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.
1,132 citations across 7,951 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2010-07-02.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
No 1 has $458K in proposed MSHA penalties and $83K outstanding across 31 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.
$458K
proposed penalties
$400K
current assessed
$317K
paid to date
$83K
outstanding
1,051 assessments are final orders; 31 contested dockets.
Of $219K in penalties contested before the Commission, $160K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2015-06-05.
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.
195citations taken to the federal commission · 17% of citations on record
Settled
111 · 57%
Stood as issued
84 · 43%
98%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 130 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
27%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$221K proposed, $162K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2014-06-10.
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 No 1 shows 94% of 524 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: 2015-06-15, 11 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
524
samples
7.26
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.
269 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 255 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.
No 1 recorded 0.00 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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.63 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
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
2.66
2.66
0.000
2010 *
16.04
12.83
0.000
2002 *
10.15
10.15
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)
2015
19
41,761
2014
26
84,720
2013
26
87,990
2012
23
71,252
2011
35
51,206
2010
31
20,823
2009
2
2008
25
43
2006
30
59,072
2005
20
47,997
2004
0
2003
26
63,111
2002
35
198,546
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No 1 sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
A rock fall was found during the pre-shift examination on the date and time stated in # 6 and 7. The fall was 60 ft long x 19 ft wide and 4 to 6 ft thick. The location of the fall was in the No. 6 entry on the No. 5 main at break #12.
Rockfall was found in the number 1 entry on the 3rd Panel, 10 breaks into the panel. The fall was 35' long x 20' wide x 6' thick. The fall was found on the date and time stated in item 6 & 7.
2011 · 1 incident
February 18, 2011KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was repairing a coupling attached to the feeder with a hammer. A piece of metal lodged in his finger causing a laceration. Employee didn't seek medical attention until 3/01 when finger became infected.
2010 · 5 incidents
July 28, 2010KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was walking from the miner to the water valve to turn it off when he slipped and fell. As he fell, he tried to catch himself with his left hand and arm. His hand was bent inward causing a slight sprain of the hand and wrist.
July 27, 2010KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was assisting a co-worker while making a splice. Employee attempted to move the knocker prior to the coworker finishing hitting the knocker. Employee's hand was struck by the hammer.
June 7, 2010KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossELECTRICAL
The mantrip buggy got stuck. The men were pushing the buggy out of the hole. The injured employee had his left foot between the buggy and rib. As the buggy came out of the hole, it got traction and the wheel turned and caught his ankle between buggy and the rib. The caused impairment to his left ankle, chipping the bone and contusion on the surface.
2006 · 1 incident
July 31, 2006KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A PIECE OF DRILL STEEL WAS STUCK IN THE ROOF. THE OPERATOR WAS TRYING TO REMOVE IT WHEN HE PLACED HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER AND THUMB AROUND THE STEEL NEAR THE ROOF AND APPLIED PRESSURE ON STEEL CAUSING PUNCTURE TO INDEX FINGER AND THUMB.
2002 · 4 incidents
September 26, 2002KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
BR&D ENTERPRISES, INC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
PLACED LEFT HAND ON CANOPY AND RAISED IT UO TO SET AND CAUGHT MIDDLE FINGER AGAINST MINE ROOF MASHING AND CUTTING FINGER.
September 21, 2002KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS