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Licklog Mine: 358 MSHA citations Coal

Banner Blue Coal Company · Underground
Controlled by Metinvest B V
Big Rock, Buchanan County, VA  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4407004

Licklog Mine has $32K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8K outstanding across 16 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
2001–2007
Latest incident
Feb 2007
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
358
citations
115
significant & substantial
$31,605
proposed penalties
$22,164
paid to date
70% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $9,441 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Banner Blue Coal Company's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
145
inspections on record
3,799
inspection hours
9.4
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.
358 citations across 3,799 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Licklog Mine has $32K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8K outstanding across 16 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.
$32K
proposed penalties
$30K
current assessed
$22K
paid to date
$8K
outstanding
354 assessments are final orders; 16 contested dockets.
Of $9K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-02-28.
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.
32.5%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
32.5%
reasonably likely or greater
1.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.3% none, 13.0% low, 86.7% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
9 citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
  • Stood as issued 9 · 100%
100%
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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $1K 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 2005-05-06.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
VA 20030087 Settlement Melick 2003 $1K → $974
VA 20020054 Settlement Barbour 2002 $1K → $930
VA 20020031 Settlement Barbour 2002 $813 → $590
VA 2004-58 Default Lesnick 2005 $723 → $723
VA 2005-34 Default Lesnick 2005 $720 → $720
VA 2004-35 Default Lesnick 2004 $675 → $675
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Licklog Mine shows 97% of 698 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: 2007-02-05, 19 years ago
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
698
samples
8.87
dust max (mg/m3)
312 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 386 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR400
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)55
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (OFF STANDARD)53

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2006-08-29, 19 years ago
9.2
silica avg (%)
63
samples
37.7
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR19
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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.

Last sampled: 2006-05-10, 20 years ago
2%
over PEL
61
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR13
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)13
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)8
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2007 100% 6
2006 97% 106
2005 99% 117
2004 98% 125
2003 100% 107
2002 96% 119
2001 94% 118
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2006 8.5 9
2005 13.1 15
2004 9.2 16
2003 8.3 4
2002 6.4 5
2001 6.7 14
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2006 0% 9
2005 0% 5
2004 0% 17
2002 0% 17
2001 8% 13
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Licklog Mine recorded 3.45 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.

Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ 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.
3.45
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.44 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
2006 * 3.45 0.00 0.000
2005 * 7.24 0.00 0.000
2004 * 7.26 7.26 0.000
2003 * 15.16 11.37 0.000
2002 * 7.32 7.32 0.000
2001 * 8.27 8.27 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.
Ownership history
  1. Kentar Energy Company 2000 to 2000
  2. Raintree Coal Company 2000 to 2001
  3. Black Canyon Mining Company 2001 to 2005
  4. Banner Blue Coal Company 2005 to present
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)
2007 11 20,989
2006 27 97,775
2005 26 92,328
2004 25 110,270
2003 26 129,311
2002 27 154,055
2001 24 146,763
2000 7 2,103
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Licklog Mine sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.
Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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
2007 Q4 0 0 0
2007 Q1 10,244 3 0 292.9
2006 Q4 12,950 15 4 1158.3
2006 Q3 14,609 12 5 821.4
2006 Q2 15,390 16 6 1039.6
2006 Q1 15,063 14 4 929.4
2005 Q4 12,146 13 3 1070.3
2005 Q3 14,832 16 5 1078.7
Show 19 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2005 Q2 15,427 20 6 1296.4
2005 Q1 12,874 15 5 1165.1
2004 Q4 15,914 19 4 1193.9
2004 Q3 12,314 19 5 1543.0
2004 Q2 14,919 11 4 737.3
2004 Q1 11,987 10 5 834.2
2003 Q4 13,939 8 4 573.9
2003 Q3 11,907 10 3 839.8
2003 Q2 15,005 9 3 599.8
2003 Q1 11,904 17 7 1428.1
2002 Q4 15,020 9 1 599.2
2002 Q3 11,624 13 5 1118.4
2002 Q2 15,874 24 9 1511.9
2002 Q1 12,160 11 5 904.6
2001 Q4 15,219 10 1 657.1
2001 Q3 12,162 12 4 986.7
2001 Q2 13,067 19 8 1454.0
2001 Q1 7,926 7 2 883.2
2000 Q4 1,146 2 0 1745.2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

14 on file

2007 · 1 incident

2006 · 1 incident

August 14, 2006 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Banner Blue Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects

A piece of rock fell hitting employee in back and knocked him into the bolter as he was on his knees bolting top causing laceration to forehead. Sutures involved.

2005 · 2 incidents

October 31, 2005 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Black Canyon Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee got finger caught between pinner wrench and drill steel while installing roof bolt. pinched right index finger. he had to get mine stitches in it. He was wearing gloves.

September 13, 2005 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Black Canyon Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

While bolting top employee got end of index finger caught against top and mashed end of finger off.

2004 · 2 incidents

May 21, 2004 VA · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Canyon Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS MOVING CABLE OUT OF ROADWAY ON 5/21/04 WHEN HE NOTICED HE WAS HAVING PAIN IN HIS BACK. ON 6/3/04 EE WAS TOLD BY A DOCTOR TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK BECAUSE HE HAD A BULGING DISC IN HIS BACK.

May 12, 2004 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black Canyon Mining Company · Fall onto or against objects

EE WHILE LOADING BOLTS & PLATES ON ROOF BOLT MACHINE SLIP AND FELL ON SCOOP BUCKET HIT SHOULDER AND BRUISED HIS SHOULDER.

2003 · 4 incidents

July 25, 2003 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Canyon Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING MECHANIC LOAD MOTOR TO TAKE INSIDE. HE CAUGHT TIP END OF HIS RING FINGER UNDER EDGE OF MOTOR. IT MASHED END OF FINGER CAUSING NAIL TO COME OFF. HE HAD GLOVES ON.

June 26, 2003 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Black Canyon Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE TRIMMED SKIRT ON STACKER BELT WITH A SHARP POCKET KNIFE. IT SLIPPED AND CUT HIS RIGHT POINTER FINGER. IT TOOK TEN STITCHES.

February 24, 2003 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Canyon Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AFTER LOADING CABLE EE STARTED TO SIT DOWN AND NOTICE LOSS OF FELLING IN RIGHT ARM. THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE HAVING HEART PROBLEM. HE TOOK NITRO-GLYCERIN PILL AND WENT TO HOSPITAL. THEY THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE A NERVE PINCHED IN HIS NECK. HE HAD BEEN LOADING 1/0 CABLE.

2002 · 2 incidents

June 18, 2002 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Black Canyon Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE PUTTING UP ROOF BOLT EE TOOK HOLD OF STEEL AND IT BROKE CUTTING EE ON INDEX FINGER ON LEFT HAND. EE DID HAVE GLOVES ON.

May 28, 2002 VA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner POWERED HAULAGE
Black Canyon Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

BRAD BAR FELL OFF 3-WHEELER & CAUGHT ON WHEEL & FLIPPED AND CAUGHT HIM IN THE BACK.

2001 · 2 incidents

April 4, 2001 VA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black Canyon Mining Company · Struck by falling object

EE WAS GETTING READY TO SERVICE EQUIPMENT HAD SMALL PIECE OF DRAW ROCK TO FALL BETWEEN BOLTS HIT HIM ON LEFT LEG AND BRUISED IT. ROCK WAS 3'X2'X15" ROCK HIT EE AND MANTRIP AT SAME TIME.

March 14, 2001 VA · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator MACHINERY
Black Canyon Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ASKED TO BRING A CAN OF OIL TO ROOF BOLTER AFTER PUTTING OIL IN ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR OF ROOFBOLTER STARTED BACK TO BOLT TOP. HE DIDN'T SEE EMPLOYEE HAD LAID HIS HAND ON BOLTER, WH EN HE SWUNG HEAD TO ONE SIDE IT CAUGHT EMPLOYEE'S FINGER AGAINST FRAME OF BOLTER.