Mining Incidents

Lee Surface Mine Coal

Inez, Martin County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1505483

Lee Surface Mine has $177 in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
33
Years on record
1983–2000
Latest incident
Jan 2000
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
3
citations
1
significant & substantial
$177
proposed penalties
$177
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
5
inspections on record
64
inspection hours
n/a
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: 64 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Lee Surface Mine has $177 in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$177
proposed penalties
$177
current assessed
$177
paid to date
$0
outstanding
2 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2000-06-07.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Lee Surface Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.64 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 5 samples.

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.
0.64
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.17
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
5
samples
Most recent sample: 2000-06-08.
Silica (quartz)
19.9
silica avg (%)
28.2
silica max (%)
2
samples
Most recent sample: 2000-02-04.
Noise
0%
over PEL
6
samples
Most recent sample: 2000-06-07.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2001 Q1 0 0 0
2000 Q4 0 0 0
2000 Q3 2,291 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 6,776 3 1 442.7
2000 Q1 22,938 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

33 on file

2000 · 1 incident

January 10, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE INSTALLING A HYDRAULIC PUMP ON A D10N BULLDOZER. EE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK WHILE POSITIONING THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.

1999 · 3 incidents

September 1, 1999 KY · Coal drill operator ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Martin County Coal Corp · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE DATE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE 1ST DAY AWAY FROM WORK. EE HAS HAD BACK PROBLEMS FOR 16 YRS HE DID NOT REPORT ANY EVENT THAT TRIGGERED HIS PAIN IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS PERI OD OF DISABILITY RESULTS FROM REPEATED WEAR & TEAR OVER MANY YEARS

July 6, 1999 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE AND ANOTHER WORKER WERE USING THE PARTSTRUCK ELECTRICAL CRANE TO LOAD 5 LIQUID NITROGENTANKS. THE TANKS WERE SET ON REAR OF BED WHEN EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING THEM FROM THE CRANE AND SPIN NING THEM TO HEADBOARD TO BE SECURED. THE LAST TANK FELL WHILE SPINNING. EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO CATCH THE TANK, USING HIS KNEE AS A SUPPORT.

January 28, 1999 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against stationary object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING THE GRAB BAR BACK TO ITS ORGINAL POSITION WHEN HIS HAND CAME IN CONTACT WITH A PIECE OF JAGGED METAL.

1998 · 1 incident

April 15, 1998 KY · Coal drill operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATES THAT AFTER DOING REPAIR WORK INSIDE CAB OF AN OUT OF SERVICE D9C DOZER, HE WAS SITTING IN SEAT WHEN BACK BEGAN HURTING. EE HAS HISTORY OF BACK PROBLEMS DATING BACK TO 1992.

1997 · 1 incident

February 11, 1997 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE MAKING REPAIRS TO A ROCK DRILL DUST COLLECTOR, APIECE OF DIRT FELL OFF THE TOP OF THE DUST COLLECTOR, HITTING EE ON THE HEAD AND SOME OF THE DIRT FELL ONTO HIS RIGHT EYE. EE WAS WEARING APPROPRIATE SAFETY EYE PROTECTION WHEN INJURED.

1996 · 1 incident

April 29, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

INJURED WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING A CUTTINGEDGE FROM A BULLDOZER. FOUR OF THE FIVE BOLTS HOLDING THE PLATE WERE MISSING. WHEN EMP TRIED TO LOOSEN THE FINAL BOLT HOLDING THE PLATE THE BOLT BROKE AND PLATE OR BOLT STRUCK EMPLOYEE.

1995 · 8 incidents

October 27, 1995 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOOSEN A BOLT WITH A HAND TOOL (RATCHET) WHEN THE BOLT BROKE. THIS SUDDEN ACTION CAUSED PAIN IN THE EMPLOYEE'S BACK. AFTER CONFERRING WITH MSHA OFFICIALS FROM THE PA INTSVILEE, KY OFFICE A DECISION WAS MADE TO CLASSIFY THIS EVENT AS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNES GIVEN THIS EMPLOYEE'S PAST MEDICAL HISTORY.

August 28, 1995 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS BACKING UP FROM GETTING A BUCKET OF ROCK. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DROPPED IN A SOFT PLACE MAKING THE LOADER TILT TO ONE SIDE, BOUNCING HIM AROUND, HURTING HIS BACK.

July 20, 1995 KY · Coal drill operator MACHINERY
Martin County Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

OPERATOR WAS CHANGING STEELS ON DRILL. HE WAS PUTTING PIN IN WHEN HE ACCIDENTLY HIT HIS ROTATIONLEVER WHEN THE STEEL TURNED AND MASHED HIS LITTLE FINGER ON RIGHT HAND. EMPLOYEE'S PROTECTIVE CO VERING AT TIME OF ACCIDENT: HARD HAT, GLOVES, HARD TOE BOOTS.

