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.
311 citations across 2,717 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Kathleen has $170K in proposed MSHA penalties and $200 outstanding across 10 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.
$170K
proposed penalties
$145K
current assessed
$145K
paid to date
$200
outstanding
298 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $100K in penalties contested before the Commission, $71K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-04-08.
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.
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.
18citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
Settled
17 · 94%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 6%
81%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 16 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
30%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$100K proposed, $71K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-07-06.
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 Kathleen shows 92% of 257 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: 2012-03-06, 14 years ago
92%
within 1.5 mg/m3
257
samples
6.63
dust max (mg/m3)
136 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 121 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.
Kathleen recorded 6.46 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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.
6.46
total case rate
6.46
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.35 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
2012 *
6.46
6.46
0.000
2011
5.42
4.33
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)
2013
0
2012
14
35,625
2011
69
264,841
2010
49
113,938
2009
1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Kathleen sits in Knott County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knott County, Kentucky · Population 14,046
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$37,736
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
2013 Q2
0
1
0
2013 Q1
0
0
0
2012 Q4
0
0
0
2012 Q3
2,623
1
0
381.2
2012 Q2
4,486
6
0
1337.5
2012 Q1
23,855
20
3
838.4
2011 Q4
38,343
40
12
1043.2
2011 Q3
49,017
33
8
673.2
Show 6 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2011 Q2
49,161
51
16
1037.4
2011 Q1
48,112
51
11
1060.0
2010 Q4
42,990
35
8
814.1
2010 Q3
34,384
37
12
1076.1
2010 Q2
19,170
22
5
1147.6
2009 Q4
151
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file
2012 · 1 incident
January 16, 2012KY · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Loading hyd. hand drill in scoop when he felt a pain in his lower back. The drill hoses was hung on a anchor pin. He started missing work on 1/23/2012.
2011 · 8 incidents
November 18, 2011KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
While making weekly examination of 002 section primary escape way a non-injury roof fall was found in the #2 entry 10' inby survey station 965. The roof measured approximately 60' long, 20' wide and 8' high.
September 19, 2011KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
He was traveling toward the face when a piece of rock fell from the mine roof striking his lower left leg. This resulted in a compound fracture. He was treated and transported to the hospital. Surgery was performed on the injured employee leg immediately, however due to the complications with the arteries, later his leg was amputated below the knee.
She got caught her body stuck while cleaning out material at a head drive. In trying to get her body unstuck she claims that she bruised her ribs and shoulder.
September 6, 2011KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was scooping the rib on roadway at the overcast and a roof bolt that was buried in gob, caught scoop bucket and flew back and caught him over the right eye causing a laceration. EE was wearing his safety glasses; the roof bolt broke his safety glasses.
February 1, 2011KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Cleaning back board off at #2 tailpiece with a roof bolt, when the bolt came in contact with #2 belt, pushing his hand into the mine roof. Cutting left hand and requiring stitches.
2010 · 3 incidents
November 2, 2010KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
He was trying to get the top piece of drill steel out of the hole that he had just drilled. He had his left hand on the drill pot, while working on getting the steel out of the hole, when he pulled the bottom piece out of the hole the top piece of steel came out and hit the left index finger.
September 1, 2010KY · Coalutility man, errand boy, service truck operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
He was working on constructing an overcast and was handling a metal rail to put in the overcast. The rail fell making contact with his hand against the bucket of the scoop. This resulted in a laceration to the palm area of his hand and fractured bones in the hand.