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.
243 citations across 2,011 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine No. 1 has $76K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$76K
proposed penalties
$69K
current assessed
$69K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
234 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $25K in penalties contested before the Commission, $17K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2008-01-16.
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.
13citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
Settled
12 · 92%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 8%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 11 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$25K proposed, $17K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2008-08-29.
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 No. 1 shows 90% of 257 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: 2007-11-19, 18 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
257
samples
5.41
dust max (mg/m3)
127 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 130 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 No. 1 recorded 6.88 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.
Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ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.
6.88
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.66 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
2007 *
6.88
0.00
0.000
2006
5.38
3.59
0.000
2005 *
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)
2008
2
2007
36
208,156
2006
45
385,757
2005
21
140,726
2004
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No. 1 sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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 Q2
751
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
1,418
3
1
2115.7
2007 Q4
10,136
27
7
2663.8
2007 Q3
20,650
16
7
774.8
2007 Q2
27,883
42
27
1506.3
2007 Q1
28,572
26
21
910.0
2006 Q4
25,104
26
19
1035.7
2006 Q3
27,737
41
13
1478.2
Show 7 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2006 Q2
29,057
21
7
722.7
2006 Q1
29,578
12
3
405.7
2005 Q4
14,277
7
1
490.3
2005 Q3
14,401
5
2
347.2
2005 Q2
12,922
13
3
1006.0
2005 Q1
9,481
4
1
421.9
2004 Q4
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
15 on file
2007 · 6 incidents
June 4, 2007VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
A possible frictional methane ignition occurred while the face of the #3 entry (approx 54' inby survey station # 1152) was being mined on the MMU 001-0. The continuous mining machine operator reported a flash, that was yellowish orange in color, which self extinguished immediately.
The face of the No.1 entry (inby survey station No. 1129 was being mined on the mmu 001-0. When the cutter bits struck the sandstone mine floor a possible methane ignition occurred. The continuous miner operator saw an orange flash that immedimely self extinguished.
Coal was being mined in the face of the no. 3 entry (about 70' inby survey station no. 1090)on the mmu-001-0. When the cutter bits of the continous mining machine struck the sand stone mine roof. the machine operator saw a orange flash on the right side of the machine's cutter head.
February 21, 2007VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee was positioned on his knee while installing roof bolts. After installing the roof bolts, he turned around to stand up and felt a sharp pain in his lower back.
February 12, 2007VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
The injured was operating a battery powered scoop. Prior to starting down an incline he checked his foot brake and it was functioning properly. However, as the scoop started down the incline the brake failed to adequately slow the scoop. When he ran the scoop into the coal rib to stop it it threw him against the side of the scoop canopy fracturing his rib.
A fall was discovered in the No.1 Return Entry of West Mains at Survey Station 224. The fall measured approximately 20' long x 20' wide x 10' high and had been supported with 5' fully grouted resin roof bolts. There were no injuries or equipment involved. Ventilation was not affected. The fall will not be cleaned up.
A roof fall occured in the #5 entry of west mains at survey station #703. The fall was 1 break outby the section power center and measured approx 20' long x 20' wide x 6' high. There were no injuries or equipment involved. Ventilation was not affected.
Coal was being mined int he face of the north entry 80' inby survey staiton 638 on the 2 left off north mains section. When the cutter bits of the continuous mining machine struck sanstop the machine operator saw an orange flash.
June 22, 2006VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Injured was supplying roof bolts for the roof bolting machine. He was carrying roof bolts from the scoop bucket to the roof bolting machine. When he felt a sudden pain in his back.
A possible friction methane ignition occurred on the 1-left off North Mains (MMU 002-0) section. The second cut was being mined out of the 5-right face. The continuous mining machine operator had loaded a shuttle car and was backing up when the cutter bits struck the sandstone mine floor causing a possible friction methane ignition.
May 10, 2006VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A possible methane ignition occurred on the 1-left off North Mains (mmu 002-0) section. The second cut inby the last open crosscut, no. 6 heading was being mined. After a shuttle car, the mining machine was being backed out of the face to set over. The cutter bits struck the mine floor & a possible frictional methane ignition occurred.
A possible methane ignition occurred on the 1-left off North Mains section (mmu 002-0). The second cut inby the last open crosscut (No.6 heading) was being mined. The miner operator was cutting down on the face & when the cutter bits struck the sandstone bottom, a possible frictional ignition occurred.
April 5, 2006VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE and another person were loading water line. the other person dropped his end of water line causing the water line to bounce and strike the injured in the face. This resulted in broken teeth.