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.
359 citations across 3,284 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine No 3 has $133K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 26 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.
$133K
proposed penalties
$101K
current assessed
$101K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
354 assessments are final orders; 26 contested dockets.
Of $90K in penalties contested before the Commission, $58K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-09-15.
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.
101citations taken to the federal commission · 28% of citations on record
Settled
99 · 98%
Stood as issued
1 · 1%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 1%
94%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 48 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
36%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$90K proposed, $58K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2010-12-17.
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 3 shows 93% of 422 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: 2008-12-23, 17 years ago
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
422
samples
7.76
dust max (mg/m3)
197 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 225 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 3 recorded 12.93 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2008.
Injury rate, 2008
ⓘ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.
12.93
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.41 and the all-US-mining average was 3.61 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.66 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
2008 *
12.93
0.00
0.000
2007 *
2.21
2.21
0.000
2006 *
2.33
0.00
0.000
2005 *
2.47
0.00
0.000
2004 *
8.04
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)
2009
5
22,543
2008
39
373,447
2007
39
370,031
2006
38
381,178
2005
34
341,797
2004
31
366,311
2003
6
40,104
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No 3 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
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
5,779
9
2
1557.4
2008 Q4
22,621
26
7
1149.4
2008 Q3
22,689
24
8
1057.8
2008 Q2
23,473
23
9
979.8
2008 Q1
24,055
21
6
873.0
2007 Q4
23,295
32
5
1373.7
2007 Q3
23,273
40
10
1718.7
Show 17 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2007 Q2
22,217
44
10
1980.5
2007 Q1
21,513
26
9
1208.6
2006 Q4
18,640
5
4
268.2
2006 Q3
22,175
6
1
270.6
2006 Q2
23,110
3
2
129.8
2006 Q1
22,047
11
6
498.9
2005 Q4
16,889
5
3
296.1
2005 Q3
20,007
16
10
799.7
2005 Q2
22,128
15
8
677.9
2005 Q1
22,018
9
5
408.8
2004 Q4
19,412
12
5
618.2
2004 Q3
20,483
1
0
48.8
2004 Q2
17,875
3
2
167.8
2004 Q1
16,813
10
6
594.8
2003 Q4
6,823
5
2
732.8
2003 Q3
0
0
0
2003 Q2
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2008 · 7 incidents
October 15, 2008VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee was releasing an electrical trailing cable which was hung to a roof bolt plate. When he released the cable, the cable hanger caught his hand resulting in a laceration between his forefinger and thumb. The laceration required sutures.
May 22, 2008VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The injured was putting roof bolting supplies on the roof bolting machine. He cut the band on a bundle of roof bolts. The band sprung loose and struck him on the left hand. This resulted in a laceration which required sutures.
May 9, 2008VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Injured was stepping across the cable to the roof bolting machine. When the cable reel of the machine was turned on, the cable caught his foot, causing him to fall and bruise his ribs.
April 22, 2008VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
The EE was working on the feeder which had stalled out. The stalled out feeder caused the water line to heat up and rupture. The water sprayed the individual on the right leg resulting in a burn.
April 18, 2008VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured was using a bar to pry a rock out of a belt conveyor drive and strained his left arm. He continued working his normal job until 8-7-07, when he started missing work due to the injury.
2006 · 1 incident
August 25, 2006VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE INJURED WAS PUTTING SUPPLIES ON THE SECTION ROOF BOLTING MACHINE. HE WAS MOVING A BUNDLE OF ROOF BOLT PLATES WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM THE MINE ROOF & STRUCK HIS HAND.
March 4, 2004VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS