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.
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.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-08-19.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, 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.
Of $770K in penalties contested before the Commission, $735K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-10-23.
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.
305citations taken to the federal commission · 44% of citations on record
Settled
188 · 62%
Stood as issued
115 · 38%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 1%
87%
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 221 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
5%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$770K proposed, $735K 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 2012-09-18.
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 FOUR LLC shows 91% of 349 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: 2013-07-31, 13 years ago
91%
within 1.5 mg/m3
349
samples
8.48
dust max (mg/m3)
167 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 182 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 FOUR LLC recorded 22.84 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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.
22.84
total case rate
22.84
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.13 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
2012 *
22.84
22.84
0.000
2011 *
27.41
19.58
0.000
2010 *
10.09
10.09
0.000
2009 *
14.18
14.18
0.000
2005 *
9.80
4.90
0.000
2002 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001 *
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)
2024
0
2023
0
2022
0
2021
0
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
2
2015
3
2014
2
2013
3
365
2012
11
9,056
2011
19
16,626
2010
17
34,816
2009
31
84,751
2008
2
2007
3
2006
12
38,605
2005
21
147,308
2004
14
37,819
2003
9
28,573
2002
31
192,843
2001
15
109,823
2000
13
19,234
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
MINE FOUR LLC sits in Mingo County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 15.0% 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia · Population 22,979
15.0%
Mining share of county employment
$39,527
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
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 quartersHide 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
125
61
8622.5
2009 Q3
18,185
70
37
3849.3
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
1
1
640.2
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, 2013WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
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, 2012WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorMACHINERY
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, 2011WV · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorSTRIKING OR BUMPING
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.
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, 2011WV · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
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, 2009WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
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, 2005WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
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, 2005WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
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.