Mining Incidents

MINE FOUR LLC Coal

MINE FOUR LLC · Underground
Controlled by Rufus W West; Joe Valis
Wharncliff, Mingo County, WV  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4608812

MINE FOUR LLC has $946K in proposed MSHA penalties and $823K outstanding across 35 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at MINE FOUR LLC.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
27
Years on record
2000–2013
Latest incident
Jul 2013
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
701
citations
287
significant & substantial
$946,113
proposed penalties
$88,590
paid to date
9% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $857,523 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
126
inspections on record
4,792
inspection hours
14.6
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.
701 citations across 4,792 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

MINE FOUR LLC has $946K in proposed MSHA penalties and $823K outstanding across 35 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.
$946K
proposed penalties
$911K
current assessed
$89K
paid to date
$823K
outstanding
676 assessments are final orders; 35 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-10-23.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at MINE FOUR LLC shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.68 mg/m3 (91% compliant) across 349 samples.

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.
0.68
dust avg (mg/m3)
8.48
dust max (mg/m3)
91%
within 1.5 mg/m3
349
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-07-31.
Silica (quartz)
10.0
silica avg (%)
30.6
silica max (%)
24
samples
Most recent sample: 2012-04-18.
Noise
3%
over PEL
31
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-07-31.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 0 0 0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 0 0 0
Show 84 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 0 0 0
2021 Q3 0 0 0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 0 0
2020 Q1 0 0 0
2019 Q4 0 0 0
2019 Q3 0 0 0
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 0 0 0
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2016 Q3 52 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 348 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 124 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 213 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 200 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 263 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 224 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 291 1 0 3436.4
2014 Q3 297 4 0 13468.0
2014 Q2 402 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 580 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 1,434 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 1,556 7 3 4498.7
2013 Q2 1,983 13 1 6555.7
2013 Q1 1,431 4 0 2795.2
2012 Q4 662 2 0 3021.1
2012 Q3 2,265 16 2 7064.0
2012 Q2 7,548 12 1 1589.8
2012 Q1 15,797 51 20 3228.5
2011 Q4 18,525 37 6 1997.3
2011 Q3 16,209 46 18 2837.9
2011 Q2 8,787 24 11 2731.3
2011 Q1 7,554 14 8 1853.3
2010 Q4 11,896 19 12 1597.2
2010 Q3 6,739 8 3 1187.1
2010 Q2 2,941 13 11 4420.3
2010 Q1 18,057 99 42 5482.6
2009 Q4 14,497 127 63 8760.4
2009 Q3 18,185 74 38 4069.3
2009 Q2 14,819 56 24 3778.9
2009 Q1 8,934 14 11 1567.0
2008 Q4 1,619 4 0 2470.7
2008 Q3 1,562 2 2 1280.4
2008 Q2 0 0 0
2008 Q1 0 0 0
2007 Q4 1,460 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 2,610 4 0 1532.6
2007 Q2 0 0 0
2006 Q2 1,235 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 10,148 3 0 295.6
2005 Q4 9,579 3 0 313.2
2005 Q3 9,568 6 3 627.1
2005 Q2 11,338 3 2 264.6
2005 Q1 10,324 5 1 484.3
2004 Q4 10,053 3 1 298.4
2004 Q3 5,700 1 0 175.4
2004 Q2 684 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 0 0 0
2003 Q2 0 0 0
2003 Q1 10,479 3 0 286.3
2002 Q4 15,727 2 1 127.2
2002 Q3 12,451 3 0 240.9
2002 Q2 16,108 3 0 186.2
2002 Q1 12,693 3 1 236.4
2001 Q4 11,371 3 0 263.8
2001 Q3 10,217 3 0 293.6
2001 Q2 7,259 2 0 275.5
2001 Q1 621 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 7 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 10,498 4 2 381.0
2000 Q2 3,398 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 3,826 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

27 on file

2013 · 2 incidents

July 18, 2013 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was lifting out a battery from the mantrip approx. 40lb when felt a sharp pin in lower back.

