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.
Rate withheld: 246 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Lovers Gap #2 has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $881 outstanding across 1 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.
$8K
proposed penalties
$7K
current assessed
$7K
paid to date
$881
outstanding
30 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $6K in penalties contested before the Commission, $5K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-05-14.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
15%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$6K proposed, $5K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2007-08-27.
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 Lovers Gap #2 shows 100% of 15 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: 2007-05-07, 19 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
15
samples
0.32
dust max (mg/m3)
15 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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.
Lovers Gap #2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.
Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ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 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.66 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
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
4.96
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)
2008
0
2007
37
348,149
2006
24
207,768
2005
0
2003
0
2002
0
2001
0
2000
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Lovers Gap #2 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
2008 Q1
0
0
0
2007 Q4
0
0
0
2007 Q3
57
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
42,546
6
0
141.0
2007 Q1
33,031
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
32,929
3
0
91.1
2006 Q3
7,419
3
1
404.4
2006 Q2
0
0
0
Show 17 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2006 Q1
0
1
0
2005 Q4
0
0
0
2003 Q3
0
0
0
2003 Q2
0
0
0
2003 Q1
0
0
0
2002 Q4
0
0
0
2002 Q3
0
0
0
2002 Q2
0
0
0
2002 Q1
0
0
0
2001 Q4
0
0
0
2001 Q3
0
0
0
2001 Q2
0
0
0
2001 Q1
0
0
0
2000 Q4
0
0
0
2000 Q3
0
0
0
2000 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q1
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
14 on file
2006 · 2 incidents
December 5, 2006VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was in the process of performing service on a Caterpillar 992G loader. He was walking around the side of the machine when he stepped on a small pile of dirt. The dirt shifted causing him to slip and loose his footing. In the process, he twisted his right knee.
November 14, 2006VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was picking up tools off of the fender of a D11 dozer when he slipped and fell hitting his head on the step next to the front of the dozer causing a laceration to the left eyebrow which required stitches.
1999 · 3 incidents
May 5, 1999VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS TIGHTENING FUEL LINE ON CYLINDER HEAD THAT WAS BEING INSTALLED ON HAULER. HIS HAND AND WRENCH SLIPPED OFF FITTING WHILE TIGHTENING FUEL LINE. HIS FINGER HIT CORNER OF CYLINDER HEA D NEXT TO THE ONE THAT WAS BEING INSTALLED.
March 30, 1999VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
EE WAS OPERATING A DOZER , RAN OVER ROCK CAUSING DOZER TO FALL DOWN AND BOTTOM OUT. IMPACT RESULTED IN PAIN IN BACK. REPORTED 3-31-99' DR. VISIT 4-1-99 WAS NOT RETURNED TO WORK.
February 8, 1999VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
SLIPPED ON CATWALK OF DOZER WHILE GETTING OFF AND TWISTED BACK. WENT TO DR ON 11/26/98 AND WAS REFERED TO PANEL DR. EXAMINED BY PANEL DR ON 11/30/98 WAS RETD RESTRICTED ON 12/3/98 FIRST DA Y OFF WORK DUE TO HOLIDAY AND WORK CYCLE
July 19, 1998VA · Coaldriller, highwall operator, highwall drill operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR WAS HELPING MECHANIC CHANGE TWO PIECES A DRILL STEEL. TABLE BUSHING WAS PUSHED UP AND OUT OF SLOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AUGEN THE BUSHING WITH HANDS, BUSHING FELL MAXHIN G OPERATORS FINGERS. ER VISIT REQUIRED STITCHES AND RETURNED TO WORK NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED SHIFT NO RESTRICTION.
March 3, 1998VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
TREE BEING CUT BY ANOTHER EE WAS AROUND THE HILLFROM HIM CUTTING TREES. THE TREE WAS NOTCHED TO FALL DOWN HILL WHEN A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE TREE AROUND CAUSING IT TO FALL AROUND THE HILL. THE TOP OF THE TREE HIT EE KNOCKING HIM DOWN.
1997 · 3 incidents
March 20, 1997VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
COAL LOADER OPERATOR WAS FINE CLEANING COAL WITH 980C FRONT END LOADER. ROCK FELL FROM HIGHWALL STRUCK LOADER AND OPERATOR'S HEAD STRUCK INSIDE LOADER CAB. SOME OF HIGHWALL ROCK CAME INSIDE CAB.
March 12, 1997VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE PICKED UP END A PULL CABLE TO HELP PUT IN BACK OF PICK UP TRUCK AND EXPERIENCED PAIN IN LOWER BLOCK MISSED 2 DAYS LOST TIME 3-13-97 4 DAYS REGULARLY SCHEDULED OFF AND RETURN TO WORK 7-19-97 RESTRICTED ACTIVEITY.
LOADER OPERATOR WAS LOADING HAULERS IN SHOT WITH992C FRONT END LOADER. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE & THE MACHINE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE OPERATOR LEFT THE MAC HINE TO GET AWAY FROM THE FLAMES AND THE MACHINEBURNED. A PRESHIFT INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED
EMP STATED THAT WHILE LOADING SHOT HE SLIPPED ONLOOSE COAL OR CUTTINGS AND TWISTED KNEE. WENT TO DR ON 10-10-96. DIAGNOSED AS STRAIN. ASKED TO SEE SPECIALIST AS PAIN DID NOT GO AWAY AND WAS SC HEDULED FOR SURGERY 10-29-96 WHICH BEGAN FIRST DAY OF LOST WORK. EMP CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL SURGERY.
July 2, 1996VA · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMP ALLEGED HE BENT OVER OT PICK SOMETHING UP WHILE CHANGING OIL IN LOADER ON 7-2-96 AND FELT PAIN IN KNEE. NO WITNESSES AND MANAGEMENT WAS INFORMED ON 7-8-96. WENT TO DR ON OWN, WAS REFERRED TO SPECIALIST. FIRST DAY MISSED WORK 7-10-96.
April 12, 1996VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE GETTING CRANE OF SERVICE TRUCK OUT OF STORAGE TO USE, HAD HAND ON SHEVE BLOCK MOVING CRANE ARM & CAUGHT FINGER BETWEEN SHEVE BLOCK & RAIN GUARD. RING FINGER ON RT HAND LACERATED REQUIRED ST ITCHES. RETURNED TO WORK SAMD DAY, RESTRICTED ACTIVITY.
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