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.
595 citations across 4,444 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine No 3 has $193K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 25 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.
$193K
proposed penalties
$144K
current assessed
$139K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
582 assessments are final orders; 25 contested dockets.
Of $117K in penalties contested before the Commission, $67K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-12-05.
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.
178citations taken to the federal commission · 30% of citations on record
Settled
175 · 98%
Stood as issued
3 · 2%
74%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 34 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
46%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$125K proposed, $67K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2024-02-27.
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 97% of 792 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: 2023-09-15
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
792
samples
5.00
dust max (mg/m3)
2
over MSHA ECV
ⓘThe excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
315 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 477 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 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2021.
Injury rate, 2021
ⓘ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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.35 and the all-US-mining average was 2.19 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.83 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
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
9.22
9.22
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2014 *
9.79
9.79
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
6.55
6.55
0.000
2011 *
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)
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
8
29,180
2022
10
28,097
2021
12
46,400
2020
12
48,627
2019
12
43,361
2018
13
42,331
2017
14
19,642
2016
1
2015
2
2014
16
35,819
2013
16
56,048
2012
16
62,549
2011
15
65,079
2010
13
62,622
2009
3
10,032
2008
5
8,846
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No 3 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
While mining coal in the 4th lift of pillar mining in the #3 entry, an unexpected roof fall occurred pinning the continuous miner. Miner operator was using remote control to mine while being observed by a federal inspector. At the time of the fall, no visible cracks or separations had been found by the foreman or inspector prior to mining. No injuries.
Pre shift examiner made pre shift exam & returned outside without seeing any falls. Workers went to section to run coal with federal dust pumps. Fall was found when arrived on section to do safety run. Mining (pillars) in #3 entry. Fall was one crosscut outby spad 653 in pillar line between 4&5 entry. Advised by federal to call occurrence in as reportable.
2020 · 1 incident
September 1, 2020WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Ambush Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
While bolting inside bolt, employee rested EE's hand on drill arm. Employee intended to lower drill head and unintentionally raised drill head causing EE's right index finger to be pinched by drill arms against drill bump stop.
While making weekly airway exam a roof fall in the cross cut between #6 entry & #7 entry one break outby spad 510 was found to have fallen. Fall was reported as being from the right corner of the #6 entry through the intersection of the #7 entry approximately 6 ft from the coal rib and approximately 6-8 ft high.
2014 · 2 incidents
August 29, 2014WV · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderFALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
EE knelt against rib in the #3 entry watching the continuous miner cable when a section of rib estimated 3' long, 1' high and 8" thick pushed against his back. Witness came & pushed the rock off his back. Foreman was notified & victim was offered to be taken out of the mine for medical evaluation. He denied medical attention & continued to work rest of shift.
While making the weekly airway examinations with federal mine inspector, we found a rock one break inby spad #47 in the primary escapeway from breaks 16-17. All men were pulled from the mines and the fall was reported. Area has since been cribbed, dangered, and Heinzmann Jacked from breaks 15-18 in the #7 intake entry & the primary escapeway has been re-routed.
Surface crack fall is located 20 feet inby 16 Bk to 5 feet from inby corner of 17 Bk (Spad 55) on mains. Fall was approx 70 feet long 6 feet thick on outby end, 5 feet thick on inby end, fall was a s wide as entry on bottom and 10 feet wide on top.