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.
Rate withheld: 328 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Knob Strip Mine has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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
$0
outstanding
49 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $926 in penalties contested before the Commission, $758 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-08-23.
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.
5citations taken to the federal commission · 10% of citations on record
Settled
5 · 100%
60%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 5 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
18%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$926 proposed, $758 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2006-01-11.
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 Strip Mine shows 100% of 15 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: 2006-08-23, 20 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
15
samples
0.62
dust max (mg/m3)
15 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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 Strip Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ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 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Alabama, coal mining averaged 6.43 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
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005
4.53
4.53
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)
2007
0
2006
24
53,363
2005
71
456,500
2004
23
135,234
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Knob Strip Mine sits in Jefferson County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Jefferson County, Alabama · Population 669,744
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$64,589
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
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
0
0
0
2006 Q3
4,494
1
0
222.5
2006 Q2
16,002
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
29,036
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
54,054
27
8
499.5
Show 6 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2005 Q3
47,904
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
49,449
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
25,330
13
2
513.2
2004 Q4
23,784
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
11,339
2
1
176.4
2004 Q2
743
0
0
0.0
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
December 15, 1985AL · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanFatality · POWERED HAULAGE
While dismounting a D-11R Dozer the operator stepped from the push arm step to the ground and apparently stepped on loose/uneven material. This caused him to turn his left foot over resulting in a sprain of his left ankle. The machine handrail and steps were in good condition.
October 5, 2005AL · Coalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerMACHINERY
EE was operating 777 Cat truck which was being loaded by Demag 285 Hoe. Hoe operator lost a large triangular rock which struck the dovetail of the Cat truck, shaking it violently. EE sustained a cervical neck strain and missed 2 days of work.
Employee was moving 8" water discharge hose out of a ditch. While lifting and moving the hose on uneven ground he felt a pain in his right knee. He was diagnoised with a sprained right knee.
1988 · 5 incidents
November 23, 1988AL · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
THE MINE WAS IDLE FOR THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY THE DRILL HAD BEEN IDLE SINCE 7-1 AT APPROX 11:30AM THE MINE SECURITY GUARD SPOTTED THE DRILL ON FIRE AT APPROX 9:00 PM 7-4 BAGLEY FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE
EMPLOYEES WERE REBUILDING THE DRAGLINE BUCKET AT THE WELDING SHOP A WEAR PLATE HAD BEEN HEATED AND THE SUPERVISOR WALKED OUT ON THE SCAFFOLD TO CHECK IT THE SCAFFOLD BOARD TURNED AND THE SUPER VISOR FELL ONTO THE HOT PLATE
March 30, 1988AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE DUMP CABLE 2N THE DRAGLINE BUCKET WAS CAUGHT IN THE DUMP SHEAVE EMPLOYEE HOOKED A CHOKER CABLE TO FREE THE DUMP CABLE THE CHOKER CABLE SLIPPED OFF AND STRUCK HIM ON THE ARM
HELPING ALIGN PIECE OF 1\\ STEEL PLATE UNDER TUB ON 1570 DRAGLINE.PLATE WAS BEING PLACED IN POSITION WITH FRONT END LOADER.AFTER HAVING ALIGNED PLATE,INJ MOVING AWAY AND LOST BALANCE CAUSING F ALL.AS HE WAS FALLING HE GRASPED EDGE OF STEEL PLATE AT SAME TIME LOADER OPR PUSHED UPWARD ON PLATE CATCHING INJ RIGHT HAND IN CRACK.
INJURED WAS HELPING MOVE THE DRAGLINE CABLE HE STEPPED IN A LOOP IN THE CABLE JUST AS THE SLACK WAS BEING PULLED UP. WHEN THE CABLE TIGHTENED UP IT STRUCK I NAME AND KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND INJURING HIS RIGHT KNEE.
INJURED WAS HELPING TO PULL AN 8" PUMP DISCHARGE LINE OVER THE HIGHWALL. THE END OF T HE LINE WAS TIED TO A TRUCK WITH A NYLON ROPE. THE ROPE BROKE ALLOWING THE COUPLING END OF THE LINE TO S TRIKE THE INJURED ON T HE LOWER LEFT LEG.
INJURED WAS EXAMINING A CUT OFF VALVE ON A COMPRESSED AIR STORAGE TANK AFFTER HAVING TURNED THE VALVE OFF ON THE SUPPLY LINE HE OPENED THE VALVE ON THE STORAGE TANK WHEN NO AIR BLED OUT OF TH E VALVE HE WAS EXAMINING IT WHEN PRESSURE CAUSED DEBRIS TO BLOW OUT OF THE VALVE STRIKING INJURED IN THE FACE
February 1, 1985AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE INJURED STATED THAT HE STEPPED OVER THE HAND RAILS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LOADER AND WAS STEPPING TO REAR TIRE WHEN LOST HIS FOOTING FALLING TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE INJURY.
ON THEUPPER JEFF. SEAM. I.NAME (#2) WAS WATCHING THE CABLE AS IT WAS BEING PULLED UP. I.NAME (#2) NOTICED THAT THE CABLE GOT A LOOP HUNG AROUND A ROCK, HE WALKED OVER TO THE CABLE TO FREE IT UP WHEN THE CABLE SLIPPED FROM AROUND THE ROCK STRIKING HIM IN THE LEGS KNOCKING HIS LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HIM CAUSING THE INJURY.
INJURED WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LOADING SHOT HOLES ALONG ROW NEAREST TO HIGHWALL (75FTWALL) WHEN MATERIAL FROM TOP OF WALL TURNED LOOSE STRIKING THE INJURED ON TEH LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK
June 16, 1984AL · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeySLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
THE INJURED STATED THAT HE WAS LOADING A 24 VOLT STARTER FOR A 45-R DRILL WHEN HE MASHED HIS HAND AGAINST THE TAIL GATE ON THE M ECHANICS TRUCK CAUSING THE INJURY
INJURED WAS CHANGING THE BIT ON THE 45-R DIESEL DRILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED INJURED SAID THHAT HE WAS DRIVING A WEDGE INTO THE TOP OF THE CHAIN WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER TO TAKE UP THE SLACK I N THE CHAIN IN STRIKING THE WEDGE A SMALL PIECE OF METAL FLECKED OFF OF THE WEDGE STRIKING HIM IN THE LEG CAUSING THE INJURY
1983 · 2 incidents
October 29, 1983AL · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
MR WOOD STATED THAT HE WAS ASSISTING JAMES CREEL AND BOBBY COLLAR WERE REMOVING A HINGE PIN THAT WAS FROZE UP IN A DRILL STEEL RACK ASSEMBLY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MR. WOODS WAS HOLDING A LARGER HAMMER AGAINST THE HINGE PIN WHILE JAMES CREEL WAS DRIVING A 10 LB SLEDGE HAMMER AGAINST THE HAMMER TO FREE THE HINGE PIN WHEN A SMALL PIECE OF STEEL CHIPPED FROM THE SLEDGE HAMMER STR