June 11, 1995 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Fall from machine

THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS COMING OFF OF A HILL AND HE STOPPED FOR A MINUTE AND WHEN HE GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK HE WAS GOING TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR AND HE SAID IT WOULDN'T GO BACK IN GEAR (TH E TRUCK) AND IT STARTED TO ROLL AND THE DRIVER GOT SCARED AND JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK, CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER LEFT WRIST, TAILBONE AND SOME CUTS AND BRUISES.

June 2, 1995 KY · Coal drill operator MACHINERY
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS INJURED WHEN A PORTION OF THE HIGHWALL SLOGHED. IT IS BELIEVED A VERY THIN CLAY VEING FAILED.

May 26, 1995 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS RELEASING PRESSUR EFROM A GREASE TAKE-UP CYLINER WHEN GREASE WAS INJECTED INTO HISS HAND.

May 24, 1995 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS SCALING HIGHWALL WITH LOADER BUCKET.WHEN IT BECAME HUNG ON WALL CAUSING REAR OF LOADER TO COME OFF GROUND.WHEN IT CAME LOOSE IT CAUSED THE LOADER TO BOUNCE CAUSING A JOLT.

February 3, 1995 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against a moving object

THE DRIVER WAS GOING TO LEE'S CONSTRUCTION TO GET LOADED. WHEN HE WAS GOING DOWN THE HILL HE WAS DRIVING TO FAST AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND IT ROLLED OVER A CLIFF.

1994 · 2 incidents

June 24, 1994 KY · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin County Coal Corp · Fall from machine

SUBJECT FELL FROM THE REAR BUMBER OF A DUAL WHEELED MECHANIC TRUCK. AS HE FELL HE STRUCK THE BUMBER OF THE TRUCK WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY. THE TRUCK WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE ACC IDENT.

March 22, 1994 KY · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by flying object

SUBJECT HAD BEEN WELDING PRIOR TO NOTICING IRRITATION OF HIS EYE. SUBJECT WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY EVENT CAUSING THIS IRRITATION. WAS SEEN IN EMERGENCY RM. OF A LOCAL HOSPITAL & ADVISED TO SEE E YE SPECIALIST. AN EYE SPECIALIST WAS NOT AVAIL.UNTIL 3/24/94. SUBJECT WAS SEEN BY THE SPECIALIST ON 3/24/94 & RETURNED TO WORK ON 3/25/94.

1993 · 1 incident

July 16, 1993 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BILATERAL CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME HE RECEIVED OUT PATIENT SURGERY ON JULY 16 1993 HE BEGAN MISSING WORK ON THIS DATE CONSIDERED AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS & WILL NOT B E COUNTED AS LOST WORK DAYS

1992 · 3 incidents

December 15, 1992 KY · Coal drill operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Martin County Coal Corp · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

SUBJECT HAS BEEN AWARDED A RETRAINING INCENTIVE BENEFITS CLAIM DATE OF ACCIDENT REFLECTS DATE OF THE AWARD NO KNOWN WORK DAYS HAVE BEEN LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS CLAIM

December 2, 1992 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Martin County Coal Corp · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

SUBJECT HAS BEEN AWARDED A 'RETRAINING INCENTIVE BENEFITS CLAIM'. THE DATE OF ACCIDENT REFLECTS THE DATE OF AWARD. NO KNOWN WORK DAYS HAVE BEEN LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS CLAIM.

February 6, 1992 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by falling object

OPER TRUCK OVER HEAD RADIO IN CAB IT FELL STRIKING HIM IN L EYE

1991 · 2 incidents

December 30, 1991 KY · Coal drill operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Martin County Coal Corp · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

SUBJECT WAS AWARDED A "RETRAINING INCENTIVE BENEFITS" DUE TO HIS ALLEGED EXPOSURE TO COAL WORKERS' PNEUMOCONIOSIS. MARTIN COUNTY COAL IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT. THE DATE OF THE ACCIDEN T REFLECTS THE DATE THE OPINION WAS SIGNED. THIS EMPLOYEE HAS MISSED NO KNOWN WORK DAYS AS A RESULT OF THIS CLAIM.

January 4, 1991 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE AND CO-WORKERS WERE HANGING MINER CABLE AND WATERLINE FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORKING SECTION. THE CABLE AND WATERLINE WERE SECURED IN THE FIRST TWO CABLE HANGERS WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, AS THE WATERLINE AND CABLE WERE BEING SECURED IN THE THIRD CABLE HANGER, THEY SUDDENLY SLIPPED FROM THE HANGER, CAUSING HIM TO BE FORCED TO THE MINE FLOOR.

1990 · 4 incidents

November 13, 1990 KY · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey OTHER
Martin County Coal Corp · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

BLASTING CREW BEGAN PREPARATIONS TO BLAST OVERBURDEN 3-4'THICK.I.NAME COMPLETED DISBURSING PRELL INTO DRILLED HOLES OPERATING CONTROL LEVERS ON PRELL TRUCK.THEN POSITIONED HIMSELF ON BED SIDE OF PICKUP TRUCK BEGAN TALKING WITH COWORKER.WITHOUT WARNING HE FELL FORWARD ONTO BED OF TRUCK.COWORKER BEGAN CPR AND SUMMONED COMPANY AMBULANCE.

July 11, 1990 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Martin County Coal Corp · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

SUBJECT WAS AWARDED A RETRAINING INCENTIVE BENEFITS DUE TO COAL WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS MARTIN COUNTY COAL CORP IS SOLEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT SUBJECT LAST WORKED ON JULY 11 1990

June 5, 1990 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PERFORMING MAINT WORK ON DRILL.COUPLING BROKEN CHAIN ON DRILL USING PRY BAR TO FORCE CHAIN TOGETHER BAR SLIPPED STRIKING HIM ON RIGHT HAND.

May 31, 1990 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM WAS MAKING REPAIRS TO AUGER ON 800 MACK ANFO TRUCK HE WAS ATTACHING A DRIVE COUPLING BETWEEN HYDRAULIC MOTOR & HORIZONTAL AUGER BY USING A HAMMER & CHISEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROPERLY POSI TION COUPLINGT I NAME PLACED CHISEL ON COUPLING BEGAN TAPPING ON THE CHISEL WITH THE HAMMER SUDDENLY A PIECE OF STEEL SEPARATED FROM CHISEL STRIKING VICTIM IN LEFT EYE

1989 · 2 incidents

October 16, 1989 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin County Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

VICTIM WAS MAKING REPAIRS TO A LIFT CYLINDER ON A KOMATSU TRACTOR. HE TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED THIS TASK TO OBTAIN A TOOL FROM HIS MECHANICS TRUCK, PARKED APPROX. 20 FEET AWAY. WHILE TRAVELING TO THE MECHANICS TRUCK, HE STEPPED INTO A DRILLED HOLE, MEASURING 8 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

June 2, 1989 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against a moving object

VICTIM WAS OPERATING CATEPILLAR D9H TRACTOR TO REBUILD A BERM AND CONSTRUCT A DITCH.HE BEGAN BY DIGGING ROCKS FROM THE FLOOR OF THE BENCH AND MOVING THEM APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 FEET TO THE EDG E OF THE BENCH.AS HE APPROACHED THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BENCH HE STOPPED HIS FORWARD MOTION AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL.INSTEAD HE SHIFTED FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE,THROWING HIM AGAINST T

1988 · 2 incidents

April 14, 1988 KY · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Fall from machine

VICTIM WAS OPERATING A EUCKID R-50 ROCK TRUCK HAULING OVERBURDEN TO A DUMP AREA ON A GRADE. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN THE VICTIM TURNED THE TRUCK JAND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE DIREC ION OF TRAVEL TO DUMP. THE VICTIM ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE TRUCK AS IT TRAELDED DOWN THE GRADE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN THIS ATTEMPT FAILED, THE VICTIM LEAPED FROM THE OPERATORS COMPARTMEN

February 11, 1988 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Martin County Coal Corp · Struck against a moving object

VICTIM WAS DRIV3NG A CHEVELLE SEDASN ON A MINE ACCESS ROAD AND RAN THE CAR UNDER THE REAR OF A MACK TRUCK TO WHEEL COAL TRUCK.

1985 · 1 incident

March 22, 1985 KY · Coal security guard, watchman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin County Coal Corp · Fall from machine

VICTIM WAS FILLING BULK DIESEL FUEL TRUCK WITH FUEL FROM A STATIONARY BULK TANK ON THE GROUND. VICTIM CLIMBED UP REAR OF TANK ON TRUCK AND WAS CHECKING THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. AS HE STARTE BACK DOWN THE STEPS ON THE TANK HIS FEET SLIPPED RESULTING IN THE VICTIM FALLING APPROX. 6 TO THE GROUND. THE AREA AROUND THE TANK WAS MUDDY AND THE VICTIM S SHOES WERE MUDDY.

1983 · 1 incident

May 26, 1983 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech FIRE
Martin County Coal Corp · Contact with hot objects or substances

VICTIM WAS ASSISTING 2 WELDERS WHO WERE WELDING ON THE BUCKET OF A FRONT END LOADER.A PIECE OF HOT SLAG FROM THE WELDING JOB-CUTTING TORCH-FELL ON THE OXYGEN HOSE & BURNED A HOLE IN IT. THE VICTIM SAW WHAT HAD OCCURRED & TRIED TO SQUEEZE THE OXYGEN HOSEE TOGETHER. THE HOSE SUDDENLY IGNITED & RESULTED IN THE VICTIM SUFFERING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS OF THE PALM OF HIS RIGHT HAND. V

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Lee Surface Mine

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.