Middle Fork Surface has $52K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
1993–2009
Latest incident
Apr 2009
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
189
citations
74
significant & substantial
$52,360
proposed penalties
$47,378
paid to date
90% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,982 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.
189 citations across 1,518 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Middle Fork Surface has $52K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K 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.
$52K
proposed penalties
$50K
current assessed
$47K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
186 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $9K in penalties contested before the Commission, $6K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-10-07.
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.
2citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
2 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$8K proposed, $6K 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 2010-01-28.
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 Middle Fork Surface shows 99% of 113 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: 2010-04-13, 16 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
113
samples
1.64
dust max (mg/m3)
85 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 28 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.
Middle Fork Surface recorded 3.97 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009.
Injury rate, 2009
ⓘ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.
3.97
total case rate
3.97
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
About average. The US coal mining average was 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.04 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2009
3.97
3.97
0.000
2008
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004 *
2.42
0.00
0.000
2000
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)
2011
1
2010
9
2009
38
312,200
2008
55
577,786
2007
18
174,658
2006
0
2005
0
2004
36
324,418
2003
36
30,197
2002
8
2001
6
30,716
2000
44
850,972
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Middle Fork Surface sits in Perry County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.3% 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.
Perry County, Kentucky · Population 27,847
3.3%
Mining share of county employment
$45,261
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
2011 Q4
0
0
0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
0
0
2011 Q1
667
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
2,991
5
2
1671.7
2010 Q3
2,547
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
4,433
3
0
676.7
2010 Q1
6,818
0
0
0.0
Show 36 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2009 Q4
4,780
5
4
1046.0
2009 Q3
26,429
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
30,086
10
5
332.4
2009 Q1
39,468
23
11
582.8
2008 Q4
36,453
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
38,553
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
38,529
13
3
337.4
2008 Q1
41,738
7
2
167.7
2007 Q4
33,369
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
13,147
5
0
380.3
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
0
0
0
2006 Q3
0
0
0
2006 Q2
0
0
0
2006 Q1
0
0
0
2005 Q4
0
0
0
2005 Q3
0
0
0
2005 Q2
0
0
0
2005 Q1
0
0
0
2004 Q4
0
0
0
2004 Q3
20,106
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
30,793
6
0
194.8
2004 Q1
31,762
18
9
566.7
2003 Q4
9,921
7
0
705.6
2002 Q3
3,160
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
9,318
2
1
214.6
2002 Q1
3,157
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
2,054
3
0
1460.6
2001 Q3
2,738
2
0
730.5
2001 Q2
899
8
1
8898.8
2001 Q1
878
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
14,063
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
14,560
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
50,949
7
1
137.4
2000 Q1
46,285
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
14 on file
2009 · 2 incidents
April 24, 2009KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee stated that he was grading the haul road, when the blade of the Grader struck a tree that was imbeded in the berm of the road way. This caused the grader to stall, resulting in a sudden stop, which caused pain to his lower back. EE refused medical treatment, but went to his family doctor after work and was placed off work.
WHILE RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A ROCK TRUCK EE CLAIMED HE WAS HURT WHEN TRUCK OVERTURNED. HE REFUSED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE TIME. WENT TO DR. ON 1-23-04 ON HIS OWN. HE WAS PLACED ON LIGH T DUTY WORK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ROCK TRUCK.
EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING STEEL ONA DRILL. THIS REQUIRED HIM TO PICK UP THE "BREAKOUT" WRENCH WEIGHING 32 POUNDS. IT WAS AT THIS POINT HE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK, BUT HE COMPLETED HIS SHIFT. THE EXTENT OF THE INJURY AT THIS TIMEIS BSED ON A PENDING MRI EXAMINATION.
1998 · 1 incident
June 2, 1998KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOUNTING HIS ROCKTRUCK TO BEGIN HIS SHIFT. HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL TO THE GROUND, A DISTANCE OF APPROX. 6 FT- HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HAZARD ARH WHERE HE WAS X-RAYED AND RELEASED.
1997 · 3 incidents
July 11, 1997KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS WORKING ON A HYD. LINE ON THE FRONT OF A DOZER. WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN FROM THE PUSH-ARM A DISTANCE OF APPROX. 24", EE STATED THAT HE FELT SOMETHING "POP" IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS NECK. H E DROVE HIMSELF TO ER WHERE HE WAS EXAMINED AND RELEASED. THE DIAGNOSIS AT THAT TIME WAS THAT HE HAD A STRAINED MUSCLE.
June 16, 1997KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT PAIN TO HIS LOWER BACK ADN DOWN HIS RIGHT LEG WHICH HE FEELS WAS A RESULT OF HIS JUMPING FROM A ROCKTRUCK ON 6-16-97. DURING QUESTIONING, EE STATED THAT HE HAD SUFFERED BACK PAIN PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. EE IS EXPECGTED TO BE OFF WORK FOR APPROX. 30 DAYS.
January 21, 1997KY · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMP STATED HE WAS LOADING THE LAST 2' OF SOLID ROCK WHICH WAS LEFT ON TOP OF THE COAL SEAM. HAD LOADER BUCKET HOOKED UNDER A SLAB OF ROCK, CAUSING REAR TIRES OF LOADER TO RAISE APPROX 18" OFF GROUND. WHEN ROCK BROKE IT ALLOWED LAODER TO FALL. EMP FINISHED THE SHIFT AND WORKED UNTIL 8:00PM ON 1-22-97. DIAGNOSIS WILL BE MADE ON 1-27-97.
1996 · 1 incident
December 26, 1996KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING LOADED BY EE WHEN A TREE LIMB PUSHED THE WINDOW FROM THECAB OF THE TRUCK LEFT SIDE CAB WINDOW BEHIND DRIVERS DOOR EE STATED THAT HE HAD TURNED TOWARD THE PASSENG ER DOOR & DID NOT SEE THE LIMB IN THE LOADER BUCK DUE TO EE BEING HALF-TURNED IN HIS SEAT THE LIMB STRUCK HIM IN THE RT SHOULDER EE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD PAIN IN HIS LEFT KNEE
1994 · 2 incidents
November 28, 1994KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS CLIMBING UP THE LADDER OF THE TRUCK.HE WAS STANDING ON THE BUMPER WHEN HE BENT TO PICK UP HIS LUNCH JUG. AS HE LET GO OF THE LADDER WITH ONE HAND, HE LOST HIS BALANCE, CAUSING HIM TO SW ING AROUND. HE DID NOT FALL TO THE GROUND. HOWEVER THE SUDDEN JERK RESULTED IN A BACK SPRAIN, HE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO FOREMAN HE WAS TAKEN TO HAZARD ARH.
March 3, 1994KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
AT 2030 EMPL & OTHER EMPL STOPPED THEIR DOZERS FOR THEIR BREAK.THEY PULLED THEIR DOZERS SIDE BY SIDE, WITH APPROX 5' SEPARATING THEM.EMPL LOST HIS FOOTING & FELL FROM THE CAT-WALK OF HIS DO ZER, STRIKING OTHER EMPLS DOZER W/HIS HEAD & & LEFT SIDE.EMPL WAS TAKEN TO HAZARD ARH BY EMT OTHER EMPL & FOREMAN. AT THIS TIME 6/12/93,EMPL IS IN STABLE CONDITION.
April 29, 1993KY · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LOADING A ROCKTRUCK. AS HE WAS LOADING HIS BUCKET, A LOOSE ROCK CAME FROM THE SIDE OF THE SHOT AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE BUCKET, JARRING THE OPERATOR.