Appalachia, Wise County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4407189
Low Splint A Mine has $758K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8 outstanding across 55 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
22
Years on record
2007–2012
Latest incident
Jul 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
483
citations
122
significant & substantial
$757,914
proposed penalties
$431,544
paid to date
57% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $326,370 gap.
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.
483 citations across 4,586 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2012-05-22.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Low Splint A Mine has $758K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8 outstanding across 55 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.
$758K
proposed penalties
$432K
current assessed
$432K
paid to date
$8
outstanding
469 assessments are final orders; 55 contested dockets.
Of $727K in penalties contested before the Commission, $400K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-08-14.
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.
227citations taken to the federal commission · 47% of citations on record
Settled
216 · 95%
Stood as issued
10 · 4%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 0%
89%
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 112 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
45%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$731K proposed, $401K 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 2015-12-04.
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 Low Splint A Mine shows 97% of 416 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: 2012-05-21, 14 years ago
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
416
samples
3.12
dust max (mg/m3)
209 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 207 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.
Low Splint A Mine recorded 3.95 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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.
3.95
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.61 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2012
3.95
0.00
0.000
2011 *
4.04
2.02
0.000
2010 *
6.15
0.00
0.000
2009 *
6.56
4.37
0.000
2008 *
2.42
2.42
0.000
2007 *
3.68
3.68
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)
2012
46
103,809
2011
45
236,690
2010
44
264,895
2009
40
284,387
2008
36
331,073
2007
25
196,686
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Low Splint A Mine sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
roof fall was found by m.s.h.a outby survey station 1593 in the primary escape way for the 001 mmu could not see the distance the height of the fall appears to be above the anchorage zone.
Roof fall was discovered on 4/22/2012 two breaks inby SS#1553 in #5 entry. Fall was approximately 7' high by 20' wide by 60' long. Fell from #5 entry over to #6 entry. This area was developed with 6' fully grouted roof bolts on about 5/8/2011. Fall is 2800' outby working section.
February 1, 2012VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
While hooking up water car, Lo-trac operator trammed machine backward pinching employee against water car. at x-cut #63 on #4 belt travel way, SS# 1364.
The individual was loading crib blocks in the scoop bucket when he caught his left ring finger between the crib block and the scoop bucket. The Individual is a contract EE (Bates Contracting) This is a medical treatment only. There were no lost time or restricted work days.
August 3, 2010VA · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
The individual was tramming the continuous miner over a piece of coal. The coal burst and a piece flew up and hit the individual in the mouth breaking a tooth. This is a medical only with no lost or restricted work days.
A fall was discovered in the No. 6 entry of No. 2 Northwest at survey station no. 736. The fall was approx. 3500 ft outby the working section and measured approx. 7' high x 70' long x 20' wide. There was no equipment or injuries involved. The fall will not be cleaned up.
A fall was discovered in the No. 6 entry of No.2 southwest at survey station no. 287. the fall was spprox. 6000 feet outby the active section and measured approx. 6 1/2 ft high x 20' wide x 40' long. There was no equipment or injuries involved. The fall will not be cleaned up.
June 15, 2010VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
The individual was installing a rib bracket when a piece of draw rock fell and struck his right arm. This resulted in a laceration which required sutures.
While conducting second mining with 4 MRS, a fall occurred in the belt heading after taking a right hand "lift" trapping 2 MRS. The fall was located just inby SS 905 and is approximately 15" high x 20' long x 30' wide. There were no injuries and no interruption of ventilation with 2 MRS affected.
A roof fall was found in the #6 entry of #1 NW mains one break inby SS #105. The fall was found at 1:45am on 1/26/10. The fall measured approx 5 1/2'H x 19'W x 60'L. The fall did not interrupt ventilation nor was any equipment caught. The fall will not be cleaned up and will be breakered off.
2009 · 3 incidents
July 13, 2009VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
The individual was operating a roof bolting machine. He had his hand positioned on the boom lift of the roof bolting machine. As he raised the drill head on the machine, he caught the tip of his right ring finger. The tip of his finger was surgically removed by the physician.
The employee was installing the first rib bolt in the bolting sequence when the coal rib rolled and pushed him into the drill head which was in the raised position. This caused a twist motion which strained his lower back and hip.
April 5, 2009VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The individual was hanging and securing a 6" water line. He was putting a hanger around the waterline when the come-a-long that was supporting the water line slipped and caught his thumb in the hanger. This resulted in a laceration which required sutures.
A fall was discovered in the 1 southwest set of entries. the fall was located in the cross cut located between the No. 5 and No. 6 entries adjacent to survey station No. 198. The fall measured approximately 5' high by 15' wide by 50' long. Tthere were no injuries or equipment involved. Ventilation not affected.
February 13, 2008VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Drill steel stuck in roof top and bent. When employee reached up and pulled on drill steel, it broke hitting employee's thumb.
January 14, 2008VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techFALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
The individual was working on the No. 4 conveyor belt take-up unit when rib rolled and knocked him to the ground. This resulted in fracture of his lower right leg.
A roof fall was discovered in the crosscut between the no. 6 & 7 entries of No. 1 southwest mains adjacent to survey station no. 198. The fall is approx 3000 feet outby the mmu 001-0 and measures approx. 48 feet long x 15 feet wide x 7 feet high. There were no injuries or equipment involved. Ventilaiton was not affected.
A roof fall was discovered in the #5 entry of #1 northwest about 50' inby survey station #148. The fall measured approx 20' long X 10' wide X 5' thick. There were no injuries. Ventilation and passage of miners was not affected. The fall will not be cleaned up. There was no equipment involved.
April 24, 2007VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was in the process of installing a roof bolt. He drilled a hole, inserted the resin and bolt into the hole. Due to mining height, the bolt had been bent prior to inserting it in the hole. He inserted the top part of the bolt in the hole and as he pushed on the bolt to straighten it out, He strained his back.
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