Lick Branch Mine No 2 has $284K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 10 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Lick Branch Mine No 2.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
65
Years on record
1998–2013
Latest incident
Oct 2013
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
675
citations
229
significant & substantial
$283,804
proposed penalties
$224,103
paid to date
79% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $59,701 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.
675 citations across 5,333 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Lick Branch Mine No 2 has $284K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 10 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.
$284K
proposed penalties
$230K
current assessed
$224K
paid to date
$6K
outstanding
659 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $140K in penalties contested before the Commission, $81K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-02-26.
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.
51citations taken to the federal commission · 8% of citations on record
Settled
50 · 98%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 2%
80%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 30 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
42%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$140K proposed, $81K 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 2011-07-20.
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 Lick Branch Mine No 2 shows 91% of 382 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: 2011-08-03, 15 years ago
91%
within 1.5 mg/m3
382
samples
8.88
dust max (mg/m3)
174 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 208 by the operator.
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.
Lick Branch Mine No 2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.45 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2011
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
8.27
2.76
0.000
2007 *
15.45
0.00
0.000
2006 *
6.63
0.00
0.000
2005 *
11.48
3.83
0.000
2004 *
21.24
8.50
0.000
2002 *
9.12
9.12
0.000
2001 *
10.05
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)
2016
0
2015
0
2014
0
2013
1
2012
7
2011
42
55,593
2010
13
2009
3
5,042
2008
36
129,846
2007
32
144,785
2006
30
153,882
2005
26
210,104
2004
27
208,386
2003
2
6,306
2002
19
149,615
2001
17
128,321
2000
3
10,165
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Lick Branch Mine No 2 sits in Fayette County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 3.0% 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.
Fayette County, West Virginia · Population 39,987
3.0%
Mining share of county employment
$52,672
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
2016 Q1
0
0
0
2015 Q4
0
0
0
2015 Q3
0
0
0
2015 Q2
0
0
0
2015 Q1
0
0
0
2014 Q4
0
0
0
2014 Q3
0
0
0
2014 Q2
0
0
0
Show 55 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2014 Q1
0
0
0
2013 Q4
0
0
0
2013 Q3
10
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
0
0
0
2013 Q1
1,637
1
0
610.9
2012 Q4
4,411
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
4,164
1
0
240.2
2012 Q2
4,926
7
0
1421.0
2012 Q1
4,608
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
4,395
2
0
455.1
2011 Q3
21,669
3
0
138.4
2011 Q2
42,781
28
7
654.5
2011 Q1
39,991
45
9
1125.3
2010 Q4
14,421
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
2,726
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
0
1
0
2009 Q3
0
0
0
2009 Q2
0
2
0
2009 Q1
5,233
1
1
191.1
2008 Q4
20,781
18
5
866.2
2008 Q3
18,775
47
9
2503.3
2008 Q2
18,152
24
10
1322.2
2008 Q1
14,836
13
4
876.2
2007 Q4
11,323
30
6
2649.5
2007 Q3
16,275
14
6
860.2
2007 Q2
18,666
34
13
1821.5
2007 Q1
18,442
14
7
759.1
2006 Q4
17,230
18
9
1044.7
2006 Q3
16,609
16
7
963.3
2006 Q2
14,205
22
9
1548.8
2006 Q1
12,245
12
7
980.0
2005 Q4
12,509
5
3
399.7
2005 Q3
13,198
14
8
1060.8
2005 Q2
12,430
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
14,109
16
6
1134.0
2004 Q4
12,194
7
1
574.1
2004 Q3
12,458
13
2
1043.5
2004 Q2
13,055
13
4
995.8
2004 Q1
9,377
11
4
1173.1
2003 Q4
0
3
0
2003 Q3
370
1
0
2702.7
2003 Q2
890
10
4
11236.0
2003 Q1
1,327
6
2
4521.5
2002 Q4
2,965
16
5
5396.3
2002 Q3
3,703
24
7
6481.2
2002 Q2
18,531
38
12
2050.6
2002 Q1
18,642
40
20
2145.7
2001 Q4
20,116
36
18
1789.6
2001 Q3
16,837
14
3
831.5
2001 Q2
2,214
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
652
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
976
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
1,040
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
1,808
1
0
553.1
2000 Q1
2,272
2
1
880.3
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
65 on file
2013 · 2 incidents
October 7, 2013WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Injured had pushed supplies off the scoop with the ram. He had a chain hooked around the supplies & anchored to a hook on the ram. The chain was too tight to unhook & he was holding on to the chain with his right hand & he stepped onto the chain attempting to get slack & he caught his finger between the chain & the hook cutting his finger & causing a distal fracture.
A roof fall was found at 8:45am in #7 entry one break inby spad # 3418. The fall measured 4' H x 20' L x 10' W. The area had been bolted with 4' resin bolts. There was no equipment damaged or injuries but the intake had to be re-routed around the fall.
A section of roof measuring 20' w x 10'l x 8' thick fell at the highwall over #4 intake fan entry. The rock damaged the fan housing, interrupted ventilation and blocked the primary escapeway.
EE was talking to supervisor and while bent over due to seam height EE's hard hat scrapped the mine roof causing rock dust to fall behind his safety glasses. The rock dust struck him in the eye. EE has not missed any days worked~medical treatment onlu using prescription mediciation for treatment of the material in the eyes.
EE was loading hydraulic oil cans into a scoop bucket, he stepped on a crib block that was under water and mud. The EE strained a mucscle in his lower right leg.
Injured was riding out of mine in the middle section of the mantrip that is not covered. Injured raised his head and struck the right side of his head on the roof causing lacerations to forehad and under right eye. Received 5 stitches to forehead and 8" under right eye.
Roof fall occurred in the interseciton of number 6 entry at spad #3410 on the 2nd nw mains and extended into the cross cut. knocking out a stopping. fall measured. 50' long x 20' w x 5-6'. area had been bolted with a 4' resin bolts. no injuries or equipment damage.
Injured was operating the left side of twin head roof bolter. After setting the TRS and raising the canopy, he was installing the drill steel in the chuck with his left hand, when a piece of rock fell and caught his hand. The rock split the end of his finger open and fractured the last digit.
August 1, 2007WV · Coalapprentice, traineeMACHINERY
Injured was operating a roof bolter on the left side. As he was dropping the operator's canopy, the moveable wing caught on a roof bolt plate. The injured was talking to the other driller and had put his hand on top of the rigid canopy. When the canopy came free from the roof bolt plate, it caught his finger.
Roof fall occurred near spad # 3116 on 2nd Southeast mains. In the crosscut between track entry and the neutral roadway. Fall was 6' H x 20' W x 20' L. The area had been bolted with 4' resin and 6' torque tension bolts.
February 6, 2007WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was traveling on mantrip looking for scoop. He backed up to let another vehicle pass. As he moved forward he struck a rib causing the steering column to move out of control. The steering column hit his right hand causing fractures.
February 1, 2007WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Injured was holding a bundle of resin glue cartridges in his left hand and was using a razor knife in his right hand to cut off the plastic wrapping when the knife slipped and cut the index finger on his left hand. The laceration required 6 stitches.
Employee and co worker were putting up seals. Co worker was operating jack hammer while injured held it to cut into rib. Big chunk of rib broke lose causing injured's hand to strike rib, smashing his finger.
Roof Fall occured in the main return from 1st NW seals #5 entry (25ft length x 18 ft width x 24 - 36 inches high) no injuries or entrapment, no ventilation disturbed, passageway blocked and no equoptment involved.
July 10, 2006WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Injured was operatng an S&S 488 scoop. He went to park it in #3 entry. As he was coming to a stop, he placed his right hand on top of the canopy. The sccop came to a stop & caught his right hand between the canopy & rib.
FALL OCCURRED AT APPROX. 5:30 P.M. ON THE #5 BELT LINE. FALL WAS FROM BETWEEN THE #2 & #3 ENTRY OVER TO THE #5 ENTRY. 250' OUTBY SECTION FEEDER. SPAD #2389 IS LOCATED IN THE #2 ENTRY IN LINE WITH FALL. AREA BOLTED WITH 4' RESIN BOLTS. FALL MEASURED 108' LONG X 20' WIDE X 4-7' THICK. SECTION WAS MOVED OUT THIS AREA. STATE AND MSHA LOOKED AT AREA.
FALL OCCURRED AT APPROX. 9:30 P.M. ALONG THE #5 BELT LINE BETWEEN THE #4 AND #5 ENTRIES, 1 X-CUT INBY SPAD #2379. SOME OF THIS AREA HAD BEEN TIMBERED AND CRIBBED. BOLTED WITH 4' RESIN BOLTS. FALL MEASURED 37' LONG X 20' WIDE X 4-5' THICK.
May 10, 2005WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Relgis, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
While repositioning roof bolter head to drill hole ee twisted lt knee. he conitued to work until 12:45 pm knee hurting and ask to come outside.
