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.
1,441 citations across 12,851 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Meridian #2 has $879K in proposed MSHA penalties and $627K outstanding across 5 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.
$879K
proposed penalties
$852K
current assessed
$225K
paid to date
$627K
outstanding
1,424 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $59K in penalties contested before the Commission, $32K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-01-29.
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.
38citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
38 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 11 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
46%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$59K proposed, $32K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2017-08-16.
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 Meridian #2 shows 94% of 1,654 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: 2019-06-29, 7 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
1,654
samples
7.13
dust max (mg/m3)
8
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.
466 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 1,188 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.
Meridian #2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019.
Injury rate, 2019
ⓘ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 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 2.65 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
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017
1.68
1.68
0.000
2016
3.63
0.00
0.000
2015 *
4.53
4.53
0.000
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
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)
2020
0
2019
28
51,975
2018
56
108,112
2017
61
126,544
2016
50
137,783
2015
36
103,377
2014
21
65,023
2013
14
29,486
2012
7
7,581
2011
13
48,850
2010
13
63,366
2009
15
73,272
2008
11
52,963
2007
12
58,165
2006
14
83,009
2005
14
85,424
2004
13
76,936
2003
13
5,343
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Meridian #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
2020 Q4
0
0
0
2020 Q3
0
0
0
2020 Q2
0
0
0
2020 Q1
0
1
1
2019 Q4
0
3
0
2019 Q3
6,974
26
7
3728.1
2019 Q2
23,362
25
8
1070.1
2019 Q1
23,380
35
8
1497.0
Show 60 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2018 Q4
29,903
28
5
936.4
2018 Q3
29,720
50
9
1682.4
2018 Q2
27,996
33
10
1178.7
2018 Q1
30,742
93
25
3025.2
2017 Q4
31,588
40
14
1266.3
2017 Q3
28,679
25
7
871.7
2017 Q2
28,533
34
8
1191.6
2017 Q1
30,338
45
13
1483.3
2016 Q4
29,309
65
14
2217.7
2016 Q3
28,447
27
12
949.1
2016 Q2
23,810
30
7
1260.0
2016 Q1
28,604
37
9
1293.5
2015 Q4
25,120
25
8
995.2
2015 Q3
27,030
49
20
1812.8
2015 Q2
23,071
38
13
1647.1
2015 Q1
13,174
38
9
2884.5
2014 Q4
14,534
23
7
1582.5
2014 Q3
15,667
64
21
4085.0
2014 Q2
11,076
26
5
2347.4
2014 Q1
6,915
26
8
3759.9
2013 Q4
8,396
26
8
3096.7
2013 Q3
6,603
8
2
1211.6
2013 Q2
8,230
34
4
4131.2
2013 Q1
4,467
29
4
6492.1
2012 Q4
1,240
1
0
806.5
2012 Q3
1,520
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
5,062
7
0
1382.9
2011 Q4
8,411
15
4
1783.4
2011 Q3
6,873
6
2
873.0
2011 Q2
5,409
12
5
2218.5
2011 Q1
4,582
13
1
2837.2
2010 Q4
5,416
17
4
3138.8
2010 Q3
6,401
7
2
1093.6
2010 Q2
6,306
10
2
1585.8
2010 Q1
6,233
27
11
4331.8
2009 Q4
7,862
85
21
10811.5
2009 Q3
7,644
17
3
2224.0
2009 Q2
6,749
17
1
2518.9
2009 Q1
5,331
13
3
2438.6
2008 Q4
5,072
13
2
2563.1
2008 Q3
4,745
16
3
3372.0
2008 Q2
4,272
17
3
3979.4
2008 Q1
4,143
13
3
3137.8
2007 Q4
3,937
13
3
3302.0
2007 Q3
6,105
12
3
1965.6
2007 Q2
4,463
5
1
1120.3
2007 Q1
7,122
20
8
2808.2
2006 Q4
6,201
2
1
322.5
2006 Q3
7,095
10
5
1409.4
2006 Q2
6,427
3
1
466.8
2006 Q1
7,190
3
0
417.2
2005 Q4
6,271
3
0
478.4
2005 Q3
6,252
4
1
639.8
2005 Q2
6,070
4
2
659.0
2005 Q1
5,336
10
4
1874.1
2004 Q4
5,855
5
0
854.0
2004 Q3
5,025
4
1
796.0
2004 Q2
6,727
2
1
297.3
2004 Q1
6,694
3
0
448.2
2003 Q4
4,563
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
9 on file
2017 · 1 incident
February 22, 2017VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee was operating the left side of the double head roof bolter installing cable type bolts. Employee set up and started drilling a hole when a piece of rock broke off, slid down the steel, spinning around, striking employee on the left forearm, causing a laceration on employee's arm.
2016 · 2 incidents
May 28, 2016VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
Calico Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE was operating a shuttle car running from the miner in #4 Left break to the feeder in #6. As EE was traveling started to lose hard hat, reached up to grab it and was so close to the rib, arm came in contact with it and was pulled back between the cable guide post and the rib. EE then backed the car up to get arm free.
May 1, 2016VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
EE was operating a man trip for transportation when ee ran in front of a scoop trade long across an intersection. The scoop controls malfunctioned and the operator was unable to stop the scoop before it hit the man trip the ee was operating. The ee complained of pain and swelling in foot initially but now is complaining of multiple injuries.
2015 · 3 incidents
August 5, 2015VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EE was operating a shuttle car when he attempted to avoid the line curtain on the off side. He got too close to the rib/brow on his side and came in contact with the rib.
June 27, 2015VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Injured employee was behind the 3 wheeler they were using for underground transportation when another employee accidentally backed up on him
2004 · 2 incidents
November 19, 2004VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calico Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Injured was changing seats in shuttle car and caught his head between top and buggy, straining his neck. Injured went to hospital, was told he was ok. Company was told a week later his neck was hurting. Last work day was 12-2-04.
August 17, 2004VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE