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.
176 citations across 3,507 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Midway has $103K in proposed MSHA penalties and $269 outstanding across 32 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.
$103K
proposed penalties
$80K
current assessed
$80K
paid to date
$269
outstanding
174 assessments are final orders; 32 contested dockets.
Of $76K in penalties contested before the Commission, $53K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-29.
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.
68citations taken to the federal commission · 39% of citations on record
Settled
67 · 99%
Stood as issued
1 · 1%
71%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 41 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
31%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$76K proposed, $53K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2024-03-20.
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 Midway shows 100% of 219 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: 2025-12-10
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
219
samples
1.34
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.
166 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 53 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.
Midway recorded 4.68 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.
4.68
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.10 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 *
4.68
0.00
0.000
2015
1.28
1.28
0.000
2014
4.28
3.21
0.000
2013
2.60
2.60
0.000
2012
1.09
1.09
0.000
2011
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010
2.63
2.63
0.000
2009
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)
2026
1
2025
2
2024
8
2023
8
2022
6
2021
4
2020
4
2019
16
249,037
2018
0
2017
6
2016
10
2015
79
1,062,763
2014
85
1,293,318
2013
108
1,319,848
2012
91
1,518,406
2011
85
1,689,519
2010
106
1,614,835
2009
100
2,456,113
2008
60
806,781
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Midway sits in Ohio County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 1.0% 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.
Ohio County, Kentucky · Population 23,704
1.0%
Mining share of county employment
$54,369
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
The employee was using a pry bar to straighten the step on the 1250 komatsu trackhoe when the bar slipped and hit their hand causing a cut on the right palm.
Employee was in process of removing a cable tray off a skid, lifted the piece off blocking, and proceeded to crawl under the load. Welds broke loose and the skid fell striking the hip of the employee. The employee crawled out from under and notified co-workers. Emergency procedures were initiated
Employee was driving CAT 773 Coal Truck when he was empty going down a ramp he hit a rough place in road causing him lower back pain. He finished his shift and did not miss a scheduled work day till 3/30/2015
EE & 2 co-workers were moving a gear into the house to be installed on the 752 Page dragline. While rolling the gear into place to be hooked to the overhead crane. The gear became over balanced and fell on EE injuring his left elbow and fracturing his pelvis, right ankle, and tailbone.
May 5, 2014KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee said his right arm began hurting after welding in the same position for long periods of time. He also said he did not have an accident to cause this condition.
Employee was near the dragline bucket as repairs was being made. Another employee was driving a bucket tooth wedge in with a sledge hammer when a piece of the wedge being struck became a projectile and struck employee in his right eye. Employee was wearing his safety glasses at the time of the incident.
Employee was getting off the atlas copco PV275 drill. He tried to step onto the rear bumper of a mechanic's truck when he missed the bumper and fell between the truck and the drill. He struck the bumper with his left elbow causing a laceration to his elbow.
March 23, 2013KY · Coaldriller, highwall operator, highwall drill operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stated he was descending the steps on the drill when his foot slipped off a step and he grabbed the hand rail to keep from falling. He sprained his lower back. Employee said he had three points of contact and his boots was muddy because it had been raining.
2012 · 1 incident
June 20, 2012KY · Coalgrader operator, roadgrader operatorMACHINERY
Operator of a Caterpillar 16M Road grader was backing up a ramp at the pit when a rock rolled out behind the grader tire. The operator could not see the rock and backed over the rock jarring his back. The atmospheric conditions was fair with sunny sky.
2010 · 4 incidents
October 15, 2010KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Injured employee was working inside #377 752 Page Dragline. The machine was down for maintenance. EE slipped on a spot of grease and fell dislocating his right shoulder. EE was taken to Ohio County Emergency Room where his shoulder was put back into place.
May 29, 2010KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techDISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)