Mining Incidents

K K Strip: 1 recorded fatality Coal

K K Coal LLC · Surface
Controlled by Bernard J Kuperavage Jr
Eagle Hill, Schuylkill County, PA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3601877

K K Strip has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
5
Years on record
1990–1995
Latest incident
Sep 1995
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
48
citations
3
significant & substantial
$5,042
proposed penalties
$4,891
paid to date
97% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $151 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
98
inspections on record
2,634
inspection hours
1.8
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.
48 citations across 2,634 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

K K Strip has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 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.
$5K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$151
outstanding
47 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-20.
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.
6.2%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
6.2%
reasonably likely or greater
6.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 56.2% low, 43.8% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at K K Strip shows 99% of 201 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: 2026-08-05
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
201
samples
1.86
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
138 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 63 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR65
  • CRANE OPER/DRAGLINE OPERATOR63
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER37

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2023-05-17, 3 years ago
4.8
silica avg (%)
2
samples
6.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR1
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER1

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.

Last sampled: 2026-08-05
1%
over PEL
83
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CRANE OPER/DRAGLINE OPERATOR43
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER15
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR11
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2026 100% 9
2025 100% 6
2024 100% 10
2023 100% 5
2022 100% 7
2021 100% 8
2020 100% 3
2019 100% 9
2018 100% 6
2017 100% 9
2016 100% 14
2015 100% 12
2014 100% 2
2013 100% 8
2012 100% 8
2011 100% 7
2010 100% 5
2009 100% 9
2008 100% 7
2007 100% 7
2006 88% 8
2005 100% 4
2004 100% 4
2003 100% 4
2002 100% 4
2001 100% 6
2000 95% 20
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2023 2.6 1
2006 6.9 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 7
2025 0% 4
2024 0% 1
2023 0% 2
2022 0% 3
2021 0% 5
2019 0% 6
2018 0% 2
2017 0% 3
2016 0% 5
2015 0% 5
2014 0% 3
2013 0% 2
2012 0% 3
2011 0% 3
2010 0% 3
2009 0% 4
2007 0% 3
2006 0% 4
2005 0% 2
2004 0% 2
2002 0% 1
2001 0% 6
2000 25% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
  1. K & K Coal Company 1950 to 2009
  2. K K Coal LLC 2009 to present
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)
2026 4 6,594
2025 4 5,473
2024 3 4,336
2023 3 9,149
2022 3 12,591
2021 3 6,782
2020 3 2,001
2019 4 15,524
2018 4 12,595
2017 4 9,489
2016 4 7,863
2015 5 19,473
2014 4 14,779
2013 4 21,229
2012 4 18,291
2011 4 17,374
2010 4 21,899
2009 4 28,903
2008 4 22,077
2007 4 29,628
2006 4 40,792
2005 3 30,542
2004 3 27,223
2003 3 23,667
2002 4 34,275
2001 5 40,874
2000 5 49,574
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

K K Strip sits in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania · Population 143,259
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$66,901
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
2026 Q2 1,338 1 0 747.4
2026 Q1 1,336 2 0 1497.0
2025 Q4 1,436 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,093 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 1,012 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 1,062 2 0 1883.2
2024 Q4 1,097 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,025 0 0 0.0
Show 95 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 1,020 2 0 1960.8
2024 Q1 1,032 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 1,087 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 947 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 1,082 1 1 924.2
2023 Q1 1,047 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 1,110 1 0 900.9
2022 Q3 938 2 0 2132.2
2022 Q2 1,047 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 930 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 1,019 1 0 981.4
2021 Q2 1,090 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 1,013 1 0 987.2
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 1,301 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,600 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,611 1 0 620.7
2019 Q3 1,580 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,599 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 1,593 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 773 1 0 1293.7
2018 Q3 1,504 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 1,616 2 0 1237.6
2018 Q1 1,618 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 1,510 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 1,186 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 1,552 2 0 1288.7
2016 Q4 1,184 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 1,141 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 1,530 1 0 653.6
2016 Q1 1,841 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 2,519 1 1 397.0
2015 Q3 1,988 1 0 503.0
2015 Q2 1,570 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 1,381 2 0 1448.2
2014 Q4 1,592 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 1,014 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 1,806 1 0 553.7
2014 Q1 1,693 1 0 590.7
2013 Q4 1,839 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 1,788 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 1,818 1 0 550.1
2013 Q1 1,773 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 1,743 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 1,676 1 0 596.7
2012 Q2 1,835 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 1,553 1 0 643.9
2011 Q4 1,770 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,995 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 1,725 1 0 579.7
2011 Q1 1,560 1 0 641.0
2010 Q4 1,744 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 1,843 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 1,732 2 0 1154.7
2010 Q1 1,566 1 0 638.6
2009 Q4 2,563 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 1,660 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 1,412 1 0 708.2
2009 Q1 1,234 1 0 810.4
2008 Q4 1,279 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 1,119 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 1,787 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 1,645 1 0 607.9
2007 Q4 2,034 1 0 491.6
2007 Q3 1,649 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 1,916 1 0 521.9
2007 Q1 1,720 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 1,926 1 0 519.2
2006 Q3 1,665 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 1,962 1 0 509.7
2006 Q1 1,508 1 0 663.1
2005 Q4 1,247 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 1,115 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 1,246 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 712 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 953 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 748 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 1,169 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 1,260 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 1,363 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 1,220 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,198 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 1,169 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 1,358 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 1,191 1 0 839.6
2002 Q2 1,368 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 2,078 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 2,276 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 3,136 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 2,693 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 2,219 1 0 450.7
2000 Q4 2,353 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 855 2 0 2339.2
2000 Q2 2,499 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 2,566 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
December 17, 1994 PA · Coal welder (shop) Fatality · MACHINERY
K & K Coal Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

HE WAS WELDING ON BUCKET. WEIGHT OF SPREADER BAR AND CHAINS ON BUCKET MOVED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING BUCKET TO ROLL OVER.

Reportable incidents

4 on file (excluding fatalities above)

1995 · 2 incidents

September 22, 1995 PA · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
K & K Coal Company · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS REPAIRING BRAKE LININGS ON DRAGLINE SHOVEL. HE WAS APPLYING PRESSURE ON WRENCH TO LOOSEN A TIGHT NUT. THE WRENCH SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO LOSE BALANCE. HE FELL 5-6 FEET DOWN TO THE LOW BASE OF THE MACHINE, HITTING THE MACHINE IN THE PROCESS.

March 15, 1995 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
K & K Coal Company · Struck by falling object

EE WAS REMOVING FRICTION BANDS FROM MACHINE WHEN REACHING IN TO REMOVE REMAINING BAND, THE END OF BANDS WORKED LOOSE AND FELL PINCHING RIGHT HAND.

1993 · 1 incident

March 10, 1993 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
K & K Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE ALLEGED THAT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO BANG HIS BOOT IN ORDER TO KNOCK SNOW AND MUD FROM IT, HE BANGED HIS HEEL WHICH CAUSED THE SKIN TO CRACK. HE WAS DOING THIS BETWEEN LOADS, AT THE GARAGE SITE. SURFACE WAS MACADAM IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE.

1990 · 1 incident

July 16, 1990 PA · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
K & K Coal Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING ON REPAIRS OF SHOVEL.THEY WERE REPLACING COVERS ON GEARS,WHEN THEY SLIPPED.BACK INJURY OCCURRED IN THE PROCESS.