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.
227 citations across 1,983 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Marion Branch has $81K in proposed MSHA penalties and $51K outstanding across 3 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.
$81K
proposed penalties
$81K
current assessed
$30K
paid to date
$51K
outstanding
208 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $36K in penalties contested before the Commission, $35K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-10-25.
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.
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.
6citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 17%
Stood as issued
5 · 83%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$45K proposed, $45K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2010-11-12.
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 Marion Branch shows 96% of 110 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: 2010-08-17, 16 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
110
samples
2.80
dust max (mg/m3)
101 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 9 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.
Marion Branch recorded 0.00 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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008
3.09
3.09
0.000
2007
3.32
2.22
0.000
2006
3.85
1.93
0.000
2005 *
0.00
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)
2012
0
2011
0
2010
20
166,435
2009
48
329,445
2008
77
645,299
2007
68
618,787
2006
37
463,319
2005
29
208,119
2004
28
2,693
2003
0
2002
0
2000
9
127,851
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Marion Branch 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
2012 Q2
0
0
0
2012 Q1
0
0
0
2011 Q4
0
2
2
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
1
0
2011 Q1
0
2
2
2010 Q4
1,295
1
0
772.2
2010 Q3
8,414
11
4
1307.3
Show 30 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2010 Q2
19,151
1
0
52.2
2010 Q1
23,623
8
2
338.7
2009 Q4
20,172
1
0
49.6
2009 Q3
12,863
6
2
466.5
2009 Q2
25,534
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
39,097
7
2
179.0
2008 Q4
48,292
2
1
41.4
2008 Q3
47,914
8
4
167.0
2008 Q2
49,122
1
0
20.4
2008 Q1
49,132
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
48,722
8
5
164.2
2007 Q3
50,915
1
0
19.6
2007 Q2
44,434
5
1
112.5
2007 Q1
36,473
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
28,400
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
28,047
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
26,287
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
21,084
1
0
47.4
2005 Q4
5,266
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
17,471
11
4
629.6
2005 Q2
16,788
41
18
2442.2
2005 Q1
14,698
34
9
2313.2
2004 Q4
19,676
2
2
101.6
2003 Q4
0
0
0
2003 Q3
10
15
10
1500000.0
2003 Q1
0
0
0
2002 Q3
0
0
0
2000 Q3
0
0
0
2000 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q1
18,559
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
18 on file
2010 · 1 incident
December 6, 2010KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stepped out of dozer to check loose air filter housing, slipped on slick tracks, fell on tracks and then to the ground. Employee recently treated and taken off work effective 2/14/11.
2009 · 1 incident
August 21, 2009KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
CAM Mining LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was helping install a silt fence, when he stepped in a drop off and fell approximately 4 feet. He was complaining with neck pain and was transported to the hospital and kept overnight for observation as a precautionary measure.
2008 · 4 incidents
December 29, 2008KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee slipped in mud in parking lot and tried to catch himself as he fell causing his right elbow to become dislocated. Physician took him off work effective 1/17/08
2007 · 3 incidents
November 28, 2007KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Lifting jack with bar, when pin came out and jack fell hitting bar, causing the bar to hit EE's head which resulted in a laceration. EE had stitches, no lost time.
July 2, 2007KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee was stepping off right side push arm of dozer and stepped onto uneven ground when he states that he felt his knee "pop" and his knee gave way.
All we know was lights started getting dim & bright. I told operator to get out & check out. He informed me that dozer was on fire. He used fire ext. on dozer & could not put out. I told him to get away. We covered dozer up & ext. with water & dirt. There were no injuries & I have no idea how much damage.
2003 · 1 incident
July 24, 2003KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
WHILE WIDENING THE ROADWAY, SPOIL APPARENTLY DISLODGED & SLID, RESULTING IN A BREACH OF THE COUPLING OF THE NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION LINE, WHICH APPARENTLY IGNITED FROM THE BLOWER OF THE DOZER , INFLICTING 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO THE OPERATOR, & FRACTURING LOWER LEFT LEG.
EE WHILE USING A 1" IMPACT WRENCH TO DISASSEMBLE A SECTION OF A 992 G LOADER FELT INCREASING LOWER BACK STRAIN DURING THE MORNING HE WAS WORKING. HE WAS SENT TO COMPANY DR FOR TREATMENT OF MUS CLE STRAIN.
EE WAS OPERATING A 777 CAT WATER TRUCK. THE TRUCK TRAVELED THROUGH A SOFT AREA IN THE ROAD AND THE EE WAS BOUNCED AGAINST THE CAB ROOF. HE SPRAINED HIS NECK.
EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING THE ROCK DRILL HE OPERATED. WHILE MOVING, HE WAS STANDING UPRIGHT AND HIS WEIGHT SHIFTED CAUSING A KNEE STRAIN. HE STARTED MISSING WORK ON 08/30/99.
March 1, 1999KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
EE ALLEGES THAT ON 3-1-99 HE INJURED HIS BACK OPERATING A BULLDOZER. HE STATED THAT HE WAS BACKING OUT OF SHOT ROCK WHEN THE BULLDOZER RAN OVER A LARGE ROCK AND CAUSED HIM TO BE JERKED SIDEWAY S. HE DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT WHEN IT WAS ALLEGED TO HAPPEN. HE IS NOW MISSING WORK.
January 16, 1999KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY