Viking Acquisition Group, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface
guard sitting post approached and assaulted/harrassed by two unknown guys for his wallet guard ran and jumped over bank
Long Fork Mine: 98 MSHA citations Coal
Long Fork Mine has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Long Fork Mine.
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 6
- Years on record
- 2008–2012
- Latest incident
- Aug 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
98
citations
17
significant & substantial
$14,030
proposed penalties
$9,365
paid to date
67% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,665 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2007
30
inspections on record
1,045
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.98 citations across 1,045 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Long Fork Mine has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 2 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.$14K
proposed penalties
$14K
current assessed
$9K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
98 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $740 in penalties contested before the Commission, $640 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-09-23.
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.17.3%
significant & substantial
4.1%
high negligence or reckless
17.3%
reasonably likely or greater
6.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 9.2% low, 86.7% moderate, 4.1% 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.
3
citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
- Settled 3 · 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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
14%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$740 proposed, $640 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 2011-05-21.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KENT 2009-1023 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2010 | $540 → $440 |
| KENT 2011-1049 | Settlement | Tureck | 2012 | $200 → $200 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Long Fork Mine shows 100% of 49 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: 2013-09-18, 12 years ago
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
49
samples
1.10
dust max (mg/m3)
49 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR13
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE13
- ROTARY BUCKET EXCAVATOR OPERATOR8
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2011-05-16, 15 years ago20.0
silica avg (%)
11
samples
45.7
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR5
- ROTARY BUCKET EXCAVATOR OPERATOR4
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER2
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: 2013-09-17, 12 years ago
ⓘ
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.4%
over PEL
24
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR9
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE6
- ROTARY BUCKET EXCAVATOR OPERATOR3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 100% | 9 |
| 2011 | 100% | 16 |
| 2009 | 100% | 2 |
| 2008 | 100% | 6 |
| 2007 | 100% | 16 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16.6 | 6 |
| 2007 | 24.0 | 5 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0% | 4 |
| 2011 | 0% | 7 |
| 2009 | 0% | 2 |
| 2008 | 17% | 6 |
| 2007 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Long Fork Mine recorded 6.50 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.6.50
total case rate
6.50
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 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.
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
- Stewart Resources, LLC 2007 to 2008
- Viking Mining, LLC 2008 to 2010
- Viking Acquisition Group, LLC 2010 to 2012
- J & J Minerals, LLC 2012 to 2013
- Rhyno Corp LLC 2013 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 12,005 |
| 2012 | 1 | 5,458 |
| 2011 | 12 | 179,578 |
| 2010 | 3 | 15,071 |
| 2009 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 8 | 25,676 |
| 2007 | 13 | 3,944 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Long Fork Mine sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 Q4 | 1,173 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q3 | 340 | 5 | 0 | 14705.9 |
| 2013 Q2 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 20 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Q1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q1 | 3,133 | 6 | 5 | 1915.1 |
| 2011 Q4 | 8,822 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 9,455 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q2 | 5,933 | 4 | 1 | 674.2 |
| 2011 Q1 | 6,544 | 3 | 1 | 458.4 |
| 2010 Q4 | 4,466 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q2 | 580 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q1 | 474 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 1,098 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 1,217 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 1,066 | 1 | 0 | 938.1 |
| 2009 Q1 | 1,565 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 2,744 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 1,977 | 2 | 0 | 1011.6 |
| 2007 Q3 | 3,032 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
6 on file2012 · 1 incident
2011 · 2 incidents
Viking Acquisition Group, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was exiting passenger side of service truck when he slipped. He then caught himself with his left arm and felt a strain in his left arm.
January 17, 2011
KY · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Viking Acquisition Group, LLC · Fall from machine
He was climbing down ladder of end loader, when he slipped and fell to the ground. He strained a muscle in his lower back. He was originally released to return to work on 1/19/2011, but he returned to the Dr. and has not returned to work yet.
2010 · 1 incident
December 17, 2010
KY · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Viking Acquisition Group, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface
Victim was pulling on cable, and fell. Did not report it until 12-17-10, when his back began to hurt. Went to dr. on 12-20-10, L-5 vertebra out of line. Has appt. with physical therapy on 01-03-2011.
2008 · 2 incidents
December 12, 2008
KY · Coal
bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Viking Mining, LLC · Fall from machine
Employee decided to start equipment in an area of the job where no one else was present. He came in on a road on the backsided of the mine. After trying to start a CAT 777 he fell while descending the truck hitting the ground.
September 10, 2008
KY · Coal
greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Viking Mining, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee twisted his hand while rolling up fuel hose