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.
369 citations across 2,994 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Love Branch has $142K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 14 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.
$142K
proposed penalties
$124K
current assessed
$124K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
356 assessments are final orders; 14 contested dockets.
Of $60K in penalties contested before the Commission, $42K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-06-04.
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.
56citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
Settled
54 · 96%
Stood as issued
2 · 4%
92%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 52 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
30%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$60K proposed, $42K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-12-26.
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 Love Branch shows 95% of 242 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: 2010-04-26, 16 years ago
95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
242
samples
3.50
dust max (mg/m3)
113 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 129 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.
Love Branch recorded 5.07 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.
Injury rate, 2010
ⓘ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.
5.07
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.85 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
2010 *
5.07
0.00
0.000
2009
5.30
2.65
0.000
2008 *
2.92
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
0
2012
0
2011
2
2010
18
46,916
2009
63
251,532
2008
36
129,546
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Love Branch sits in Letcher County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.5% 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky · Population 21,146
3.5%
Mining share of county employment
$40,501
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
A roof fall occurred in the intersection 1 break out-by spad #944 in the # 3 entry.The fall measured approx. 19'W X 25' L. X6' Thick. Persons, ventilation nor equipment were effected. This area will not be rehabilitated.
2010 · 1 incident
January 9, 2010KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerELECTRICAL
Deane Mining LLC · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Changing battery on permissable ride when battery lead grounded against the frame causing the battery to explode resulting in a chemical burn to one eye.
A non-injury roof fall occurred on the active 001 & 002 MMU in the last open crosscut in the #4 intersection. The fall measured 19' wide x 10' thick and 260' long. No persons, equipment, nor ventilation were affected. This area will be rehabilitated.
October 3, 2009KY · Coalutility man, errand boy, service truck operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was helping with belt move and was assisting with lifting part of the belt structure when he felt a pull in his lower back. Physician took him off work effective 10/05/2009.
September 24, 2009KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE was lifting a man trip with a jack when the bar came out and struck him in the left jaw.
March 18, 2009KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Deane Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE was tramming roofbolter with his right hand on top of the canopy, when his fingers were mashed between the canopy and the mine top, resulting in an avulsed finger tip on his right middle finger and required stitches on his right index finger.
A roof fall has occurred on the 001-0 MMU, 1 break inby spad #601. The fall measured 19' wide x 40' long x 5' thick. Persons, ventilation nor equipment were effected. This fall area will not be rehabilitated.
March 13, 2009KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was riding rail runner in low clearance and hit his back on the top causing injury to his back and ribs.
2008 · 2 incidents
November 3, 2008KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerMACHINERY
Deane Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was aligning the bolt in the drill pod and accidently activated the rotation lever. His glove caught on the roof bolt and twisted his hand. He was taken to Pikeville Medical Center and x-rays revealed a fracture to his left middle finger.
A roof fall occurred 700' outby the working section in the return airway on 002-0 MMU. Person, ventilation, nor equipment were effected. This area was cribbed up and dangered off.