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.
640 citations across 3,284 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine #3 has $329K in proposed MSHA penalties and $208K outstanding across 5 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.
$329K
proposed penalties
$329K
current assessed
$121K
paid to date
$208K
outstanding
578 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $8K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-04-17.
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.
95citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
Settled
90 · 95%
Stood as issued
5 · 5%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 60 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$8K proposed, $8K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2004-08-17.
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 Mine #3 shows 89% of 216 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: 2006-12-05, 19 years ago
89%
within 1.5 mg/m3
216
samples
3.98
dust max (mg/m3)
111 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 105 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.
Mine #3 recorded 5.37 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ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.
5.37
total case rate
5.37
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.96 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
2006 *
5.37
5.37
0.000
2005 *
13.55
13.55
4.517
2004 *
4.51
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)
2008
0
2007
0
2006
26
156,725
2005
32
209,927
2004
29
162,664
2003
0
2002
0
2001
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine #3 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
2008 Q1
0
0
0
2007 Q4
0
0
0
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
0
5
1
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
5,324
61
36
11457.6
2006 Q3
8,042
24
9
2984.3
2006 Q2
11,138
56
18
5027.8
Show 20 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2006 Q1
12,716
33
12
2595.2
2005 Q4
9,411
17
4
1806.4
2005 Q3
9,498
43
14
4527.3
2005 Q2
11,220
29
10
2584.7
2005 Q1
14,147
61
26
4311.9
2004 Q4
13,810
53
9
3837.8
2004 Q3
14,479
58
38
4005.8
2004 Q2
7,519
96
45
12767.7
2004 Q1
8,580
63
26
7342.7
2003 Q4
0
0
0
2003 Q3
0
0
0
2003 Q2
0
0
0
2003 Q1
0
0
0
2002 Q4
0
0
0
2002 Q3
0
0
0
2002 Q2
0
0
0
2002 Q1
0
0
0
2001 Q4
0
0
0
2001 Q3
0
0
0
2001 Q2
0
0
0
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
December 30, 2005KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorFatality · POWERED HAULAGE
H & D Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
The victim was caught between 10SC shuttle car and an 818 Long Airdox ram car resulting in severe lower leg injuries and death.
Reportable incidents
7 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2006 · 2 incidents
November 15, 2006KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
An unplanned roof fall occurred in the return air course inby survey station 433. The roof fall was above the anchorage of the 48 resin bolts being used and measured approx. 100-ft long and 90 ft. wide 2 intersection.
January 31, 2005KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
H & D Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Shuttle car rolled over his right leg.
2004 · 1 incident
November 3, 2004KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS