Norwegian Township, Schuylkill County,
PA
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3601966
New St. Nicholas Breaker has $228K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 42 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
397
Years on record
1983–2026
Latest incident
Jul 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
652
citations
268
significant & substantial
$227,547
proposed penalties
$165,363
paid to date
73% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $62,184 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.
652 citations across 7,939 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
New St. Nicholas Breaker has $228K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 42 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.
$228K
proposed penalties
$171K
current assessed
$165K
paid to date
$6K
outstanding
604 assessments are final orders; 42 contested dockets.
Of $181K in penalties contested before the Commission, $125K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-08.
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.
26citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
17 · 65%
Stood as issued
1 · 4%
Still open
8 · 31%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 12 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
27%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$111K proposed, $81K 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 2026-04-29.
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 New St. Nicholas Breaker shows 99% of 399 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: 2026-07-15
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
399
samples
2.59
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.
298 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 101 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.
New St. Nicholas Breaker recorded 5.96 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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.
5.96
total case rate
5.96
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 2.63 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
2025 *
5.96
5.96
0.000
2024 *
3.13
3.13
0.000
2023 *
7.21
3.61
0.000
2022 *
10.15
0.00
0.000
2021 *
10.55
0.00
0.000
2020 *
8.95
4.48
0.000
2019 *
6.85
6.85
0.000
2018 *
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
Year
Employees
2026
32
2025
32
2024
28
2023
25
2022
17
2021
17
2020
21
2019
26
2018
25
2017
24
2016
20
2015
17
2014
14
2013
16
2012
11
2011
10
2010
10
2009
6
2008
5
2007
4
2006
7
2005
10
2004
11
2003
31
2002
60
2001
61
2000
68
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
New St. Nicholas Breaker sits in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania · Population 143,259
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$66,901
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
2026 Q2
15,543
2
0
128.7
2026 Q1
17,260
12
5
695.2
2025 Q4
17,564
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
16,330
3
0
183.7
2025 Q2
16,159
5
3
309.4
2025 Q1
17,038
5
2
293.5
2024 Q4
16,441
1
0
60.8
2024 Q3
16,697
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
15,378
6
3
390.2
2024 Q1
15,357
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
15,911
5
2
314.2
2023 Q3
16,587
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
12,533
4
0
319.2
2023 Q1
10,411
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
10,003
3
1
299.9
2022 Q3
10,007
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
9,455
6
2
634.6
2022 Q1
9,950
7
5
703.5
2021 Q4
8,630
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
9,995
3
2
300.2
2021 Q2
9,824
1
0
101.8
2021 Q1
9,456
1
0
105.8
2020 Q4
9,510
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
10,908
3
0
275.0
2020 Q2
11,068
1
1
90.4
2020 Q1
13,204
5
0
378.7
2019 Q4
13,939
3
1
215.2
2019 Q3
14,850
1
0
67.3
2019 Q2
15,447
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
14,148
1
0
70.7
2018 Q4
14,590
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
14,721
4
0
271.7
2018 Q2
14,818
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
12,531
4
0
319.2
2017 Q4
11,567
5
5
432.3
2017 Q3
12,764
6
3
470.1
2017 Q2
13,723
2
0
145.7
2017 Q1
14,283
3
1
210.0
2016 Q4
11,930
3
0
251.5
2016 Q3
14,451
3
0
207.6
2016 Q2
12,197
1
1
82.0
2016 Q1
8,895
1
0
112.4
2015 Q4
7,215
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
11,412
5
2
438.1
2015 Q2
12,283
1
0
81.4
2015 Q1
12,688
2
0
157.6
2014 Q4
10,271
2
1
194.7
2014 Q3
9,780
16
4
1636.0
2014 Q2
10,341
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
9,530
3
1
314.8
2013 Q4
9,642
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
8,648
4
0
462.5
2013 Q2
7,650
1
1
130.7
2013 Q1
7,700
7
0
909.1
2012 Q4
6,597
1
1
151.6
2012 Q3
7,268
4
0
550.4
2012 Q2
7,224
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
6,270
6
4
956.9
2011 Q4
6,235
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
6,225
1
0
160.6
2011 Q2
5,707
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
7,082
1
0
141.2
2010 Q4
6,070
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
6,762
2
0
295.8
2010 Q2
5,467
12
1
2195.0
2010 Q1
4,730
5
3
1057.1
2009 Q4
4,264
6
2
1407.1
2009 Q3
2,472
13
4
5258.9
2009 Q2
2,237
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
2,653
11
1
4146.2
2008 Q4
2,800
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
2,592
4
0
1543.2
2008 Q2
3,603
1
0
277.5
2008 Q1
2,583
3
0
1161.4
2007 Q4
2,498
1
0
400.3
2007 Q3
2,381
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
2,580
4
0
1550.4
2007 Q1
2,487
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
3,114
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
2,078
7
3
3368.6
2006 Q2
4,170
1
0
239.8
2006 Q1
4,484
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
4,605
15
0
3257.3
2005 Q3
4,883
1
0
204.8
2005 Q2
4,597
2
0
435.1
2005 Q1
5,252
3
1
571.2
2004 Q4
5,848
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
6,117
1
1
163.5
2004 Q2
5,877
1
1
170.2
2004 Q1
6,598
4
0
606.2
2003 Q4
8,092
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
7,349
7
2
952.5
2003 Q2
8,949
5
0
558.7
2003 Q1
33,526
59
38
1759.8
2002 Q4
32,139
2
1
62.2
2002 Q3
58,371
33
17
565.3
2002 Q2
31,055
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
31,329
45
17
1436.4
2001 Q4
32,688
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
33,497
34
6
1015.0
2001 Q2
33,469
18
6
537.8
2001 Q1
34,028
58
33
1704.5
2000 Q4
34,630
5
4
144.4
2000 Q3
40,267
42
26
1043.0
2000 Q2
38,150
3
3
78.6
2000 Q1
32,742
54
33
1649.3
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
July 25, 2017PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerFatality · MACHINERY
A Cat D9L bulldozer ee had been operating ran over ee. The bulldozer ran over the edge of the refuse bank and came to rest at the bottom of the embankment. The victim was pronounce dead at the scene. The reason why the victim was outside the bulldozer when the accident occurred is under investigation.
Reportable incidents
showing the 199 most recent (excluding fatalities above)
2026 · 2 incidents
July 20, 2026PA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While tramming dozer along haul road, employee drove over shot rock on the haul road causing the front end of the dozer to slam against the ground which cause the air ride seat suspension to bottom out.
January 16, 2025PA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
inclement weather when employee was hosing down a haul truck that was recently repaired from a hydraulic hose busting. When they came around the front of the truck, they slipped and fell
2022 · 2 incidents
November 21, 2022PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was thawing a pipe when it released and swung back. The water that came from the pipe knocked EE down. EE braced self with hands upon falling and jolted right shoulder.
January 11, 2022PA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While climbing down the 992 loader, the ladder swung and employee hyper extended their body and strained right lower back, buttocks and rear thigh/calf.
2019 · 3 incidents
October 25, 2019PA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was driving away from pump when EE saw flames behind the cab. EE stopped the truck & exited by jumping off the front bumper. The truck rolled backwards about 150 yards and stopped up against a pile of coal where it continued to burn. Fire Dept. arrived on scene & extinguished the truck.
2017 · 2 incidents
June 28, 2017PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Scraping mud from roadway with shovel, felt pain in Rt. shoulder. The accident was May 03, 2012, employee did not miss work until his scheduled surgery, July 3, 2012.
Man got off dozer at break, climbed back up onto track when he felt a sharp pain in lower back. Notified foreman next day stating he was going to get checked out. Came back 11/1/07 with note of pinced nerve in lower back; medicine and MRI scheduled 11/5/07.
2006 · 1 incident
March 17, 2006PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMP WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER ONTO A WALKWAY @ RESAIL POCKETS. HE STEPPED IN A HOLE IN FLOOR CUT FOR A CHUTE TO GO THROUGH & TWISTED HIS LEG. - WORKED REGULAR DUTY UNTIL 5/8/03.
April 10, 2003PA · Coalquality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant
EMP WAS ON HIS WAY TO CK DOOR PUMP. LG AMOUNT OF WATER & LOOSE MATERIAL ON RR TRACK & DOOR PUMP. TRIPPED WHEN HE WENT TO STEP OVER WATER PUDDLE. GOT UP & CONTINUED HIS JOB & THEN REPORTED ACCI DENT A SHORT TIME LATER.
2002 · 21 incidents
December 31, 2002PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
THIS EE STEPPED IN A DRAINAGE DITCH 39" WIDE X 16" ACROSS X24" DEEP AND FELL TO THE GROUND. LOCATED IN BSMT OF F.C.P. - INJURY OCCURRED BECAUSECOVER GRATE WAS REMOVED BY SOMEONE ELSE AND NOT REPLACED.
EMPLOYEE PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND DOOR OPEN. WHILE WALKING FROM TRUCK IT DRIFTED AND HE CHASED IT SLIPPING ON SNOW. TRUCK RAN OVER LEFT ANKLE AND FOOT WITH LEFT FRONT TIRE.
November 12, 2002PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE SLID OFF DOZER PUSHER ARM STRIKING LEFT ELBOW ON GRAB HANDLE ON REAR OF BLADE. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE CONTUSION WHICH LED TO A BLOOD CLOT ON 1-10-02 & EE WAS THEN HOSPITALIZED. EE WORK A FULL SHIFT ON 1-9-02.
