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.
416 citations across 2,997 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine No. 5 has $48K in proposed MSHA penalties and $524 outstanding across 1 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.
$48K
proposed penalties
$47K
current assessed
$47K
paid to date
$524
outstanding
410 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $950 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-06-27.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $950 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2007-08-23.
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. 5 shows 99% of 366 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: 2007-06-12, 19 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
366
samples
2.97
dust max (mg/m3)
174 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 192 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. 5 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ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 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.44 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
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
4.53
0.00
0.000
2004 *
12.12
4.04
0.000
2003 *
7.12
3.56
0.000
2002 *
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)
2007
17
48,288
2006
19
88,426
2005
19
97,764
2004
21
141,371
2003
21
149,171
2002
26
170,394
2001
14
19,208
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No. 5 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
Sometime before 7AM on 10/26/05 a rock fell from the highwall onto the canopy at belt heading at portal causing the canopy to hit our rail runner and belt. Size is approximately 18 feet wide 6 feet high and 3 1/2 feet deep. NO INJURIES!!
February 8, 2005VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EMPLOYEE WAS BOLTING TOP AND A PIECE OF ROCK FELL OUT AND WENT AROUND THE CANOPY AND HIT EMPLOYEE ON LOWER BACK. EMPLOYEE WORKED THE REST OF THE SHIFT AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON 2/9/05 AND WAS GIVEN A RETURN TO WORK(OUTSIDE SEATED JOB) FOR 2/9/05. HE RETURNED ON 2/10/05 AND WORKED OUTSIDE UNTIL 2/24/05 WHEN HE WAS RETURNED TO WORK BY DOCTOR TO FULL DUTY NO RESTRICTIONS.
2004 · 4 incidents
April 30, 2004VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Bolt wrench slipped and went into left leg. Left thigh..lacerations 6 to 8 inches below groin area. Laceration &puncture wound of upper inside left thigh..about 3 inches deep and it took 13 to 18 staples to close the wound. Employee was Medflighted to Wellmont Brisol Hospital, Bristol, TN. X-rays and CT scans are negative, holding for observation.. HIRED 4/28/04
Roof Fall in 1st left section of entry #9 between spads #495 entending to spad #493 in GOB area of bleeder . Fall was approximately 150 feet long and 5 feet thick. Fall was discovered by Jerry Freeman and it was investigated by MSHA's James Duckworth. Steps taken to prevent recurrence of accident is to seal the area.
March 30, 2004VA · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee informed me on 5/5/04 that he had reinjured his knee from an accident in 2003. Ended up being the wrong knee!! Therefore he decided that he hurt his right knee on 3/30/04 when he stepped from the rock truck..never stopped hurting..went to Doctor on 5/5/04. Was warned on 5/3/04 about missing work & failure to do job duties. He has been terminated. CONTESTED!!
March 23, 2004VA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was helping to get belt roller off and employee's left index finger was hit with sledge hammer. Employee has open fracture to left index finger...went to Emergency Room, received tetnus shot, ancef shot and xrays and went to Orthopedist on 3/23/04. Orthopedist stitched finger and employee returned to work on 3/24/04.
2003 · 2 incidents
September 29, 2003VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
EE WAS BOLTING TOP AND A ROCK FELL ON CANOPY AND HIT EE ON RIGHT SHOULDER. EE WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND RETURNED TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. HE CONTINUEDHIS REGULAR JOB UNTIL HE WENT TO DOCTOR ON 10-16 -03 BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS ARM.
EE DID NOT REPORT THIS ACCIDENT UNTIL 2-20-03. THE STATED HE WAS HELPING WITH A BELT MOVE AND STEPPED ON A BELT ROLLER AND HIS LEFT KNEE POPPED, HE SAID IT DID NOT START HURTING UNTIL FRIDAY O R SATURDAY, HOWEVER HE DID NOT REPORT IT TO THE SECTION BOXX UNTIL 2-20-03. WORKERS COMP HAS NOT MADE A RULING ON THIS.