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.
396 citations across 4,283 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: 2010-08-03.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Mine No 1 has $194K in proposed MSHA penalties and $77 outstanding across 18 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.
$194K
proposed penalties
$146K
current assessed
$146K
paid to date
$77
outstanding
380 assessments are final orders; 18 contested dockets.
Of $166K in penalties contested before the Commission, $98K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-08-03.
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.
77citations taken to the federal commission · 19% of citations on record
Settled
70 · 91%
Stood as issued
3 · 4%
Vacated or withdrawn
4 · 5%
75%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 57 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
41%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$166K proposed, $98K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2011-03-07.
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 94% of 564 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: 2010-03-03, 16 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
564
samples
6.78
dust max (mg/m3)
260 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 304 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 11.69 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009.
Injury rate, 2009
ⓘ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.
11.69
total case rate
5.85
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.29 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
2009 *
11.69
5.85
0.000
2008 *
10.35
6.90
0.000
2007 *
8.62
0.00
0.000
2006 *
3.87
3.87
0.000
2005 *
9.34
0.00
0.000
2004 *
3.37
0.00
0.000
2003 *
7.54
7.54
0.000
2002 *
4.15
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)
2010
15
18,141
2009
21
78,568
2008
28
135,193
2007
12
50,534
2006
27
118,997
2005
32
169,983
2004
28
167,358
2003
25
192,007
2002
24
177,841
2001
24
214,845
2000
15
146,811
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No 1 sits in McDowell County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 13.0% 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.
McDowell County, West Virginia · Population 18,413
13.0%
Mining share of county employment
$29,980
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
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q2
7,035
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
10,461
18
4
1720.7
2009 Q4
10,305
10
4
970.4
2009 Q3
2,231
2
0
896.5
2009 Q2
8,701
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
12,967
31
5
2390.7
2008 Q4
17,080
61
24
3571.4
Show 35 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2008 Q3
12,703
7
5
551.1
2008 Q2
16,283
6
1
368.5
2008 Q1
11,879
6
3
505.1
2007 Q4
7,294
4
1
548.4
2007 Q3
5,535
1
0
180.7
2007 Q2
6,754
1
0
148.1
2007 Q1
3,623
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
14,012
2
1
142.7
2006 Q3
10,791
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
13,687
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
13,245
2
2
151.0
2005 Q4
16,207
2
2
123.4
2005 Q3
16,869
11
3
652.1
2005 Q2
16,830
12
2
713.0
2005 Q1
14,349
13
3
906.0
2004 Q4
15,800
13
5
822.8
2004 Q3
15,542
12
4
772.1
2004 Q2
13,136
2
1
152.3
2004 Q1
14,956
7
4
468.0
2003 Q4
12,562
10
4
796.1
2003 Q3
13,854
11
5
794.0
2003 Q2
13,917
6
2
431.1
2003 Q1
12,707
3
1
236.1
2002 Q4
10,691
6
1
561.2
2002 Q3
12,416
8
4
644.3
2002 Q2
11,554
19
9
1644.5
2002 Q1
13,577
17
4
1252.1
2001 Q4
12,792
11
0
859.9
2001 Q3
13,275
6
0
452.0
2001 Q2
12,502
7
3
559.9
2001 Q1
14,688
26
5
1770.2
2000 Q4
12,482
7
1
560.8
2000 Q3
9,905
6
1
605.8
2000 Q2
7,651
12
5
1568.4
2000 Q1
6,495
10
2
1539.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
38 on file
2009 · 4 incidents
December 8, 2009WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Injured was taking down 3/4" pipe that was beside feeder and transferring it across #3 belt. Pipe had been used as part of fire deluge system, drive had been removed. As he attempted to move it across belt, he felt a pain in his lower back on the right side.
DEATH ON MINE PROPERTY. THE EMPLOYEE, A MINE FOREMAN, SUFFERED A FATAL HEART ATTACK WHILE ON MINE PROPERTY. THIS INCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED BY MSHA, WV DEPT. OF MINES, AND COMPANY OFFICIALS.
2003 · 2 incidents
December 11, 2003WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE SAID HURT HIS KNEE MOVING MINER CABLE OUT OF WAY. EMPLOYEE SAID ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE MORNING OF 5/31/03. EMPLOYEE DID NOT NOTIFY MANAGEMENT UNTIL THE EVENING OF 6/1/03.
JACKED UP BELT DRIVER #4 TO CHANGE OUT CRIB BLOCK OLD BLOCK WAS STUCK. TOOK ANOTHER CRIB BLOCK TO KNOCK OUT 1ST BLOCK GOT FINGER CAUGHT IN BETWEEN BLOCKS MASHING LITTLE FINGER ON LEFT HAND.
INJURED PARTY WAS SITTING ON RIB BESIDE THE MINER AND A LOOSE SLUG OF ROCK FELL AND HIT HIM ON THE HEAD. HE STATED HE WAS OK AND DID NOT NEED TO GO TO THE DR ON 4-20-95. HE WENT TO THE DR AND THE DR RELEASE HIM. HE WORKED UNTIL 5-8-95. ON 5-2-95 HE CALLED AND SAID HE WENT BACK TO THE DR AND HE NOW NEEDS THERAPY FOR 30 DAYS.
February 24, 1995WV · Coalcontinuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgemanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
WHILE TRAVELING TO THE SURFACE AFTER THE SHIFT WAS OVER IN 32" COAL MEN WERE BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE SURFACE IN A 3 WHEELER LONG-AIRDOX MANTRIP,WHEN THE MANTRIP HIT A HOLE IN ROADWAY CAUSING TI TO BOUNCE AND THE MINERS FOOT HIT THE TOP CAUSING HIS LEG TO BOUNCE AND THE MINERS FOOR HIT THE TOP CAUSING HIS LEG TO BEND BACKWARD AND PULLING HIS KNEE OUT OF SOCKET.
July 26, 1991WV · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorOTHER
WORKING IN LOW COAL 31" MOVING COAL FROM UNDER DRILL EHAD WITH HIS FOOT AND HIS KNEE CAME OUT OF ITS SOCKET. THIS EMPLOYEE'S KNEE WAS PREVIOUSLY INJUREC BEFORE HE STARTED WORKING WITH OUR COM PANY AND STATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
May 30, 1991WV · Coalexaminer, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examinerHANDLING OF MATERIALS