January 2, 2002PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
EE FIRST REPORTED SYMPTOMS OF CTS ON 1-2-02 AND HAS WORKED FULL DUTY-NO LOST TIME EVER SINCE. HOW HIS SYMPTOMS HAVE PROPERESSED TO THE POINT THAT HE NEEDS SURGERY AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR 5-7-0 3.
2001 · 16 incidents
November 26, 2001PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS CLIMBING OVER STEEL BEAMS TO REMOVE PLUG ON DRUM WHEN HE SLIPPED ON WET MAGNATITE AND TWISTED HIS LEFT KNEE. EE WORKED FULL DUTY UNTIL 11-21-01. FIRST DAY OFF WORK WAS 11-23-01 DUE TO S URGERY.
WHILE WALKING DOWN STEPS, EE TRIED TO AVOID WALKING ON 3 WET STEPS BY BRACING HIMSELF ON HANDRAILS AND SWINGING HIS BODY OVER THE 3 WET STEPS. UPON LANDING HE INJURED HIMSELF.
WHILE INSTALLING A 20' PIECE OF 1" STEEL PIPE, EE WAS INJURED WHEN HE THOUGHT THE PIPE WAS THREATED INTO AN ELBOW, IT WAS NOT, HOWEVER AND PIPE FELL AND HIT EE S WRIST.
October 25, 1996PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techELECTRICAL
WHILE EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING 1"X5" WEAR BARS IN FEED CHUTE OF #3 HM DRUM. WATER DROPPED ONTO LIGHT BULB (DROP LITE/CORD) CAUSING BULB TO EXPLODE CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF ELEC TRICAL SHOCK FROM CAGE OF DROP LIGHT. EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCED NUMBNESS IN ALL EXTREMITIES WIWTH NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OR WITHOUT LOSING CONCIOUSNESS.
EE WAS HOISTING OXYGEN TANKS INTO FINE COAL PLANT. EE NOTICED CABLE HAD FREED ITSELF FROM HOUSING. HE THEN TRIED TO SHIELD OTHER EE FROM FALLING CABLE. CABLE STRUCK EE'S LEFT WRIST AND SHOULDE R.
July 16, 1996PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS USING CHIPPING HAMMER AS A SPUD BAR, WHEN HE STRUCK CHIPPING HAMMER WITH 2 LB HAMMER. UPON IMPACT, CHIPPING HAMMER SPLINTERD AND A PIECE OF METAL BECAME IMBEDDED IN HAND.
June 29, 1996PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
WALKING UP STEPS, SOMETHING DROPPED ON FLOOR ABOVE EMPLOYEE CAUSING HIM TO LOOK UP, WHEN HE DID DIRT FELL INTO HIS LEFT EYE. SCRATCH TO LEFT EYE (CORNEA) CAUSING INFECTION.
November 4, 1995PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE PUT SOCKET OVER PUMP IMPELLER NOT, EMPLOYEE HAD PIPE OVER BREAKER BAR. HE STRUCK PIPE WITH HAMMER. HAMMER SLIPPED ON PIPE CAUSING HAMMER TO HIT EMPLOYEE'S LEFT HAND AND CAUSE INJURY .
September 25, 1995PA · Coalcar dropper, car shake out operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
WHILE LEAVING SCALE HOUSE, EMPLOYEE FELL ON STEPS.
November 14, 1994PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING ANGLE IRON FROM SHAKER EMPLOYEE MOVED LEFT HAND OVER EDGE OF ANGLE TO CENTER TO GET A BETTER HOLD IN THE PROCESS A RAZOR LIKE EDGE TORE THROUGH LEATHER GLOVE & LEFT HAND
September 13, 1994PA · Coalbrakeman, roperider, car runner, spotterman, snapper, trip rider, car rider, flagmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE REPORTED TO WORK WITH NO COMPLAINTS, SPOKE TO CO-WORKERS BEFORE SHIFT STARTED. ABOUT 20-25 MIN. INTO SHIFT HE WAS FOUND FACE DOWN ON WALKWAY WITH NO PULSE. C.P.R. WAS STARTED & CONATI NUED UNTIL MEDICS ARRIVED. HE WAS PRONOUNCED D.O.A. AT GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL.
EMPLOYEE LEFT WORK PLACE COMPLAINING OF CHEST PAIN. HOSPITAL MISREAD EKG - EMPLOYEE RETURNED TO WORK 12-3-93. DIAGNOSED AS ULCER. PERSONAL PHYSICIAN FOUND IRREGULARITIES IN EKG. EMPLOYEE REPO RTED TO WORK 2-3-94 BUT WAS SENT HOME.
December 8, 1993PA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE INCURRED A POSSIBLE HERNIA WHEN HE WAS TIGHTENING BOLTS ON STRUCTURAL STEEL. EMPLOYEE WORKED LIGHT DUTY FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE HE HAD AN OPERATION.
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