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.
183 citations across 1,367 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-03-23.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Ky No 6 has $116K in proposed MSHA penalties and $13K outstanding across 5 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.
$116K
proposed penalties
$102K
current assessed
$89K
paid to date
$13K
outstanding
174 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $77K in penalties contested before the Commission, $62K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-11-25.
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.
41citations taken to the federal commission · 22% of citations on record
Settled
40 · 98%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 2%
88%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 40 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
19%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$77K proposed, $62K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2013-01-29.
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 Ky No 6 shows 100% of 77 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: 2015-04-28, 11 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
77
samples
1.11
dust max (mg/m3)
2
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.
52 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 25 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.
Ky No 6 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.63 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2014
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013
2.72
1.36
0.000
2012 *
7.17
7.17
0.000
2011
2.63
1.75
0.000
2010 *
8.91
8.91
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)
2015
14
2,185
2014
44
221,300
2013
54
337,020
2012
26
267,436
2011
75
233,112
2010
44
364,916
2009
7
14,004
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Ky No 6 sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
2015 Q1
2,350
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
5,290
4
0
756.1
2014 Q3
26,442
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
40,656
10
0
246.0
2014 Q1
40,244
6
2
149.1
2013 Q4
46,104
9
1
195.2
2013 Q3
35,579
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
51,139
3
0
58.7
Show 15 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2013 Q1
14,030
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
18,320
4
2
218.3
2012 Q3
18,042
4
1
221.7
2012 Q2
6,480
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
12,978
1
0
77.1
2011 Q4
58,932
1
1
17.0
2011 Q3
72,402
23
9
317.7
2011 Q2
54,806
11
1
200.7
2011 Q1
42,080
52
32
1235.7
2010 Q4
29,099
1
0
34.4
2010 Q3
15,479
6
5
387.6
2010 Q2
21,590
1
0
46.3
2010 Q1
23,568
9
5
381.9
2009 Q4
1,975
13
10
6582.3
2009 Q3
2,851
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2013 · 2 incidents
September 14, 2013KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
The D11R Dozer operator was pushing in the shot material, and was prying a rock loose on the sandstone bottom when one track of the dozer lifted up releasing from the rock and bringing the dozer back down onto the track jarring the operator and causing pain in his lower back & hip area.
Big Run Mining, Inc. · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was transferring chemical from a tote when one drop of chemical splashed over the top of the employee's safety glasses and into his right eye.
2012 · 2 incidents
December 5, 2012KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The back dump operator was descending the ladder of the 777C Cat truck, missed the bottom step and that shifted his weight to his left arm and he heard a popping sound in his chest.
Employee's hand and wrist began to swell and became sore. He states that climbing into and out of the cab of the articulating truck caused the swelling. He did not fall.
2010 · 5 incidents
December 18, 2010KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
employee was operating a dozer trying to remove a large rock from the pit. while trying to perform this task, he backed the dozer over a large rock and the dozer hit the ground on the other side of the rock. Employee complained of back pain.
Employee was mounting D-10 Dozier to check oil, felt pain in right leg. Unable to walk normally. Feels like muscle cramp continually. Pain in back side of right leg between knee and hip.
April 2, 2010KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was climbing down the ladder of her Rock Truck when she lost her footing and fell to the ground. She was taken by ambulance to the Pinveville Community Hospital where she was admitted and still remains.