Mining Incidents

No 2: 197 MSHA citations Coal

C W Augering Inc · Surface
Controlled by J Mark Campbell
Fedscreek, Pike County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1518029

No 2 has $48K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
7
Years on record
1998–2014
Latest incident
Feb 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
197
citations
61
significant & substantial
$48,000
proposed penalties
$39,666
paid to date
83% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $8,334 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
84
inspections on record
2,126
inspection hours
9.3
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.
197 citations across 2,126 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

No 2 has $48K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 2 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
$45K
current assessed
$40K
paid to date
$6K
outstanding
196 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $10K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2019-07-29.
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.
31.1%
significant & substantial
4.6%
high negligence or reckless
31.6%
reasonably likely or greater
12.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 20.9% low, 74.5% moderate, 4.6% 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.
25 citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
  • Settled 25 · 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 11 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
26%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$10K proposed, $8K 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 2017-01-18.
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 2017-0123 Settlement Miller 2017 $6K → $4K
KENT 2014-66 Settlement Rae 2014 $4K → $3K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at No 2 shows 100% of 183 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: 2019-07-29, 7 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
183
samples
1.26
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.
137 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 46 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • AUGER OPERATOR48
  • GROUNDMAN40
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER35

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2013-08-21, 13 years ago
1.8
silica avg (%)
6
samples
3.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • AUGER HELPER2
  • AUGER OPERATOR2
  • GROUNDMAN2

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: 2018-01-23, 8 years ago
0%
over PEL
68
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • AUGER OPERATOR20
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER15
  • FORKLIFT OPERATOR11
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
2019 100% 6
2018 100% 6
2017 100% 8
2016 100% 7
2015 100% 9
2014 100% 7
2013 100% 8
2012 100% 9
2011 100% 3
2010 100% 11
2009 100% 12
2008 100% 7
2007 100% 12
2006 100% 21
2005 100% 16
2004 100% 14
2003 100% 6
2002 100% 4
2001 100% 4
2000 100% 13
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2013 3.5 1
2010 0.6 1
2006 1.3 3
2004 2.5 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2018 0% 3
2016 0% 7
2015 0% 3
2014 0% 3
2013 0% 4
2012 0% 5
2011 0% 4
2010 0% 5
2009 0% 4
2007 0% 4
2006 0% 8
2005 0% 3
2004 0% 4
2003 0% 4
2002 0% 4
2001 0% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

No 2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2015.

Injury rate, 2015
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 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 2.72 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.56 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
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 9.44 9.44 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 8.50 8.50 0.000
2008 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2007 * 9.75 9.75 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. C W Augering Inc 1998 to 2000
  2. C W Augering Inc 2000 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)
2019 4 18,594
2018 4 17,332
2017 4 37,793
2016 14 44,598
2015 17 58,250
2014 7 52,358
2013 7 56,676
2012 10 133,852
2011 11 54,913
2010 9 83,644
2009 8 82,957
2008 8 76,873
2007 9 129,711
2006 9 87,212
2005 8 73,365
2004 8 84,459
2003 6 55,175
2002 4 11,491
2001 7 33,745
2000 8 164,516
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

No 2 sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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
2019 Q4 128 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,294 3 0 910.7
2019 Q2 3,121 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,975 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,492 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 2,743 3 1 1093.7
2018 Q2 2,238 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 1,815 3 1 1652.9
Show 71 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2017 Q4 3,551 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 2,284 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,416 10 5 2927.4
2017 Q1 2,536 6 2 2365.9
2016 Q4 2,865 22 8 7678.9
2016 Q3 5,544 4 0 721.5
2016 Q2 5,556 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 5,905 3 0 508.0
2015 Q4 5,708 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 6,426 2 2 311.2
2015 Q2 4,574 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 5,703 2 1 350.7
2014 Q4 3,976 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,481 5 2 1115.8
2014 Q2 6,368 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 6,368 1 0 157.0
2013 Q4 5,827 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 6,458 10 3 1548.5
2013 Q2 3,218 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 3,584 7 1 1953.1
2012 Q4 6,719 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 7,626 3 1 393.4
2012 Q2 6,820 1 0 146.6
2012 Q1 7,777 10 1 1285.8
2011 Q4 6,881 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 3,730 3 0 804.3
2011 Q2 5,033 1 1 198.7
2011 Q1 5,942 2 0 336.6
2010 Q4 8,064 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 5,855 2 0 341.6
2010 Q2 5,837 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 6,387 6 2 939.4
2009 Q4 7,180 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 3,794 1 0 263.6
2009 Q2 6,996 5 0 714.7
2009 Q1 5,564 7 1 1258.1
2008 Q4 10,018 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 1,692 3 0 1773.0
2008 Q2 7,534 3 0 398.2
2008 Q1 4,344 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 8,836 2 0 226.3
2007 Q3 5,803 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 1,754 5 2 2850.6
2007 Q1 4,121 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 10,493 2 0 190.6
2006 Q3 6,774 1 0 147.6
2006 Q2 4,890 1 0 204.5
2006 Q1 5,311 7 4 1318.0
2005 Q4 7,593 2 0 263.4
2005 Q3 5,581 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 4,986 2 1 401.1
2005 Q1 2,691 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 4,306 3 0 696.7
2004 Q3 6,410 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 5,268 9 4 1708.4
2004 Q1 5,413 5 4 923.7
2003 Q4 7,023 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 6,689 3 2 448.5
2003 Q2 0 0 0
2003 Q1 0 0 0
2002 Q3 2,579 1 0 387.7
2002 Q2 0 0 0
2002 Q1 0 0 0
2001 Q4 110 1 0 9090.9
2001 Q3 5,690 1 1 175.7
2001 Q2 2,052 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 0 0 0
2000 Q4 5,440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 5,072 6 3 1183.0
2000 Q2 4,707 2 1 424.9
2000 Q1 2,820 1 0 354.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

7 on file

2014 · 1 incident

February 17, 2014 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
C W Augering Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was operating front end loader. He had just finished loading a coal truck and was handing transport ticket to driver. He lost his footing and fell off of front end loader twisting his left ankle.

2013 · 1 incident

December 19, 2013 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
C W Augering Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a sledgehammer to replace a metal plate on highwall miner. When he hit the plate it came loose striking him on the left side of face and forehead.

2009 · 1 incident

February 4, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
C W Augering Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was removing one way grease valve when it blew out striking his right hand.

2007 · 1 incident

September 17, 2007 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
C W Augering Inc · Struck by flying object

EE was grinding on a beam when a sliver of metal flew into his eye. He had safety glasses on but the sliver got into his eye anyway.

2005 · 1 incident

June 13, 2005 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
C W Augering Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

HE HAD HIS ARM BETWEEN PTM AND BEAM WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION AND CAUGHT HIS RIGHT ARM CUTTING HIS ARM

1999 · 1 incident

June 22, 1999 KY · Coal MACHINERY
C W Augering Inc · Struck by falling object

WAS WORKING UNDER HI-WALL WHEN ROCK FELL 6-8 FEET STRIKING WORKER ON MIDDLE OF BACK.

1998 · 1 incident

July 13, 1998 KY · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
C W Augering Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WAS MOVING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER, THE CYLINDER SLIPPED CATCHING FINGERS.