Mining Incidents

Mine #2B: 110 MSHA citations Coal

AEP Kentucky Coal, L.L.C. · Underground
Dorton, Pike County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1517902

Mine #2B has $11K in proposed MSHA penalties and $338 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
51
Years on record
1997–2002
Latest incident
Mar 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
110
citations
51
significant & substantial
$11,111
proposed penalties
$10,773
paid to date
97% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $338 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
50
inspections on record
1,936
inspection hours
5.7
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.
110 citations across 1,936 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mine #2B has $11K in proposed MSHA penalties and $338 outstanding across 0 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.
$11K
proposed penalties
$11K
current assessed
$11K
paid to date
$338
outstanding
107 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2002-08-20.
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.
47.2%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
47.2%
reasonably likely or greater
4.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 21.3% low, 78.7% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Mine #2B shows 95% of 462 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: 2013-05-01, 13 years ago
95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
462
samples
4.47
dust max (mg/m3)
234 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 228 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR239
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)58
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR38

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2002-08-01, 24 years ago
6.6
silica avg (%)
48
samples
15.0
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR25

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: 2001-11-20, 24 years ago
7%
over PEL
43
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)10
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR9
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR8
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
2013 100% 1
2002 98% 54
2001 98% 208
2000 91% 199
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2002 9.9 6
2001 6.4 24
2000 5.8 18
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2001 7% 28
2000 7% 15
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Mine #2B recorded 7.01 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.
7.01
total case rate
3.50
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
About 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 * 7.01 3.50 0.000
2001 13.41 12.29 0.000
2000 13.03 9.77 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. Kiah Creek Mining Company 1997 to 1997
  2. Branham & Baker Underground Corp 1997 to 2001
  3. AEP Kentucky Coal, L.L.C. 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)
2002 19 194,421
2001 76 685,517
2000 74 757,477
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mine #2B 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
2002 Q4 0 0 0
2002 Q3 13,193 2 0 151.6
2002 Q2 20,906 3 2 143.5
2002 Q1 22,963 7 4 304.8
2001 Q4 34,133 16 12 468.8
2001 Q3 49,756 11 3 221.1
2001 Q2 46,264 8 6 172.9
2001 Q1 48,827 7 3 143.4
Show 4 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2000 Q4 46,386 4 3 86.2
2000 Q3 52,081 15 5 288.0
2000 Q2 42,799 12 3 280.4
2000 Q1 42,879 8 4 186.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

51 on file

2002 · 2 incidents

March 28, 2002 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AEP Kentucky Coal, L.L.C. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

LIFTING CONTINUOUS MINER CABLE TO HANG HE STARTED HAVING PAIN IN NECK & BACK.

March 27, 2002 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AEP Kentucky Coal, L.L.C. · Struck by falling object

HE WAS PUTTING A PIECE OF AUGER STEEL IN AND IT FELL ON HIS HAND.

2001 · 12 incidents

October 30, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
AEP Kentucky Coal, L.L.C. · Struck by falling object

HE WAS STARTING TO DRILL HOLE FOR ROOF BOLT AND A PIECE OF ROCK FELL, HITTING HIS HAND.

September 2, 2001 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

SHOVELING COAL AT THE HEAD DRIVE AND A PIECE OF ROCK FELL, STRIKING ON THE HEAD.

June 1, 2001 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against a moving object

TRAMMING SHUTTLE CAR AND HIT A HOLE IN THE MINE FLOOR.

May 30, 2001 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HOOKING PULL ROPE ON TO MINER AND THE BOOM SWUNG AND STRUCK HIM.

April 18, 2001 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against stationary object

SHOVELING TAILPIECE AND RAISED UP & HIT EAR ON ROOF BOLT PLATE.

January 25, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

MAKING UP ROOF BOLTS, WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL, STRIKING HIM ON THE SHOULDER.

January 17, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SWUNG ROOF BOLTER HEAD TO PUT UP BOLT & LET ROOF BOLTER HEAD DOWN ON KNEE

2000 · 13 incidents

December 8, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

WHILE INSTALLING ROOF BOLT A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL STRIKING HIM IN THE LOWER BACK.

December 7, 2000 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

LIFTING BATTERIES OUT OF TRAY OF PERSONNEL CARRIER. LEFT WORK ON 12-8-00 TO GET HIS INJURY CHECKED OUT.

November 15, 2000 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ELBOW BLEW OFF OF A 3" WATERLINE AND STRUCK HIM IN THE FACE.

October 3, 2000 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider STRIKING OR BUMPING
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against stationary object

TRAVELING THROUGH MAN DOOR AND HIT SIDE OF MANDOOR.

September 20, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

HE HAD HIS HAND LAYING OVER THE END OF A ROOF BOLT WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND STRUCK HIS HAND

September 7, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by flying object

CHECKING FOR OIL LEAK IN HYDRAULIC HOSE WITH HAND OIL SQUIRTED ONTO FINGR UNDER PRESSURE

August 15, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL WHILE INSTALLING ROOF BOLT AND STRUCK HIM.

July 27, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ROOF BOLTING. HE ALLEGED HIS KNEE WAS STRAINED WHEN HE HIT THE WRONG LEVER AND LET BOLTER HEAD DOWN ON IT.

April 10, 2000 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WASLOADING ROCK DUST ON HIS SCOOP AND SAID HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

January 31, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

EE WAS BOLTING ROOF IN #2 HEADING, WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL ON HIS LEFT ANKLE.

1999 · 4 incidents

October 29, 1999 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS BOLTING 4R CROSSCUT. SET ATRS. IT LOOSENED UP A PIECE OF ROCK AGAINST RIB. THE ROCKFELL AND CAUGHT BOLTER MAN ON LEFT LEG, BRUISINGLEG.

1998 · 13 incidents

November 4, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE HIT HEAD AGAINST TOP WHILE RIDING MANTRIP. STUBBED NECK UP.

September 28, 1998 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WAS PUNCHING ROCK OUT OF TAILPIECE WITH SLATE BAR. BELT CAUGHT BAR AND HIT LEG.

August 26, 1998 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against a moving object

PANIC BAR KNOCKED ON SHUTTLE CAR COMING OFF DUMP, ANOTHER SHUTTLE CAR CAME IN ON OTHER SIDE AND RAN INTO HIM, BRUISING VICTIMS HIP.

July 16, 1998 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

RAISED HEAD OF BOLTER UP WITH WRENCH LAYING ON HEAD. WRENCH CAUGHT SIDE OF CANOPY AND STRUCK VICTIM IN NOSE. BRUISED NOSE.

July 9, 1998 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

OPERATOR WAS TRAMMING MINER WHEN MINER WENT THROUGH A DFIP. THE CABLE HOOKED ON THE BOOM OF MINER TIGHTENED UP AND CAUGHT MINER OPERATOR, THROWING HIM AGAINST TOP. BRUISING HIS LOWER BACK.

May 20, 1998 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

PIECE OF ROCK FELL FORM ROOF AND HIT VICTIM ON LEFT ARM BRUISED ARM AT ELBOW.

April 8, 1998 KY · Coal electrician, lineman ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING TIRE ON SCOOP, HURT BACK.

1997 · 7 incidents

December 29, 1997 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

ROOF BOLTER OPER SWUNG OPR SIDE OF BOLTER OVERAND CAUGHT HIMSELF BETWEEN THE RIB AND CANOPY THUS BRUISING HIS RT SHOULDER.

December 17, 1997 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by falling object

J.R. AND EE WAS PUTTING A TOP ROLLER IN NO.2 STACKER BELT WHEN J.R. PULLED HIS SIDE OF THE ROLLER EE SIDE FELL DOWN CATCHING HIS RIGHT THUMB HE HAD TO HAVE 3 STITCHES.

October 27, 1997 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

CAUGHT LEFT HAND BETWEEN ROOF BOLTER HEAD AND TOP SMASHING THUMB.

October 27, 1997 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck against a moving object

TRAMMING SHUTTLE CAR TOWARDS MINER AND HIT ROUGH PLACE IN ROAD AND THREW NECK AND SHOULDER IN CANOPY.

September 1, 1997 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Branham & Baker Underground Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INURED WAS LOADING BOLTS ON BOLTER WHEN ONE OF THE BANDS THAT BANDS THE BOLTS TOGETHER FLIPPED UP STRIKING THE VICTIM ON THE ARM THUS CUTTING ARM.