Mining Incidents

Mine #2: 294 MSHA citations Coal

Keokee Mining LLC · Underground
Controlled by James A Sigmon
Holmes Mill, Harlan County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1517689

Mine #2 has $51K in proposed MSHA penalties and $24K outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
35
Years on record
1998–2006
Latest incident
Jun 2006
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
294
citations
145
significant & substantial
$50,837
proposed penalties
$24,935
paid to date
49% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $25,902 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
71
inspections on record
1,555
inspection hours
18.9
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.
294 citations across 1,555 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mine #2 has $51K in proposed MSHA penalties and $24K outstanding across 3 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.
$51K
proposed penalties
$49K
current assessed
$25K
paid to date
$24K
outstanding
283 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-03-26.
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.
51.1%
significant & substantial
1.8%
high negligence or reckless
51.2%
reasonably likely or greater
7.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 0.4% low, 97.9% moderate, 1.8% 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.
3 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 3 · 100%
50%
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%
20%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$667 proposed, $531 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 2007-07-30.
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
KENT20000270 Settlement Zielinski 2001 $2K → $758
KENT20010042 Settlement Bulluck 2001 $2K → $557
KENT 2007-410 Settlement Feldman 2008 $667 → $531
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Mine #2 shows 90% of 145 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: 2002-12-26, 23 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
145
samples
5.68
dust max (mg/m3)
81 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 64 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR67
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)18
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)11

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2002-11-12, 23 years ago
7.1
silica avg (%)
19
samples
12.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER 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: 2002-02-19, 24 years ago
11%
over PEL
9
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)2
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR2
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)2
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
2002 96% 49
2001 82% 55
2000 93% 41
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2002 9.1 6
2001 5.8 10
2000 7.4 3
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2002 0% 5
2000 25% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Mine #2 recorded 18.28 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.

Injury rate, 2002
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.
18.28
total case rate
18.28
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 6.89 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 8.22 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
2002 * 18.28 18.28 0.000
2001 * 15.97 15.97 0.000
2000 * 46.38 42.16 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. Jericol Mining Inc 1995 to 1998
  2. Black Mountain Energy Inc 1995 to 1996
  3. Twin Pines Inc 1998 to 1998
  4. Sigmon Energy Llc 1998 to 1999
  5. Del Rio Inc 1999 to 2000
  6. Parton Brothers Contracting Inc 2000 to 2000
  7. Har-Lee Coal Company Inc 2000 to 2001
  8. C and R Leasing Inc. 2001 to 2003
  9. Jericol Mining Incorporated 2003 to 2007
  10. Keokee Mining LLC 2007 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)
2006 0
2005 0
2004 0
2003 0
2002 17 53,308
2001 18 58,025
2000 29 80,759
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mine #2 sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
2006 Q4 0 4 0
2006 Q3 0 3 1
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
2004 Q2 0 0 0
Show 16 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2003 Q4 0 0 0
2003 Q3 0 0 0
2003 Q2 0 0 0
2003 Q1 0 1 0
2002 Q4 3,906 34 11 8704.6
2002 Q3 5,636 24 11 4258.3
2002 Q2 7,140 23 13 3221.3
2002 Q1 5,202 37 21 7112.6
2001 Q4 0 9 8
2001 Q3 3,848 24 10 6237.0
2001 Q2 17,198 22 9 1279.2
2001 Q1 16,536 16 4 967.6
2000 Q4 19,253 19 12 986.9
2000 Q3 9,027 29 12 3212.6
2000 Q2 974 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 18,179 18 10 990.2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

35 on file

2006 · 1 incident

2003 · 1 incident

June 18, 2003 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Jericol Mining Incorporated · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURED IN NO. 4 ENTRY, 11 BREAKS FROM THE SURFACE. THE FALL DID NOT BLOCK ESCAPEWAYS OR HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE VENTILATION OF THE MINE. THIS IS A NON-PRODUCING STATUS.

2002 · 3 incidents

October 2, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
C and R Leasing Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS LIFTING ON A PIECE OF METAL SAID HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN STOMACH.

August 12, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
C and R Leasing Inc. · Struck against stationary object

CUT ON RIGHT HAND. HELPING PULL FLIGHT OUT OF SHUTTLE CAR.

2001 · 3 incidents

May 8, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ON HIS KNEES. HE RAISED UP AND REACHED FOR DRILL STEEL. HIS KNEE POPPED AND WAS PAINFUL.

April 5, 2001 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS STOOPED DOWN WORKING ON RAM CAR. WHEN HE STOOD HE PASSED OUT, FELL AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE RAM CAR. EYE WAS CUT BELOW EYEBROW REQUIRING STITCHES.

January 24, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS HOLDING CABLE WHILE ANOTHER EE WAS MOVING ROOF BOLTER. ACCIDENTALLY RAN OVER LEFT FOOT. TRAUMA TO LEFT FOOT.

2000 · 12 incidents

December 5, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ANOTHER EE WAS USING A SLATE BAR. THE BAR SLIPPED AND HIT EE'S LITTLE FINGER, WHICH WAS BRUISED AND CUT. EE DID NOT MISS ANY WORK OR SEE A DR. UNTIL 12-18 WHEN HIS FINGER BECAME INFECTED.

November 6, 2000 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING ON A FEEDER MOTOR. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS USING A SLATE BAR TO PRY ON MOTOR. SLATE BAR SLIPPED AND MASHED VICTIM'S HAND.

October 26, 2000 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator POWERED HAULAGE
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS RIDING MANTRIP UNDERGROUND TO BEGINHIS SCHEDULED SHIFT AND SAID HE BUMPED HIS HEAD AGAINST TOP AND STRAINED HIS BACK AND NECK.

October 24, 2000 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS RIDING IN BUCKET OF RAM CAR THE CAR BOUNCED ON BOTTOM OF MINE & EE HIT THE TOP BRUISED BACK & PELVIS

October 16, 2000 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EMPLOYEE PULLED MUSCLE IN CHEST WHILE PULLING BELT.

September 25, 2000 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EMPLOYEE PULLED MUSCLE IN BACK ON 9-25-00. DID NOT MISS ANY WORK. ON 10-16-00. HE REINJURED HIS BACK MOVING CRIB BLOCKS AND MISSED 3 DAYS.

September 21, 2000 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS UNPLUGGING BATTERIES IN SCOOP. HE PULLED A MUSCLE IN RIGHT HIP AND BACK.

September 6, 2000 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS DRIVING SHUTTLE CAR HE BENT HIS HEAD SIDEWAYS TO AVOID A ROOF BOLT IN TOP. SHUTTLE CAR HIS A BUMP BOUNCED EE EE'S HEAD WAS BUMPED & SCRAPED AGAINST TOP

September 5, 2000 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Har-Lee Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS PULLING CABLE & STRAINED BACK

April 4, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Del Rio Inc · Struck by rolling or sliding object

EE STATED HE WAS ROOF BOLTING WHEN A RIB ROLLED OFF AND STRUCK HIM IN THE LOWER BACK.

February 25, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Del Rio Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN THE #4 RIGHT ENTRY. THE INITIAL ROOF FALL WAS APPROX 36 INCHES THICK. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ROCK FELL HAD THE CONTINUOUS MINER TRAPPED. AFTER MINER WAS RETRIEVED THE ROCK FALL WAS APPROX 9 FT THICK BY 40 FT LONBY 18 FEET WIDE.

January 25, 2000 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Del Rio Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE STATED THAT HE WAS APPROX. 2 CORSSCUTS UNDERGROUND WHEN SLIPPED ON ICE AND FELL HITTING HIS HEAD, BACK AND HIP.

1999 · 11 incidents

December 13, 1999 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Del Rio Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATED HE WAS MOVING A PIECE OF ROCK WHEN IT SLIPPED AND CUT HIS HAND REQUIRING 7 STITCHES. HE RETURNED TO WORK AFTER 2 DAYS OFF.

December 3, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Del Rio Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE STATED HE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE OPERATORS COMPARTEMNT OF THE RAM CAR WORKING LEG LEVERE IN THE DECK AS HE LOOKED TO LOCATED A HYDRAULIC LEAK. HE ACCIDENTLY PUSHED THE ARTICULATION LEVER ALLOWING THE MACHINE TO LOWER ON TO HIS FOOT.

September 27, 1999 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Del Rio Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE STATED THAT HE WAS GETTING PLATES OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF BOLTER AND AS HE WAS LIFTING THE PLATES HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

September 23, 1999 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Del Rio Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS PICKING UP A MANDOOR WHEN HE HEARD A POP IN HIS BACK. HE BEGAN TO HAVE BACK PAIN.

August 16, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STRIKING OR BUMPING
Del Rio Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS WALKING WHEN HE RAN INTO A ROOF BOLT THAT WAS USE AS A BELT HANGER RESULTING IN A LACERATION TOT HE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEAD REQUIRING 10 STITCHES.

August 4, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Del Rio Inc · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE WAS TRAMMING THE RAM CARWHEN A WHEEL DROPPED INTO A HOLE, THROWING HIM UPWARD INTO THE CANOPY WITH HIS HEAD.

June 21, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sigmon Energy Llc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A CLA ON THE CONTINUOUS MINER. THE CLA UNIT SLIPPED, CUTTING FINGERS ON EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT HAND. STITCHES WERE USED TO CLOSE THE FINGER CUTS.

June 2, 1999 KY · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner POWERED HAULAGE
Sigmon Energy Llc · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS OPERATING A MANTRIP WHEN THE MANTRIP CAR HIT A HOLE IN THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN A STRAINED MUSCLE IN THE MIDBACK OF EE

May 5, 1999 KY · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Sigmon Energy Llc · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS USING A BENCH GRINDER WHEN THE METAL HE WAS GRINDING CAUGHT AND PULLED HIS RT HAND INTO A METAL GUARD CUTTING HIS MIDDLE INDEX FINGER.

April 14, 1999 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Sigmon Energy Llc · Struck by rolling or sliding object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A CONTINUOUS MINER. A RIBROLLED, STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE RIGHT HAND AND RIGHT LEG. THIS RESULTED IN A BROKEN RIGHT THUMBAND A FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT LOWER LEG.

February 9, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Sigmon Energy Llc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN NO. 3 ENTRY, 70 FEET OUTBY SPAD NO. 124. THE FALL IS APPROX. 4'X20'X50'.

1998 · 4 incidents

December 2, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Sigmon Energy Llc · Struck by falling object

EE WAS INSTALLING A STRAP. A SMALL PIECE OF ROCK FELL STRIKING EE ON THE RT ARM, RESULTING IN A CUT TO THE RT ARM. 5 STITCHES WERE USED TO CLOSE THE CUT.

May 22, 1998 KY · Coal MACHINERY
Twin Pines Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE TRAMMING ROFF BOTL MACHINE - HOSE STRAP IN TOP CUT EMPLOYEE ON HIS FACE.