17.
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 K-4 Mine shows 99% of 456 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: 2011-05-06, 15 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
456
samples
4.37
dust max (mg/m3)
209 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 247 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.
K-4 Mine recorded 7.36 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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.
7.36
total case rate
7.36
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 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
2011 *
7.36
7.36
0.000
2010 *
13.57
13.57
0.000
2009 *
15.12
15.12
0.000
2008 *
4.40
4.40
0.000
2007 *
11.02
5.51
0.000
2006 *
6.60
0.00
0.000
2005 *
7.16
7.16
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)
2018
0
2017
1
2016
2
2015
2
2014
3
2013
1
2012
0
2011
9
23,186
2010
18
52,836
2009
19
70,538
2008
17
107,507
2007
14
76,319
2006
11
77,962
2005
10
55,750
2004
6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
K-4 Mine sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
A non injury roof fall was discovered at break #10 on the #6 belt in the #1 entry. It is app. 75ft long and 10ft thick and 19ft wide. The effected area is to be cribbed off or timbers. While doing a weekly exam.
Idle Mine A non injury roof fall was discovered at #6 break on #6 belt in the #2 entry in the intake. The affected area is to be cribbed off. The fall was approx. 20' x 24' and about 9' thick.
2011 · 1 incident
March 4, 2011KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE works on belts. He was prying a rock out of a tail piece when the pry bar slipped causing him to jerk his back out. MRI was done by doctor but no results yet.
2010 · 4 incidents
August 30, 2010KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miner was carrying rock to put on the bottm of a curtain and pulled a muscle in his groin. Ended up very minor and he missed one day and came back to work.
NO INJURY -- While making weekly exam, a rock fall was discovered in #2 x-cut, #7 entry on 2nd left room in return. Air movement or travel way was not affected. The fall was 1" to 4" thick, 18' wide, and 50' long.
August 10, 2010KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Miner is a miner operator/miner operator helper. A small piece of draw rock fell from the top and him him on the lower left leg and foot. No bones were broken. He was off three days and came back to work no problems.
March 3, 2010KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ee was hanging cable (for tracking) in the intake air course when he fell hitting his back against the man trip. He worked two days before he decided to go to the doctor. Doctor said he had cracked his ribs and should be better in a few days.
2009 · 5 incidents
September 17, 2009KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A non-injury roof fall was discovered at approx. 7:00am at the #17 cross cut, #4 belt return, #5 entry. The rock fall did not impair the ventilation. The area was timbered off and dangered off. The brattice line was moved over to the # 4entry to have a safe means of traveling the return. The fall measured approx. 19 ft x 19 x from 2 ft to 8 ft high.
2008 · 1 incident
April 17, 2008KY · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Ee was rock dusting the belt line by hand when he heard something pop in his shoulder. After doctor visits, it has been determined he pulled a muscle slightly away from the bone. No surgery required at present. Physical therapy should take care of the problem.
2007 · 2 incidents
December 15, 2007KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)