Mountaineer Pocahontas No 3 Mine has $120K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 38 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2007–2014
Latest incident
Feb 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
374
citations
63
significant & substantial
$120,382
proposed penalties
$94,729
paid to date
79% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $25,653 gap.
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.
374 citations across 4,714 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mountaineer Pocahontas No 3 Mine has $120K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 38 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.
$120K
proposed penalties
$95K
current assessed
$95K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
366 assessments are final orders; 38 contested dockets.
Of $98K in penalties contested before the Commission, $69K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-04-29.
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.
159citations taken to the federal commission · 43% of citations on record
Settled
152 · 96%
Stood as issued
6 · 4%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 1%
77%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 69 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
29%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$98K proposed, $69K 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 2014-10-23.
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 Mountaineer Pocahontas No 3 Mine shows 94% of 430 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: 2014-05-09, 12 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
430
samples
5.20
dust max (mg/m3)
198 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 232 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.
Mountaineer Pocahontas No 3 Mine recorded 8.33 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
8.33
total case rate
8.33
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 5.02 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
2014 *
8.33
8.33
0.000
2013 *
7.07
4.71
0.000
2012
7.30
3.65
0.000
2011 *
8.25
8.25
0.000
2008 *
14.62
8.35
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)
2016
0
2015
0
2014
12
35,399
2013
43
117,806
2012
75
145,169
2011
24
60,956
2010
0
2009
5
10,755
2008
35
108,921
2007
17
40,368
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mountaineer Pocahontas No 3 Mine sits in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.7% 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.
Greenbrier County, West Virginia · Population 32,688
1.7%
Mining share of county employment
$48,662
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
Employee was using a punch lock banding tool to splice waterline and while tightening band the band broke causing his momentum to shift forward and the banding tool struck him in the mouth. Employee received 4 sutures on inside of lower lip and lost 2 teeth.
An unintentional roof fall was found by mine examiner one break inby spad 1039 in the #7 Entry of #1 SE Mains at approximately 11:45am. Fall measured 18x24x6 1/2. All approaches have been cribbed/timbered and dangered off. Ventilation not interrupted. MMU's in non-producing status since August 16,2013.
May 11, 2013WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)POWERED HAULAGE
The employee was riding a 2 seated rubber tired personnel carrier and as they traveled under a conveyor belt guard the employee turned his head and hit the belt guard.
January 30, 2013WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
It appears that the employee was loosening a hose on a piece of equipment; the wrench slipped and hit him on a tooth. To date the tooth has not been repaired and no work missed due to the incident.
2012 · 6 incidents
November 3, 2012WV · Coalelectrician, linemanOTHER
It appears that the employee picked up a tool bag off a ride; spun around and twisted knee. Employee has continued to work. It appears that an MRI showing a menisci tear and mild pain was conducted on 1/2/13. Management was not aware of this until 2/19/13.
Employee was attaching fliger type duster to scoop bucket when latch handle snapped back catching his small left finger between the handle and the side of scoop bucket, was seen at ER, six sutures and positive fracture of tip of small finger
April 25, 2012WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSTRIKING OR BUMPING
Employee bent over to pick up hard hat when he raised up striking the back of head against torque-tension roof bolt head causing laceration to back of head, was seen in the ER and one staple placed on scalp
2011 · 2 incidents
December 20, 2011WV · Coalapprentice, traineeMACHINERY
Employee was welding when the welding rod stuck, he then pulled loose and struck him in the right eye, emergency care was given on section, the employee had welding slag and flux embedded in his eye. Was seen at the ER for treatment.
August 1, 2011WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was cleaning around the belt drive with two other workers when he slipped and fell against the coal rib. He jammed his right ring finger into the coal rib wihich possibly fractured the finger.
September 12, 2008WV · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorSTRIKING OR BUMPING
Come-a-long broke loose from tailpiece and hit employee in low back toward the left hip. Employee continued to work until 6-3-08. Missed work 6-3;6-4;6-5. Did not know he was off due to the injury until 6-6-08.
May 12, 2008WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
On 5/12/08 the injured was hanging a roof bolter cable and felt a pain in his shoulder. He continued to work until 7/21 at which time he received outpatient surgery. Not reportable until 5/12/08.
May 5, 2008WV · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee stated that he was bending a 6' bolt and felt a pain in the center of his back. He continued to work until 6-6-08 (Friday). Returned to work on 6-9-08 (Monday) with a doctors slip from 6-6 through 6-9. Operator was made aware of the day off on 6-9-08.
March 5, 2008WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The employee was touring the mine following experienced miner training; traveled through a check curtain;slipped and twisted his knee. He started missing time on 6/9/08 from the injury of 3/5/08 and became reportable on 6/9/08.
2007 · 1 incident
December 19, 2007WV · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON