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.
134 citations across 2,189 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: 2014-03-05.
On record since 2014.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
LEWIS CREEK has $68K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 18 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.
$68K
proposed penalties
$49K
current assessed
$48K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
132 assessments are final orders; 18 contested dockets.
Of $50K in penalties contested before the Commission, $30K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-05-07.
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.
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.
32citations taken to the federal commission · 24% of citations on record
Settled
30 · 94%
Stood as issued
2 · 6%
77%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 22 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
39%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$50K proposed, $30K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2020-02-18.
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 LEWIS CREEK shows 100% of 187 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: 2024-04-22
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
187
samples
1.11
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.
122 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 65 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.
LEWIS CREEK recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2018.
Injury rate, 2018
ⓘ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 3.34 and the all-US-mining average was 2.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 3.81 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
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017
2.71
2.71
0.000
2016
5.21
3.90
0.000
2015
1.53
1.53
0.000
2014
3.02
3.02
0.000
2013
1.80
1.80
0.000
2012 *
4.64
4.64
0.000
2011 *
0.00
0.00
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)
2024
2
2023
5
2022
3
2021
4
2020
2
2019
4
13,659
2018
30
359,453
2017
70
804,122
2016
71
944,855
2015
70
817,127
2014
65
948,513
2013
62
927,727
2012
49
933,492
2011
21
488,278
2010
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
LEWIS CREEK sits in Ohio County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 1.0% 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.
Ohio County, Kentucky · Population 23,704
1.0%
Mining share of county employment
$54,369
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
2024 Q3
40
0
0
0.0
2024 Q2
209
1
0
4784.7
2024 Q1
260
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
566
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
1,869
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
255
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
403
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
1,228
1
0
814.3
Show 47 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2022 Q3
957
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
169
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
110
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
1,412
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
837
2
0
2389.5
2021 Q2
853
2
0
2344.7
2021 Q1
92
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
60
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
185
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
360
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
492
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
33
4
0
121212.1
2019 Q2
40
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
3,970
3
0
755.7
2018 Q4
14,042
4
2
284.9
2018 Q3
19,778
4
1
202.2
2018 Q2
8,449
1
0
118.4
2018 Q1
22,576
1
0
44.3
2017 Q4
33,209
2
0
60.2
2017 Q3
37,673
3
2
79.6
2017 Q2
36,868
3
1
81.4
2017 Q1
39,802
4
0
100.5
2016 Q4
40,445
4
0
98.9
2016 Q3
42,345
1
1
23.6
2016 Q2
33,670
3
0
89.1
2016 Q1
37,201
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
28,125
2
0
71.1
2015 Q3
34,636
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
34,083
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
33,809
6
1
177.5
2014 Q4
35,295
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
34,618
1
1
28.9
2014 Q2
30,059
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
32,578
3
1
92.1
2013 Q4
27,535
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
32,530
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
27,793
3
0
107.9
2013 Q1
23,486
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
24,847
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
21,025
4
3
190.2
2012 Q2
19,124
1
1
52.3
2012 Q1
21,208
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
18,599
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
14,249
2
0
140.4
2011 Q2
4,670
1
0
214.1
2011 Q1
0
1
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2017 · 3 incidents
August 31, 2017KY · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
On 08/31/2017 employee was operating an end loader and ran over a rock jarring their lower back. Employee continued to work and on 10/25/2017 they went to the Doctor for treatment.
EE climbed up on ladder of Komatsu 785 Haul Truck to inspect and secure a block heater receptacle that was broke off. When climbing back down off of the truck EE strained lower back. EE finished the shift and did not report injury till 1:00 pm on 7/25/2017.
Road was wet. Driver said that EE looked down and when EE looked back up EE was at the edge of the road and ran up on the side of the safety berm, which knocked the wheel back into fuel tank. Driver sustained cut on head from hitting light and bruised ribs.
2016 · 4 incidents
November 18, 2016KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was repairing a hydraulic hose on #146 1250 Komatsu excavator when EE slipped on spilled oil and fell on a compartment door. Injury was to the right rib cage area.
Employee was holding a B/O hammer and another employee was hitting it with a sledge hammer driving the wedges out of Drag rope sockets on the bucket. Employee made a bad strike causing a piece of metal to fly off the B/O hammer and lodge in EE left forearm. Employee received 2 stitches in left forearm.
February 15, 2016KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was entering the cab of Komatsu 785 Haul Truck and the door had been left open letting snow on floor board. Employee slipped on snow and hit EE's back on arm rest of seat.
Employee was unhooking boomer chains on a lowboy when the lowboy was being lowered to the ground to be unhooked from truck employee's left foot was under the frame of the lowboy causing it to smash EE's foot.
EE was fueling a dozer, handling the fuel hose when he started having pain in his right shoulder, neck and arm. He thinks he strained himself handling the fuel hose.
September 27, 2014KY · Coaloutside foreman, leadmanMACHINERY
Employee the 2nd shift foreman had started the pit pump when he saw a twist in the discharge hose. He reached for the hose and the pump picked up water. The hose hit him in the left thigh knocking him to the ground.
2013 · 1 incident
July 20, 2013KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was working on a part clamped in a vise. When he loosened the vise to reposition the part it began to fall and EE tried to catch the part and it mashed the tip of his middle finger on his right hand causing him to loose the tip of his finger at the first joint.
Employee hit a bump in the haul road and jarred his upper back and neck. He did not report the injury until the next day. He did not seek medical attention until 4/29/2012 two days after the incident.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Kentucky Land Resources, Inc.