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Mine #1: 1 recorded fatality Coal

Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Underground
Controlled by Fred Runyon Jr
Turkey Creek, Pike County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1517888

Mine #1 has $62K in proposed MSHA penalties and $54K outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
10
Years on record
1997–2004
Latest incident
Nov 2004
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
385
citations
193
significant & substantial
$62,003
proposed penalties
$7,186
paid to date
12% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $54,817 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Pond Creek Energy, Inc.'s full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
81
inspections on record
2,251
inspection hours
17.1
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.
385 citations across 2,251 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mine #1 has $62K in proposed MSHA penalties and $54K outstanding across 4 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.
$62K
proposed penalties
$62K
current assessed
$7K
paid to date
$54K
outstanding
374 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2004-11-18.
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.
51.6%
significant & substantial
1.3%
high negligence or reckless
55.6%
reasonably likely or greater
16.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 8.8% low, 89.8% moderate, 1.3% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
KENT20010341 Settlement Barbour 2001 $1K → $966
KENT20010284 Settlement Barbour 2001 $995 → $869
KENT20010322 Settlement Barbour 2001 $833 → $770
KENT20010285 Settlement Barbour 2001 $131 → $110
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Mine #1 shows 79% of 264 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: 2004-10-15, 21 years ago
79%
within 1.5 mg/m3
264
samples
14.81
dust max (mg/m3)
146 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 118 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR87
  • CUTTING MACHINE OPERATOR41
  • TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN27

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2004-10-13, 21 years ago
4.5
silica avg (%)
30
samples
8.2
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR11
  • CUTTING MACHINE OPERATOR6
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2004-01-27, 22 years ago
5%
over PEL
22
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR7
  • COAL DRILL OPERATOR2
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR2
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2004 70% 76
2003 88% 85
2002 75% 65
2001 84% 38
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2004 5.6 5
2003 3.6 12
2002 4.8 8
2001 5.2 5
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2004 0% 5
2003 0% 5
2001 8% 12
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Mine #1 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2003.

Injury rate, 2003
ⓘ 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 5.87 and the all-US-mining average was 4.43 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 6.65 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
2003 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2002 * 12.95 12.95 0.000
2001 * 6.92 6.92 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
  1. M R M Mining Company Inc 1997 to 1997
  2. A & A Francis Energy Inc 1997 to 1997
  3. Ray-Mac Contracting Inc 1997 to 2000
  4. American Mining & Manufacturing Corp 2000 to 2001
  5. Pond Creek Energy, Inc. 2001 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)
2004 13 28,003
2003 15 47,892
2002 14 48,248
2001 18 16,169
2000 6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mine #1 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
2004 Q2 6,949 28 12 4029.4
2004 Q1 6,650 38 26 5714.3
2003 Q4 10,011 23 13 2297.5
2003 Q3 10,559 19 11 1799.4
2003 Q2 8,495 15 9 1765.7
2003 Q1 7,971 21 9 2634.6
2002 Q4 7,324 15 10 2048.1
2002 Q3 6,186 26 11 4203.0
Show 7 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2002 Q2 7,868 19 10 2414.8
2002 Q1 9,503 21 8 2209.8
2001 Q4 1,295 8 1 6177.6
2001 Q3 9,653 32 16 3315.0
2001 Q2 10,490 36 15 3431.8
2001 Q1 7,457 22 6 2950.2
2000 Q4 1,124 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
August 13, 1998 KY · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Ray-Mac Contracting Inc · Struck by falling object

MINE FOREMAN WAS CLEANING UP A BOOM HOLE. HE HADTRAVELED INBY SUPPORTED ROOF WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL CAUSING FATAL INJURIES.

Reportable incidents

9 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2004 · 4 incidents

November 22, 2004 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Struck by falling object

While operating his ram car on the section, the injured ee's ram car bumped the mine roof and a piece of rock fell on him. The rock was approx 8" thick and 4' long. Employee received contusions and bruises.

November 8, 2004 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO REPLACE SCOOP BATTERY LIDS AT THE OUTSIDE BATTERY CHARGING STATION WHEN HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK AREA. Dr. INDICATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY LOW BACK STRAIN.

August 19, 2004 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Rubbed or abraded

EE injured his left knee while crawling through the mine. He was wearing knee pads at the time, left knee became swollen by the end of the shift.

June 8, 2004 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Struck by falling object

According to the ee he was shoveling belt when a piece of draw rock fell and hit him on his left shoulder and arm. The rock was approx 2' by 3' by 3 inches in size. The Dr's report stated that the ee sustained a broken collar bone and 2 small broken bones in the shoulder.

2003 · 1 incident

June 2, 2003 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS PULLING THE MINER CABLE, HE FELT A SHARP PAIN GO DOWN BACK OF NECK AND HIS LEFT ARM BECAME NUMB. CT SCAN SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO MUSCLES OF THE LEFT SHOULDER. NUMBNESS HAD LEFT HIS ARM BY THE TIME EE LEFT THE E.R.

2002 · 2 incidents

March 21, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) ELECTRICAL
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Contact with electrical current

ROOF BOLT OPERATOR WAS PULLING HIS CABLE SLACK UP AND WAS SHOCKED. THE SHOCK BURNED HIS FINGER.THE EE WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE IMMEDIATELY AND TREATED. ALSO TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS TREATED & KEPT ONE NIGHT FOR OBSERVATION.

March 1, 2002 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss POWERED HAULAGE
Pond Creek Energy, Inc. · Struck by powered moving object

EE PULLED HIS 3 WHEELER UP TO THE TELEPHONE WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE TAILPIECE. HE GOT OFF HIS RIDE TO TALK ON TELEPHONE. HE APPARENTLY DIDN'T LEAVE HIS LIGHTS ON AND HAD HIS BACK TURNED TO INC OMING TRAFFIC. THE SCOOP OPR. CAME TO DUMP A LOAD OF COAL, HE COULDN'T SEE THE FOREMAN, THEREFORE STRIKING THE 2 WHEELER & EMPLOYEE.

2001 · 1 incident

June 15, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
American Mining & Manufacturing Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ROOF BOLTER WAS BEING MOVED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT SIDE. BOLTER TRAM WAS UP ON A LUMP OF COAL. WHEN THE BLOCK OF COAL BROKE, THIS ALLOWED THE PINNER DECK TO FALL DOWN AGAINST HIS RIGHT KNEE.

1997 · 1 incident

December 15, 1997 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Ray-Mac Contracting Inc · Struck by powered moving object

EE ROOF BOLTER OPERATOR TRAMMING INTO FACE AREA WENT FROM 32" IN SEAM HEIGHT TO 29 3/4 " SEAM HEIGHT, APPARENTLY HTI HEAD ON ROOF KNOCKED HAT OVER HIS EYES. HE IN TURN HIT A TRAM LEVER CAUSIN G THE ROOF BOLTER TO TRAM SIDEWAYS, RANE OVER HIS FOOT.