Fall occurred at app. 6:45 pm in the #1 entry. Area was bolted with 4' resin & 6x6 plates. Fall measured 15' x 30' x 5' high. Area was a transition area from slate to sandstone roof located in low cover area. Equipment was moved outby & area timbered & dangered off.
January 14, 2005WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
While employee was unloading supplies out of a scoop bucket, a piece of rock measuring 24" x 12" x 1" fell from the roof. A roof bolt plate had been cut out by the miner at this location. The piece of rock hit him in the back and neck area causing him to fall.
While mining operations were being done in #8 entry of the 001 section, a piece of rock fell out between the rib and the first row of bolts. The rock hit the employee on the left side of his back and down to his left hip, causing him to fall forward. The rock measured 68" long, 16" on one end and 30" wide on the other end, 2" to 8" thick.
December 7, 2004WV · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
Relgis, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
While using hand-held grinder, it kicked back away from surface being ground and cut employee's right wrist.
Fall occurred at approx 4:30 am in the #6 entry 2 x-cuts in by spad #2096. Area bolted with 4' resin bolts and 6 by 6 plates. Fall measured 40 ft long 10-20 ft wide and 4 ft thick. Fall was timbered off.
May 19, 2004WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Relgis, Inc. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Removing rock from miner and caught fingers between rock and roof.
April 14, 2004WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)OTHER
INJURED WAS CARRYING A 40 LB BAG OF ROCKDUST TO THE FACE OF #4 ENTRY. WHEN HE SLIPPED ON WET BOTOTM. INJURED STUMBLED, CAUGHT HIS BALANCE AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.
February 12, 2002WV · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
INJURED AND SUPERVISOR WERE STANDING OUTBY THE CONTINUOUS MINER WATCHING COAL BEING LOADED INTOTHE COAL HAULER. A PIECE OF ROCK HAD FALLEN ONTOHEAD OF MINER. WHEN THE PIECE OF ROCK CAME BACK THE CONVEYOR CHAIN, IT FELL OFF AND STRUCK INJURED ABOVE THE RT. KNEE. SUPERVISOR HAD SEEN THE ROCK AND PULLED INJURED BACK.
2001 · 6 incidents
December 29, 2001WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING CINDER BLOCKS INTO A SCOOP BUCKET WHEN HE CAUGHT THE LITTLE FINGER OF HIS RIGHT HAND BETWEEN TWO BLOCKS CRUSHING THE LAST DIGIT OF HIS FINGER.
EE WAS CLEANING & DUSTING THE BELTS. HE WAS CARRYING A BAG OF ROCK DUST UNDER HIS ARM, HE TRIED TO OPEN AN AIRLOCK DOOR. THE AIR PRESSURE COMBINED WITH THE SLICK BOTTOM CAUSED HIM TO FALL. HE LANDED ON A CINDER BLOCK AND AGAINST A HAND RAIL CUASING THE INJURY.
June 19, 2001WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN 5TH LEFT PANEL OFF OF FIRST RIGHT IN A BLEEDER ENTRY NEAR SPAD NO 903. THE FALL WAS ABOUT 150'LONG, 18'WIDE, AND 4 TO 4.5'THICK. THE AREA WAS SUPPORTED WITH 4' RESIN BO LTS.
January 7, 2000WV · Coalscoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING THE ROADWAYS AND RIBS WITH A 482 S & S SCOOP. HE WAS CLENAING IN A XCUT BETWEEN #2 AND #3 ENTRIES WHEN A RIB ROLLED OUT INTOTHE SCOOP DECK HITTING HIM ON RIGH T SHOULDER.
July 6, 1999WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE TRACK IN THE MINE HAD BEEN TAKEN APART. EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. HE WAS PULLING ON A RAIL AND CAUSED A SPRAIN TO HIS SHOULDER AND NECK.
April 19, 1999WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A ROOFFALL OCCURED 13 CROSSCUTS OUTBY FACE NEAR SPAD NO 286. THE AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 4' RESIN BOLTS AND SOME CRIBS AND HEADERS WERE SET. THE FALL WAS ABOUT 20'WIDEX55'LONG AND 6' THICK
WHILE OPERATING A COAL HAULER(RAM CAR) RAN OVER A ROCK IN THE ROADWAY, CAUSING HIM TO BOUNCE UP COMING DOWN ON HIS SELF-RESCUER. EE DIDN'T START MISSING WORK UNTIL 5-11-98. DUE TO LACK OF COMM UNICATION WE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS OFF FROM WORK DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.
April 27, 1998WV · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderOTHER