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.
120 citations across 1,423 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Limestone Mine has $9K 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.
$9K
proposed penalties
$9K
current assessed
$9K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
113 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-07-25.
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.
MSHA sampling at Limestone Mine shows 95% of 241 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: 2006-08-11, 20 years ago
95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
241
samples
4.43
dust max (mg/m3)
129 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 112 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.
Limestone Mine recorded 2.29 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005.
Injury rate, 2005
ⓘ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.
2.29
total case rate
2.29
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 5.11 and the all-US-mining average was 4.21 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.46 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
2005 *
2.29
2.29
0.000
2004 *
14.32
8.18
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)
2006
35
150,092
2005
37
236,674
2004
46
280,710
2003
23
58,843
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Limestone Mine 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
2006 Q3
8,679
9
1
1037.0
2006 Q2
19,586
15
2
765.9
2006 Q1
18,916
15
4
793.0
2005 Q4
20,289
13
2
640.7
2005 Q3
24,174
9
1
372.3
2005 Q2
22,790
5
0
219.4
2005 Q1
20,002
2
1
100.0
2004 Q4
22,215
2
2
90.0
Show 5 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2004 Q3
23,031
3
1
130.3
2004 Q2
31,117
8
3
257.1
2004 Q1
21,427
10
1
466.7
2003 Q4
17,910
12
0
670.0
2003 Q3
3,215
1
1
311.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
27 on file
2006 · 4 incidents
May 8, 2006KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Ee was climbing up stairs of forklift when his left foot slipped off of top step his left leg went under forklift. He was holding onto both handles when slipped. Right knee ligament was strained.
March 13, 2006KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Operating roof bolter, drill steel got stuck in hole. Operator reached out to hold steel and was going to hit the reverse rotation on drill. Instead he hit forward causing steel to come out and strike the back of the operator's hand causing a break in the left wrist bone.
January 18, 2006KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Drilling a hole to install roof bolts using a 6' steel, he used his wrench to torque bolts to drill a deeper hole and steel bent. He reversed the drill rotation and was holding the steel in his hand when he hit the reverse lever. Wrench came off steel, hit his left arm causing a simple fracture of the forearm.
2005 · 1 incident
September 10, 2005KY · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS SITTING ON TOP OF RAILRUNNER WHILE MOVING IT AND CAME TO A CURVE IN TRACK. THE RAILRUNNER JUMPED TRACK CAUSING EE TO INJURE LEFT SHOULDER. (STARTED MISSING WORK 10/25/04.
A ROOF FALL WAS FOUND MEASURING 6 - 7' THICK IN THE NO.5 ENTRY 50' OUTBY SS#353. EST LENGTH FALL 50' X 20' X 6-7' APPROX 6000'SURFACE 500' OUTBY SECTION.
May 25, 2004KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was splicing a miner cable and while striking the anvil a small piece of the hammer chipped of striking him in the left thumb. Required 3 stitches.
March 3, 2004KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS WELDING ON CONTINUOUS MINER WHEN PIECE OF RUST FLEW UP BEHIND HIS SAFETY GLASSES AND GETTING INTO HIS EYE. VICTIM THOUGHT HE GOT IT OUT BUT STARTED BOLTING HIM LATER. REQUIRING HIM TO N EED TREATMENT EE WENT TO DR ON 8-4-94.
EE WAS WORKING ON FEEDER TAKING SLACK OUT OF TRACK. HE WAS USING AN SLATE BAR TO RELEASE GREASE JACK WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL ON WET BOTTOM TWISTING HIS BACK WHEN HE FELL. EE FINISHED WORKING THE WEEK ON BUT SAID HIS BACK WAS GETTING WORST.
VICTIM WAS SHOVELING CONVEYOR BELT WHEN ENCOUNTERING A PIECE OF ROCK THAT NEEDED REMOVING. HE WAS LIFTING ABOUT AN 30 LB. ROCK ONTO BELT CONVEYOR WHEN SOMETHING IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER PULLED, C AUSING PAIN.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Powell Mountain Coal Co., Inc.