Koyle Branch Mine # 1 has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
45
Years on record
1993–2002
Latest incident
Sep 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 1999
101
citations
47
significant & substantial
$12,819
proposed penalties
$9,386
paid to date
73% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,433 gap.
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.
101 citations across 1,433 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Koyle Branch Mine # 1 has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$9K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
101 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2002-10-07.
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.
MSHA sampling at Koyle Branch Mine # 1 shows 90% of 189 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: 2002-09-20, 23 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
189
samples
3.61
dust max (mg/m3)
81 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 108 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.
Koyle Branch Mine # 1 recorded 7.23 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.
Injury rate, 2002
ⓘ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.
7.23
total case rate
4.82
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
About average. The US coal mining average was 6.89 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 8.22 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
2002 *
7.23
4.82
0.000
2001 *
6.96
2.32
0.000
2000 *
43.60
43.60
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)
2003
0
2002
46
246,227
2001
39
240,878
2000
22
81,653
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Koyle Branch Mine # 1 sits in Letcher County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.5% 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky · Population 21,146
3.5%
Mining share of county employment
$40,501
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
2003 Q1
0
0
0
2002 Q4
10,130
1
1
98.7
2002 Q3
24,481
6
2
245.1
2002 Q2
27,309
6
2
219.7
2002 Q1
21,029
5
2
237.8
2001 Q4
22,340
5
1
223.8
2001 Q3
20,794
8
4
384.7
2001 Q2
20,469
12
4
586.3
Show 5 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2001 Q1
22,594
10
7
442.6
2000 Q4
22,546
20
5
887.1
2000 Q3
1,855
1
0
539.1
2000 Q2
3,840
15
10
3906.2
2000 Q1
8,460
10
8
1182.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
45 on file
2002 · 4 incidents
September 19, 2002KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
ROOF-BOLTER ON MOVE CREW WAS BOLTING TOP. AS HE WAS DRILLING, HIS STEEL HUNG IN THE HOLE. HE RAISED HIS POT TO REMOVE HIS STEEL & MASHED HIS RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY.
WHILE FIRE BOSSING A ROOF FALL OCCURRED, ONE BRKIN BY SUPPLY STATION 1090, WHICH WAS A CONTINUATION OF A PILLAR FALL. SIZE OF FALL 20' WIDE BY 60' LONG BY 15' HIGH. AREA HAD BEEN TIMBERED AND CRIBBED OFF ROOF FALL DOES NOT EFFECT VENTILATION, AND DOES NOT EFFECT TRAVEL.
ELECTRICIAN WAS HELPING HANG MINER CABLE AND WATER LINE. HE SAID HE PULLED SOMETHING IN HIS LOWER BACK. HE FINISHED HIS REGULAR SHIFT AND SAID HE DIDN'T NEED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. NEXT DAY HE WENT TO HOSPITAL BUT CONTINUED WORKING. THE DOCTOR NOW RECOMMENDS HE HAS BACK SURGERY SO AS OF 5/13/02 HE IS OFF WORK.
7-13-01, EMPLOYEE REPORTED HE WAS INJURED 7-12-01. HE CONTINUED TO WORK. 7-16-01 WENT TO DR.. HE REPORTED THAT HE HIT THE RIB WITH THE SCOOP, BOUNCED AGAINST A LIGHT AND INJURED HIS RIGHT SHOU LDER.
May 12, 2001KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE OPERATING A MINOR BEGINNING A NEW CUT. ROOF WAS CHANGING FROM SLATE TO SAND STONE. A SMALL PIECE(SAUCER SIZE) FELL ONTO HIS LEFT HAND CUTTING IT. DR. INSERTED SUTURES TO CLOSE THE WOU ND.
April 10, 2001KY · Coalscoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS ATTACVHING BATTERY CABLE TO SCOOP. HE SLIPPED, HIS RIGHT LEG WENT BETWEEN THE FRAME & BATTERY BOX. HIS RIGHT OUTSIDE CALF WAS CUT. DR. STAPLED WOUND & RELEASED.
2000 · 8 incidents
December 21, 2000KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE HAD PUT UP 1ST BOLT AND WAS SWINGING OVER TO PUT UP NEXT BOLT. PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL ONTO LEFT HAND AND BROKE 1ST FINGER. USING META-CARPAL GLOVES PREVENTED CRUSHING WHOLE HAND.
December 11, 2000KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS OPERATING A SHUTTLE CAR. THE CAR HIT A HOLE WHILE ON TYHE WAY LOADED TO THE FEEDER. THE CAR BOUNCED CAUSING EE TO HIT THE CANOPY AND INJURE HIS NECK.
October 30, 2000KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE INJURED HIS RIGHT LITTLE FINGER DRILLING HOLE IN ROOF. HE WAS WEARING RUBBER GLOVES, HOLDING STEEL STARTING A HOLE. THE GLOVE STUCK TO THE STEEL AND TWISTED HIS FINGER.
THE MANTRIP THAT THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS RIDINGIN WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER RAIL VEHICLE AS IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH OFF ONTO A SIDE TRACK. EM-PLOYEE WAS SHAKEN UP SLIGHTLY; NO DAMAGE TO
HE DRILLED A CROOKED HOLE WHEN HE WAS BRINGING THE STEEL OUT OF THE HOLE, STEEL CAME OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE ROOF BOLTER. IT SPRUNG OUT AND HIT HIM ON THE BACK OF LEFT HAND.
June 8, 1999KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING A SHUTTLE CAR, TURNED A CURVE TO QUICK. EMPLOYEE RAN INTO CORNER OF A RIB, HURTING HIS LOWER BACK, LEG AND ANKLE ON HIS LEFT SIDE.
1998 · 8 incidents
December 1, 1998KY · Coalassistant mine foreman, assistant mine managerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Iva Coal Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
EMPLOYEE WAS BENT OVER AN S+S SCOOP UNPLUGGING BATTERIES. WHEN HE RAISED UP HE HAD A CATCH IN HIS BACK.
HAD A ROOF FALL IN THE BLEEDER ENTRIES ON #2 RIGHT OFF OF #5 MAINS. ROOF FALL WAS APPROX 6' HIGH AND 120' LONG. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FALL THE WIDTH CANOT BE DETERMINED.
1997 · 4 incidents
November 6, 1997KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
#3 BELT BROKE EMPLOYEE AND 3 OTHER WORKERS + FORMAN WERE REPAIRING BELT, AS THEY WERE PULLING BELT BACK TOGETHER EMPLOYEE SAW THE CLAMP SLIP, TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, RAISING UP HITTING HI S HEAD ON A PIECE OF BELT STRUCTURE CUTTING HIS HEAD.
EE WAS GOING TO MINER IN #7 ENTRY. ON HIS WAY HE STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE REEL ON THE OFF STANDARD CAR IN #5 ENTRY. AS HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE DC CABLE, CABLE BLEW OUT, BURNING HIM ON THE CALF O F HIS LEFT LEG.
EE WAS MOVING MINER CABLE WHEN HE BENT DOWN TO PICK IT UP A PIECE OF RIB APPROX. 2 FEET LONG 2 FEET WIDE AND 8 INCH THICK ROLLED OFF IN SEVERAL PIECES WITH ONE OF THEM STRIKING HIM ON LEFT HAN D.
May 28, 1996KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMP SAID HE WAS RUNNING SHUTTLE CAR. HIT A HOLE AND HURT HIS BACK ABOUT 6:00PM ON 5-17-96. FINISHED SHIFT. CAME OUT. LEFT NOTE FOR MNGR TO FILLOUT AN ACCIDENT REPORT. WENT TO CHIROPRACTOR MOND AY 9:30AM. REPORTED IT TO MINE AROUND 3:00PM MONEVENING 5-20-96 AND SAIS HE WAS UNABEL TO WORK.
March 4, 1996KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
I WAS HANGING CABLE MINER ROOF BOLTER BOLTS WAS NOT CLOSE ENOUGHT TO RIB TIGHT CORNER HANGING CABLE. DURING NAIL INTO RIB PULLED CABLES UP TO WIRE ON NAIL, RIB TURNED LOOSE HITTING ME ON LEFT UPPER ARM SHOULDER ELBOW.
October 7, 1994KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
HE WAS CUTTING BOTTOM COAL IN #3ENTRY ON 1 RIGHT OFF 2 MAINS SECTION WHEN COAL PAN AND/OR RIPPER HEADS ON MINER CAUGHT A SHUTTLE CAR FLIGHT WHICH EVIDENTLY WAS LYING ON BOTTOM AND THREW IT IN OPERATORS DECK STRIKING HIM ABOVE RIGHT EYE.
Iva Coal Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
EE AND OTHERS WERE CHANGING A PLANETARY DRIVE ON A 12CM MINER. EE SAID HE HURT HIS BACK SLINGING A 10# SLEDGE HAMMER TRYING TO REMOVE A CAP-- HE FINISHED HIS SHIFT, WORKED NEXT DAY, AND WENT T O THE DR. THE DAY AFTER THAT. DIDN'T REPORT ACCIDENT TO SUPERVISOR UNTIL AFTER DR.'S VISIT.
HAD A ROOF FALL IN #3 INTAKE 4 X-CUTS OUTBY SURBEY STATION 190. FALL IS 10 X-CUTS FROM #3 WORKING FACE. FALL MEASURES APPROX. 20' WIDE, 40' LONG & 44" THICK. THIS ARE HAD BEEN MINED 10 TO 15 Y RS. AGO.
INJURED AND WASBACKING OUT OF #4 ENTYR, HE SEEN A ROCK 8X12X4" THICK HANGING DOWN. HE STOPPED. TO PULL IT, WHEN ROCK WAS PULLED IT HIT THE PINENR GLANCED OFF HITTING HIS RIGHT FOOT.