2012 · 3 incidents

March 27, 2012 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was pulling the tailpiece with the scoop when the chain broke hitting EE's Right Index Finger--EE was wearing gloves.

January 30, 2012 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was greasing the Right Miner when a 10" long 4" wide and 3" thick allegedly fell from the top striking EE on head. There were no witnesses to this incident. Note: this EE has only worked one day at this mine .

January 4, 2012 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator MACHINERY
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was putting pull rope on miner conveyor boom, while putting on the pull rope the boom hit EE knocking him down into rib.

2011 · 8 incidents

December 8, 2011 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was hanging a fly pad and was nailing it using a hammer when he hit his left thumb.

December 6, 2011 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck by powered moving object

EE stated that he parked and shut off the shuttle car to move crib blocks out of roadway. While moving crib blocks the shuttle car rolled slightly and caught EE's right knee under the Shuttle car deck.

December 5, 2011 WV · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator STRIKING OR BUMPING
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck against stationary object

EE was walking bent over and hit his head in a low spot on the top.

November 8, 2011 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

In the Return, a slip had been cribbed in the intersection. The fall was left of the cribbed area, left of spad #19. State and Federal Agencies were notified. The entries to the fall was cribbed and dangered off.

September 7, 2011 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Struck against stationary object

EE was driving SC from miner to feeder hit head on top.

August 11, 2011 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was bolting top and moved a heavy rock, Supervisor stated that it looked like a hernia in the left groin area. EE refused medical attention and refused ambulance, he also continued to work regular duties thru 8.31.2011. EE notified us that he will have surgery on 9.1.11

June 3, 2011 WV · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Glen Alum Operations, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee bent over to pick up belt structure to load in the scoop, hurt lower back.

2010 · 2 incidents

November 29, 2010 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
KWV Operations, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was installing roof bolt when it bent, he put his hand on the bolt and it twisted his right hand/wrist.

2009 · 4 incidents

June 9, 2009 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Marshall Mining Incorporated · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Cleaning scraper and stacker belt off, shovel got caught between scraper and belt line.

May 28, 2009 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) POWERED HAULAGE
Marshall Mining Incorporated · Struck against stationary object

Riding into work face. When they came to low top, he didn't get down into mantrip like he should have. Hard hat got into roof, hurting forehead and back of his head.

February 19, 2009 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Marshall Mining Incorporated · Struck by falling object

Bolter pot came down on right leg.

2006 · 1 incident

2005 · 4 incidents

July 21, 2005 WV · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Kencole Equipment Inc · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL IN THE #2 THRU #6 ROOMS IN THE LAST OPER CROSSCUT. MOVE THE ACTIVE SECTION TO A NEW LOCATION IN THE MINE.

June 8, 2005 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator MACHINERY
Kencole Equipment Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee stated while a co-worker was cutting timbers with a hydraulic chain saw, his knee came in contact with the saw. This caused a laceration to his right knee.

April 12, 2005 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Kencole Equipment Inc · Struck by falling object

The employee stated he was installing a second roof bolt. A piece of draw rock fell from between the bolts and stuck him on the back of his head and neck.

January 4, 2005 WV · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Kencole Equipment Inc · Struck by falling object

Crawled to the return entry in process of crawling a rock fell from the top falling on his right side pinning him to the ground. He then crawled to the mine phone for help.

2004 · 1 incident

October 4, 2004 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Kencole Equipment Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE STATED HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK LOOSE BOLTS ON THE MINER HEAD AND THE SLATE BAR SLIPPED AND HIT HIM IN THE MOUTH.

2003 · 1 incident

February 3, 2003 WV · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss POWERED HAULAGE
Kencole Equipment Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE STATED WHILE HE WAS FOLDING BELT, CO-WORKER (THE HELPER) LET THE SCOOP DIPPER DOWN ON HIS THUMB.

2000 · 1 incident

September 14, 2000 WV · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Patton Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BENDING A ROOF BOLT TO PUT IN TOP WHEN ITSLIPPED & SPUN AROUND. THE BEARING PLATE CAUGHT EE ARM LACERATING IT

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on MINE FOUR LLC

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.