Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Fall from machine
Employee was exiting excavator when slipped putting a lot of pressure on right leg hurting lower back, hip and leg.
Meadow Branch: 243 MSHA citations Coal
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc.
· Surface
Controlled by
Thomas R Hamilton
Eolia,
Letcher County,
KY
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1519890
Meadow Branch has $84K in proposed MSHA penalties and $44K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 7
- Years on record
- 2022–2025
- Latest incident
- Oct 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2021
243
citations
24
significant & substantial
$83,958
proposed penalties
$39,700
paid to date
47% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $44,258 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2020
28
inspections on record
2,563
inspection hours
9.5
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.243 citations across 2,563 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: 2024-05-03.
On record since 2024.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Meadow Branch has $84K in proposed MSHA penalties and $44K 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.$84K
proposed penalties
$84K
current assessed
$40K
paid to date
$44K
outstanding
229 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $0 in penalties contested before the Commission, $0 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-02.
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.10.2%
significant & substantial
3.0%
high negligence or reckless
10.2%
reasonably likely or greater
5.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 53.4% low, 43.6% moderate, 3.0% 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.
4
citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
- Still open 4 · 100%
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 2026-08-05.
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 2023-0014 | Settlement | Young | 2024 | $0 → $0 |
| KENT 2026-0095 | Decision pending |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Meadow Branch shows 100% of 185 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: 2026-08-04
ⓘ
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
185
samples
1.22
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
ⓘ
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.87 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 98 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR92
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR67
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER7
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2025-10-309.1
silica avg (%)
22
samples
26.2
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR13
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR9
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: 2026-05-27
ⓘ
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.1%
over PEL
73
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR36
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR23
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | 17 |
| 2025 | 100% | 31 |
| 2024 | 100% | 36 |
| 2023 | 100% | 38 |
| 2022 | 100% | 33 |
| 2021 | 100% | 30 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12.8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12.7 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6.1 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7.7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11.7 | 6 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0% | 5 |
| 2025 | 0% | 11 |
| 2024 | 0% | 14 |
| 2023 | 7% | 14 |
| 2022 | 0% | 14 |
| 2021 | 0% | 15 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Meadow Branch recorded 3.93 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ
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.3.93
total case rate
3.93
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.08 cases per 100 workers that year.
| Year | total case rate | days-away | fatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.93 | 3.93 | 0.000 |
| 2024 | 3.37 | 3.37 | 0.000 |
| 2023 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2022 | 3.05 | 3.05 | 0.000 |
| 2021 * | 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.
Ownership history
- Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. 2020 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32 | 109,340 |
| 2025 | 34 | 185,354 |
| 2024 | 37 | 250,705 |
| 2023 | 39 | 234,418 |
| 2022 | 42 | 342,421 |
| 2021 | 34 | 230,215 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Meadow 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
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q2 | 24,232 | 31 | 3 | 1279.3 |
| 2026 Q1 | 24,380 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 25,359 | 14 | 3 | 552.1 |
| 2025 Q3 | 25,611 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 24,243 | 11 | 1 | 453.7 |
| 2025 Q1 | 26,623 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 25,345 | 4 | 0 | 157.8 |
| 2024 Q3 | 33,106 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 14 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 30,547 | 13 | 1 | 425.6 |
| 2024 Q1 | 29,600 | 3 | 1 | 101.4 |
| 2023 Q4 | 31,043 | 23 | 4 | 740.9 |
| 2023 Q3 | 26,030 | 2 | 2 | 76.8 |
| 2023 Q2 | 28,077 | 30 | 1 | 1068.5 |
| 2023 Q1 | 31,569 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 36,285 | 10 | 1 | 275.6 |
| 2022 Q3 | 35,930 | 13 | 0 | 361.8 |
| 2022 Q2 | 30,746 | 17 | 0 | 552.9 |
| 2022 Q1 | 28,278 | 9 | 0 | 318.3 |
| 2021 Q4 | 28,650 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q3 | 26,381 | 6 | 0 | 227.4 |
| 2021 Q2 | 25,466 | 2 | 1 | 78.5 |
| 2021 Q1 | 19,176 | 10 | 1 | 521.5 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file2025 · 2 incidents
May 21, 2025
KY · Coal
greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler
EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was greasing track on excavator when the grease hose popped off and struck them on their left hand and caused grease to go under their skin.
2024 · 3 incidents
October 3, 2024
KY · Coal
haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver
EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Struck by flying object
Employee was putting air in the right-side front tandem inner tire when the side wall blew out causing dirt and debris to hit employee in the left arm and ringing in right ear.
August 2, 2024
KY · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects
Employee was lifting a bale of straw off the trailer, when EE jerked the bale to move it and pulled something in EE's left side.
April 11, 2024
KY · Coal
maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Tech was working on rain hoist control valve on 785. When coming from under the truck for more tooling their right foot slipped causing strain to lower right back. Tech did not feel any discomfort in back when they slipped so they continued working. Tech woke up with pain in lower right side of back on 4/13/24.
2022 · 2 incidents
January 24, 2022
KY · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Struck by falling object
Handing Mechanic tools over head when a hydraulic block fell on EE's right hand which was on ground.
January 4, 2022
KY · Coal
haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. · Fall from machine
Getting on 785 Truck, slipped on step and fell on to ground.