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.
455 citations across 16,389 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
KNOB CREEK has $117K in proposed MSHA penalties and $884 outstanding across 49 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.
$117K
proposed penalties
$96K
current assessed
$95K
paid to date
$884
outstanding
449 assessments are final orders; 49 contested dockets.
Of $64K in penalties contested before the Commission, $42K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-20.
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.
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.
86citations taken to the federal commission · 19% of citations on record
Settled
81 · 94%
Stood as issued
3 · 3%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 2%
71%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 77 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
35%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$64K proposed, $42K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2024-12-23.
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 KNOB CREEK shows 99% of 2,648 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: 2026-08-19
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
2,648
samples
2.34
dust max (mg/m3)
8
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.
680 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 1,968 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.
KNOB CREEK reported liberating 3,910 metric tons of methane to EPA in 2023.
Methane emissions (EPA-reported)
ⓘMethane figures are what the operator reported to EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (subpart FF), collected at facility level. Only EPA facilities that resolve to a single MSHA mine record are shown, and the CO2-equivalent applies the GWP-25 factor EPA's published data uses.
KNOB CREEK recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 2.63 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
2025 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
12.26
9.19
0.000
2020 *
10.51
7.01
0.000
2019 *
8.64
0.00
0.000
2018 *
8.43
4.21
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)
2026
25
37,865
2025
27
191,384
2024
24
101,395
2023
21
126,999
2022
18
127,016
2021
27
134,557
2020
26
165,864
2019
29
88,554
2018
19
145,254
2017
19
221,386
2016
19
170,446
2015
31
229,038
2014
29
294,890
2013
25
298,876
2012
24
237,320
2011
28
241,986
2010
29
274,670
2009
4
7,013
2008
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
KNOB CREEK sits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 2.4% 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.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania · Population 83,213
2.4%
Mining share of county employment
$58,739
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
13,205
5
0
378.6
2026 Q1
13,770
7
0
508.4
2025 Q4
21,101
4
1
189.6
2025 Q3
21,504
4
0
186.0
2025 Q2
21,537
4
0
185.7
2025 Q1
22,772
5
0
219.6
2024 Q4
15,381
6
1
390.1
2024 Q3
13,323
6
1
450.3
Show 63 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
13,490
6
1
444.8
2024 Q1
13,216
3
0
227.0
2023 Q4
11,757
5
0
425.3
2023 Q3
11,646
6
0
515.2
2023 Q2
11,485
8
3
696.6
2023 Q1
12,500
5
0
400.0
2022 Q4
10,500
4
0
381.0
2022 Q3
10,766
5
0
464.4
2022 Q2
11,024
4
0
362.8
2022 Q1
11,355
6
2
528.4
2021 Q4
9,744
2
1
205.3
2021 Q3
15,490
5
1
322.8
2021 Q2
21,539
6
0
278.6
2021 Q1
18,500
9
0
486.5
2020 Q4
15,423
10
3
648.4
2020 Q3
13,573
6
1
442.1
2020 Q2
12,503
2
0
160.0
2020 Q1
15,575
6
2
385.2
2019 Q4
16,641
8
0
480.7
2019 Q3
17,832
5
0
280.4
2019 Q2
17,759
4
0
225.2
2019 Q1
17,249
10
0
579.7
2018 Q4
11,155
6
1
537.9
2018 Q3
11,823
7
0
592.1
2018 Q2
11,784
3
0
254.6
2018 Q1
12,697
5
0
393.8
2017 Q4
10,804
3
0
277.7
2017 Q3
12,501
6
1
480.0
2017 Q2
11,632
6
1
515.8
2017 Q1
11,817
4
0
338.5
2016 Q4
10,811
7
2
647.5
2016 Q3
10,812
5
0
462.4
2016 Q2
9,490
6
2
632.2
2016 Q1
4,826
5
1
1036.1
2015 Q4
7,845
3
1
382.4
2015 Q3
14,218
8
3
562.7
2015 Q2
19,172
6
1
313.0
2015 Q1
23,799
13
4
546.2
2014 Q4
12,991
10
3
769.8
2014 Q3
19,618
12
5
611.7
2014 Q2
19,922
8
1
401.6
2014 Q1
11,996
5
2
416.8
2013 Q4
10,388
4
1
385.1
2013 Q3
16,909
8
2
473.1
2013 Q2
17,774
4
1
225.0
2013 Q1
17,305
15
4
866.8
2012 Q4
11,206
9
4
803.1
2012 Q3
10,736
12
3
1117.7
2012 Q2
19,922
10
1
502.0
2012 Q1
16,302
9
2
552.1
2011 Q4
11,669
6
1
514.2
2011 Q3
12,141
8
2
658.9
2011 Q2
18,727
5
1
267.0
2011 Q1
22,875
14
6
612.0
2010 Q4
16,515
11
3
666.1
2010 Q3
15,895
3
1
188.7
2010 Q2
16,210
15
6
925.4
2010 Q1
16,345
15
7
917.7
2009 Q4
4,485
7
2
1560.8
2009 Q3
0
0
0
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
0
0
0
2008 Q4
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
31 on file
2026 · 1 incident
January 15, 2026PA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was getting a T3 Channel off of the center of the bolter when the stack of T3s shifted smashing a finger and causing a laceration which required sutures.
2021 · 5 incidents
July 24, 2021PA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was lifting an I-Beam from the bottom onto the overcast when EE felt pain in right shoulder. The individual worked until 7/26/2021 making the incident a lost time injury.
July 6, 2021PA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A roof fall was discovered during the morning preshift in the face of #3 entry in 14 Butt (two crosscuts inby spad #6003). The fall measured approximately 18 ft by 75 ft by 6 ft. The fall appears to have occurred as a result of a cutter that formed in a geologic transition zone.
Unintentional fall above anchor point in 9 Butt near spad #4869. The fall measured approximately 18 ft by 95 ft by 6 ft. The fall occurred as a result of a cutter that formed in a geologic transition zone several weeks after development.
March 17, 2020PA · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Individual was sitting filling out pre-shift books. When EE stood up EE felt a pop in EE's knee. EE went into surgery on 6/3/2020 resulting in a loss time injury.
January 10, 2020PA · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
While rib bolting the individual was pushing up a bolt when the individual pinched left index finger between the roof plate and the bolt resulting in stitches.
A fall was discovered on 9/3/19 after an extended holiday. The fall occurred in the crosscut between #2 and #4 entries (Spad #4438) in 6 Butt approximately 1200 ft outby the active section. The outby crosscut between #4 and 5 entries had previously been re-supported and remained stable.**Supplemental narrative added to original 9/11/19**
June 3, 2019PA · Coalsection foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Individual was holding a rub rail with left hand while using a crib block to crib up the miner, which was stuck. When the miner set down it pinched the individual's hand between the rub rail and the miner
Inby fall area was sub-normal roof, additional support was installed when mined. At a later date area was observed taking weight on roof support and cribs were added. Over the extended holiday the crosscut outby the cribbed area started to work and fell four to six feet above the coal seam. Area was unstable due to laminated shale rock.
2018 · 2 incidents
September 21, 2018PA · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerOTHER
While building a wall, the employee broke the last band holding a pallet of cement blocks together. The blocks fell against a scoop bucket where his right hand was laying, breaking his ring finger
The individual was loading the twin boom bolter from the bolt car when a scoop operator accidentally bumped the bolt car pinning the miner between the bolt car and the bolter.
2012 · 5 incidents
December 17, 2012PA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS