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.
118 citations across 1,518 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine 33 has $22K in proposed MSHA penalties and $193 outstanding across 19 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.
$22K
proposed penalties
$20K
current assessed
$20K
paid to date
$193
outstanding
118 assessments are final orders; 19 contested dockets.
Of $15K in penalties contested before the Commission, $12K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2015-04-28.
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.
36citations taken to the federal commission · 31% of citations on record
Settled
34 · 94%
Stood as issued
2 · 6%
97%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 32 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
18%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$11K proposed, $9K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2014-04-21.
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 33 shows 100% of 201 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: 2015-06-25, 11 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
201
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.
157 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 44 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 33 recorded 8.96 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
8.96
total case rate
8.96
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 5.34 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
2014 *
8.96
8.96
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010 *
6.58
6.58
0.000
2009 *
7.01
7.01
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
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)
2015
3
4,569
2014
9
34,392
2013
12
25,887
2012
12
41,427
2011
11
53,382
2010
11
63,959
2009
12
71,722
2008
10
57,906
2007
17
102,197
2006
15
108,240
2005
21
152,080
2004
22
189,961
2003
20
204,058
2002
18
158,781
2001
19
221,485
2000
13
202,773
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine 33 sits in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.
Elk County, Pennsylvania · Population 30,703
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$64,103
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
2015 Q3
202
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
3,176
1
1
314.9
2015 Q1
1,054
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
5,750
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
4,769
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
6,411
2
0
312.0
2014 Q1
5,379
6
5
1115.4
2013 Q4
4,896
1
0
204.2
Show 55 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2013 Q3
1,843
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
5,559
2
0
359.8
2013 Q1
6,235
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
6,361
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
6,060
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
7,395
3
1
405.7
2012 Q1
7,339
1
0
136.3
2011 Q4
7,432
1
1
134.6
2011 Q3
7,625
2
0
262.3
2011 Q2
6,651
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
7,004
2
2
285.6
2010 Q4
7,797
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
7,759
3
3
386.6
2010 Q2
6,948
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
7,912
2
1
252.8
2009 Q4
6,576
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
7,794
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
6,533
4
3
612.3
2009 Q1
7,621
4
3
524.9
2008 Q4
6,518
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
7,354
2
0
272.0
2008 Q2
6,089
5
3
821.2
2008 Q1
7,594
1
0
131.7
2007 Q4
8,119
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
11,931
3
3
251.4
2007 Q2
9,573
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
10,392
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
8,894
2
0
224.9
2006 Q3
9,596
3
2
312.6
2006 Q2
8,719
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
12,282
2
1
162.8
2005 Q4
10,009
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
11,110
7
6
630.1
2005 Q2
11,329
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
10,686
4
3
374.3
2004 Q4
12,458
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
11,585
10
8
863.2
2004 Q2
12,293
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
13,061
3
2
229.7
2003 Q4
13,922
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
11,422
1
0
87.6
2003 Q2
9,672
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
9,515
3
1
315.3
2002 Q4
9,672
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
9,142
12
8
1312.6
2002 Q2
10,954
1
1
91.3
2002 Q1
11,108
7
5
630.2
2001 Q4
14,979
1
1
66.8
2001 Q3
13,456
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
13,575
4
2
294.7
2001 Q1
9,647
1
0
103.7
2000 Q4
11,076
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
8,828
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
9,450
1
1
105.8
2000 Q1
6,428
2
2
311.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
8 on file
2014 · 1 incident
July 10, 2014PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was getting ready for shift performing daily maintenance on D11N Dozer. He was carrying a 5 gallon oil can and slipped on dozer tracks causing him to try to catch himself without falling. He skinned his shin and pulled muscle or injury in neck/shoulder.
2010 · 1 incident
February 23, 2010PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Employee was working on loader. He was grinding out cracks on bolt holes on front rear end. He was wearing safety glasses. Piece of foreign matter (metal) got into eye.
2009 · 1 incident
April 2, 2009PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was installing a universal joint and pounding with a hammer. He had no symptoms until pupil became enlarged. Dr. found piece of metal behind eye. Will be removed in two weeks.
2004 · 2 incidents
October 15, 2004PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WHILE DOING HIS ROUTINE DUTY OF SPREADING SLUDGEWITH TRACTOR, THE TRACTOR SHUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. THE TRACTOR ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE. THE INJURED OPERATOR WAS THROWN FROM THE CAB BEFORE THE TRACTOR CAME TO ASTOP AND RECEIVED MANY SMALL CUTS AND BRUISES. THE ONLY REPORTALBLE INJURY HE RECEIVED WAS A DEEP CUT ON HIS HEAD.
EE WAS CHANGING FUEL FILTERS IN HI LIFT ON A LADDER. LADDER GAVE AWAY EE SLIPPED HIT LADDER WITHRIGHT SIDE & FELL TO FROZEN GROUND CAUSING CLEANBREAK TO PELVIC BONE