Mining Incidents

K-4 Mine Coal

Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Underground
Controlled by Joseph T Bennett
Closplint, Harlan County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1516457

K-4 Mine has $154K in proposed MSHA penalties and $16K outstanding across 44 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
24
Years on record
1989–2014
Latest incident
Apr 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2004
461
citations
141
significant & substantial
$154,473
proposed penalties
$83,976
paid to date
54% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $70,497 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2004
85
inspections on record
4,000
inspection hours
11.5
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.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-04-15.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at K-4 Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.34 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 456 samples.

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.
0.34
dust avg (mg/m3)
4.37
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
456
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-05-06.
Silica (quartz)
7.4
silica avg (%)
13.1
silica max (%)
20
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-01-10.
Noise
13%
over PEL
77
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-01-04.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 4 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 28 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 28 0 0 0.0
Show 49 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2016 Q4 67 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 25 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 27 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 17 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 12 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 38 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 79 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 388 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 2,534 5 1 1973.2
2014 Q1 1,077 10 1 9285.1
2013 Q4 330 1 0 3030.3
2013 Q3 0 4 0
2013 Q2 0 0 0
2013 Q1 0 0 0
2012 Q4 0 0 0
2012 Q3 0 0 0
2012 Q1 301 1 0 3322.3
2011 Q4 1,101 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,478 2 0 1353.2
2011 Q2 12,702 19 0 1495.8
2011 Q1 11,887 16 2 1346.0
2010 Q4 13,472 18 5 1336.1
2010 Q3 10,116 18 11 1779.4
2010 Q2 8,178 2 1 244.6
2010 Q1 12,442 11 1 884.1
2009 Q4 12,473 11 2 881.9
2009 Q3 11,558 19 2 1643.9
2009 Q2 13,536 7 3 517.1
2009 Q1 15,345 7 1 456.2
2008 Q4 12,136 17 5 1400.8
2008 Q3 11,518 12 4 1041.8
2008 Q2 13,268 12 3 904.4
2008 Q1 8,572 27 15 3149.8
2007 Q4 8,259 21 5 2542.7
2007 Q3 11,303 25 14 2211.8
2007 Q2 8,154 32 6 3924.5
2007 Q1 8,591 17 6 1978.8
2006 Q4 8,044 16 3 1989.1
2006 Q3 7,296 5 0 685.3
2006 Q2 7,166 14 8 1953.7
2006 Q1 7,815 19 12 2431.2
2005 Q4 7,462 17 3 2278.2
2005 Q3 7,412 29 15 3912.6
2005 Q2 6,094 14 1 2297.3
2005 Q1 6,955 20 9 2875.6
2004 Q4 5,316 12 2 2257.3
2004 Q3 2,392 1 0 418.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

24 on file

2014 · 1 incident

April 8, 2014 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

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.

2013 · 1 incident

October 7, 2013 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

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, 2011 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Struck against a moving object

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, 2010 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

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.

August 25, 2010 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

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, 2010 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Struck by falling object

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, 2010 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Fall onto or against objects

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, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Ee was loading supplies onto scoop and strained his back.

June 5, 2009 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Ee was walking, stepped into a hole and turned his knee. Doctor said it was torn ligaments and that surgery would be needed.

January 24, 2009 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

While operating the roof bolter, Ee got his hand in between boom arm and drill pot. This pinched off the tip of his middle finger on his right hand.

January 14, 2009 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Ee was walking across bridge. The board broke causing him to fall and hurt his knee. No major problem. He returned to work after missing 8 work days.

January 1, 2009 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

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, 2008 KY · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

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, 2007 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Ee was using a ratched driven "come-along" when he pulled a muscle in his back

November 15, 2007 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Ee stumbled when he got off the mantrip, fell to ground and cut his hand.

2006 · 1 incident

November 16, 2006 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Carpal tunnel situation. EE had surgery and returned to work, no problem.

2005 · 1 incident

July 14, 2005 KY · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured miner was hanging miner cable and pulled something in his shoulder.

2004 · 1 incident

October 20, 2004 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rex Coal Company, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Socket slipped off of bolt head letting wrench slip hitting ee on lip.

1990 · 4 incidents

October 31, 1990 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Karst Robbins Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS PUTTING A STARTING BOX LID ON A SHUTTLE CAR WHEN HE FELT A PAIN IN BACK POSSIBLE DISK RUPTURE.

July 6, 1990 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Karst Robbins Coal Company Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL HAS OCCURED IN BOLT ENTRY ON 002 SECTION THE RIPPER HAD ON THE MINER WAS CAUGHT BY THIS PILLER FALL THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO EMPLOYEES

June 4, 1990 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Karst Robbins Coal Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

HE WAS RIDING ON A BOLT. HIS HAT CAME OFF. HE TRIED TO GET HIS HAT, CAUSING HIS HEAD TO STRIKE TOP, CAUSING A SMALL CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD.

1989 · 2 incidents

September 5, 1989 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Karst Robbins Coal Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

I,NAME SAID THAT HE WAS PULLING A PIECE OF ROCK WHEN HE SLIPPED BACKWARDS AND INJURED HIS BACK.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on K-4 Mine

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.