Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
English Español
← Back to search

No 12: 392 MSHA citations Coal

North Star Mining, Inc. · Underground
Controlled by Carl Kirk
Hueysville, Floyd County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1518581

No 12 has $102K in proposed MSHA penalties and $71K outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at No 12.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
25
Years on record
2004–2008
Latest incident
Apr 2008
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
392
citations
151
significant & substantial
$101,900
proposed penalties
$30,900
paid to date
30% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $71,000 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See North Star Mining, Inc.'s full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
75
inspections on record
2,866
inspection hours
13.7
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.
392 citations across 2,866 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

No 12 has $102K in proposed MSHA penalties and $71K outstanding across 3 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.
$102K
proposed penalties
$102K
current assessed
$31K
paid to date
$71K
outstanding
387 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $13K in penalties contested before the Commission, $13K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2008-04-10.
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.
38.9%
significant & substantial
1.0%
high negligence or reckless
38.9%
reasonably likely or greater
10.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 11.1% low, 87.9% moderate, 1.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
7 citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
  • Settled 7 · 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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$13K proposed, $13K 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 2008-11-04.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
KENT 2008-798 Settlement Melick 2010 $8K → $8K
KENT 2009-181 Settlement 2010 $5K → $5K
KENT 2008-799 Settlement Feldman 2009 $385 → $328
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at No 12 shows 96% of 401 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: 2008-04-08, 18 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
401
samples
9.98
dust max (mg/m3)
187 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 214 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR210
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)43
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR21

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2008-03-26, 18 years ago
11.3
silica avg (%)
45
samples
24.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR37
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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.

Last sampled: 2008-03-20, 18 years ago
2%
over PEL
47
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)15
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR10
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR7
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2008 100% 17
2007 98% 61
2006 100% 44
2005 92% 89
2004 93% 87
2003 97% 99
2002 100% 4
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2008 15.3 1
2007 8.7 5
2006 14.5 4
2005 11.0 16
2004 10.6 10
2003 12.0 9
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2008 0% 5
2007 0% 6
2006 0% 5
2005 8% 12
2004 0% 14
2003 0% 5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

No 12 recorded 2.84 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.

Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ 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.
2.84
total case rate
2.84
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.12 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
2007 * 2.84 2.84 0.000
2006 * 6.22 6.22 0.000
2005 * 23.63 17.18 0.000
2004 * 15.96 9.12 0.000
2003 * 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.
Ownership history
  1. North Star Mining, Inc. 1998 to present
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)
2008 17 20,124
2007 30 90,385
2006 33 97,816
2005 40 142,038
2004 48 169,965
2003 43 203,627
2002 27 7,494
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

No 12 sits in Floyd County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.4% 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.
Floyd County, Kentucky · Population 35,342
4.4%
Mining share of county employment
$41,582
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
2008 Q2 3,159 4 2 1266.2
2008 Q1 11,721 17 7 1450.4
2007 Q4 11,468 10 1 872.0
2007 Q3 16,088 12 5 745.9
2007 Q2 23,159 53 21 2288.5
2007 Q1 19,803 12 3 606.0
2006 Q4 15,825 26 7 1643.0
2006 Q3 11,375 0 0 0.0
Show 15 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2006 Q2 18,006 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 19,143 4 0 209.0
2005 Q4 18,445 8 5 433.7
2005 Q3 20,845 18 3 863.5
2005 Q2 22,611 43 20 1901.7
2005 Q1 31,215 32 16 1025.1
2004 Q4 29,505 56 30 1898.0
2004 Q3 17,376 11 3 633.1
2004 Q2 16,659 10 3 600.3
2004 Q1 24,182 19 8 785.7
2003 Q4 26,251 9 7 342.8
2003 Q3 22,674 24 5 1058.5
2003 Q2 19,922 8 1 401.6
2003 Q1 15,698 10 2 637.0
2002 Q4 3,760 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

25 on file

2008 · 1 incident

2007 · 4 incidents

July 24, 2007 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
North Star Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

Underground intersection at break 13 above #4 head drive about 3 1/2 ft. high, about 19 ft. wide, approx. 50 ft. long.

May 7, 2007 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
North Star Mining, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Turning into #3 entry from #2 cut too close, caught arm between rib & buggie.

2006 · 2 incidents

July 19, 2006 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Glove caught on steel and twisted mashing hand in top.

July 10, 2006 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Cutting belt for skirt on tail piece, box knife slipped cutting left thumb.

2005 · 11 incidents

December 14, 2005 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Shoveling and got a pain in left shoulder.

December 12, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Working on miner-hit right thumb with hammer mashing it.

November 15, 2005 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ON THE ROOF BOLTER, EMPLOYEE SWUNG POT OUT ON BOLTER HITTING HIS RT. KNEE.

June 16, 2005 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS PUTTING FLIGHTS BACK IN FEEDER CHAIN WHEN HE WAS RE-INJURED (HERNIA). ORIG. INJURY AND DIAGNOSIS OF HERNIA 11/17/04. HERNIA WAS SURGICALLY REPAIRED APRIL, 2005.

April 27, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE MINER WOULD NOT TRAM. IT ACTED AS IF SOMETHNG WAS BLOCKING IT FROM TRAMMING. HE GOT DOWN AND LOOKED UNDER IT. WHEN HE DID, HE BUMPED IT, DISLODGING WHATEVER WAS HOLDING THE CATS. IT MOVED FORWARD AND MASHED HIM INTO THE RIB.

April 22, 2005 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS MOVING THE ANCHOR WHEN THE WHEEL TOOK IT UP AND HIT EE IN THE ARM. EE DID NOT TURN SHUTTLE CAR OFF. EE DID NOT THINK WAS HURT THAT BAD. CAME TO WORK ON MONDAY, ARM STARTED SWELLING

March 2, 2005 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TRYING TO INSTALL A ROOF BOLT WITHOUT USING THE SLAB JACK. THE CANOPY WAS PUSHED DOWN ON EE HEAD WHEN EE PUT PRESSURE ON THE DRILL BOOM.

February 8, 2005 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Rock slid off of canopy and struck injured in left arm, hip and lower back.

January 19, 2005 KY · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

MOVING CONVEYOR MOTOR THAT COMES OFF MINER. HE WAS MOVING IT SO THAT HE COULD PICK IT UP WITH SCOOP & CLEAN BEHIND THE FOOT PADDLE.

January 3, 2005 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
North Star Mining, Inc. · Fall from machine

INJURED KNEE. EE WAS PUTTING CONVEYOR CHAIN TOGETHER WHEN HE CAUGHT HIS FOOT ON THE RUB RAIL AND FELL OFF MINER.

2004 · 7 incidents

December 22, 2004 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKING ON A CONVEYOR CHAIN WHEN ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO HIT THE CHAIN. THE OTHER EE MISSED THE CHAIN AND STRUCK THE INDIVIUALS RIGHT HAND.

December 15, 2004 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting on belt to put back in place when he felt lower back pain.

October 6, 2004 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

HE WAS PULLING CABLE; PAIN STARTED IN BACK AND NECK.

October 4, 2004 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
North Star Mining, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

HE WAS LIFTING FOOT SHAFT AND FELT PRESSURE IN NAVAL AREA. A KNOT AROUND NAVAL MUSCLES IN STOMACH PULLED.

August 30, 2004 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Bolting top, drill steel fouled up in top and steel broke, smashing employee's little finger on right hand against top breaking his finger in two different places.

February 28, 2004 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by falling object

While bolting top, draw rock fell out of roof striking ee on right side of body and leg.