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.
120 citations across 2,357 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
No. 26 Strip has $60K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 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.
$60K
proposed penalties
$48K
current assessed
$48K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
119 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $40K in penalties contested before the Commission, $28K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-08-28.
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.
16citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
Settled
16 · 100%
83%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
31%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$40K proposed, $28K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2020-04-13.
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. 26 Strip shows 100% of 375 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: 2024-07-12
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
375
samples
1.06
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.
203 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 172 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. 26 Strip recorded 4.73 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ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.
4.73
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.17 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 2.23 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
2023 *
4.73
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
3.46
3.46
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
2.51
2.51
0.000
2018 *
4.38
4.38
0.000
2017 *
3.85
3.85
0.000
2016 *
4.01
4.01
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)
2024
11
33,099
2023
22
91,968
2022
26
123,613
2021
30
127,977
2020
37
193,929
2019
41
219,761
2018
24
141,309
2017
26
138,316
2016
25
137,014
2015
25
161,975
2014
25
176,461
2013
25
197,775
2012
26
206,437
2011
6
8,115
2010
0
2009
0
2008
0
2007
0
2006
0
2005
2
2,415
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No. 26 Strip sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
2024 Q3
482
0
0
0.0
2024 Q2
3,116
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
8,308
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
9,887
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
11,348
3
1
264.4
2023 Q2
10,064
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
11,010
9
3
817.4
2022 Q4
10,336
0
0
0.0
Show 70 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2022 Q3
12,609
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
14,054
6
2
426.9
2022 Q1
12,216
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
14,721
2
0
135.9
2021 Q3
12,875
1
1
77.7
2021 Q2
16,277
1
0
61.4
2021 Q1
13,929
4
1
287.2
2020 Q4
13,086
1
0
76.4
2020 Q3
15,365
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
20,125
6
0
298.1
2020 Q1
17,540
6
4
342.1
2019 Q4
21,894
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
18,648
6
0
321.8
2019 Q2
20,738
2
0
96.4
2019 Q1
18,269
4
0
219.0
2018 Q4
9,285
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
9,835
1
0
101.7
2018 Q2
14,598
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
11,929
3
2
251.5
2017 Q4
14,234
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
12,086
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
13,770
3
0
217.9
2017 Q1
11,902
3
0
252.1
2016 Q4
12,653
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
13,431
2
0
148.9
2016 Q2
11,745
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
12,098
2
1
165.3
2015 Q4
13,446
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
13,358
2
0
149.7
2015 Q2
11,667
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
13,442
2
0
148.8
2014 Q4
12,638
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
13,814
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
12,732
12
5
942.5
2014 Q1
14,251
5
1
350.9
2013 Q4
12,066
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
15,062
2
0
132.8
2013 Q2
12,947
1
0
77.2
2013 Q1
14,485
4
0
276.1
2012 Q4
12,792
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
15,172
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
13,641
3
2
219.9
2012 Q1
16,471
3
0
182.1
2011 Q4
4,108
2
2
486.9
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
0
0
2011 Q1
0
0
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q3
0
0
0
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
0
0
0
2009 Q3
0
0
0
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
0
0
0
2008 Q4
0
0
0
2008 Q3
0
0
0
2008 Q2
0
0
0
2008 Q1
0
0
0
2007 Q4
0
0
0
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
0
0
0
2006 Q3
0
0
0
2006 Q2
0
0
0
2006 Q1
0
0
0
2005 Q4
180
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
443
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
253
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file
2023 · 1 incident
August 28, 2023VA · Coaldrill operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Employer received by mail on 08/28/2023 that the employee listed had retained legal counsel and had filed for a claim for coal workers' pneumoconiosis/black lung. Thus this is being filed as an occupational injury/illness.
2021 · 1 incident
October 12, 2021VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Employee stated was getting off of a dozer. As EE stepped down off of push beam step, EE's right foot stepped on a rock causing EE to twist right knee. Went to doctor to get checked thus incurring lost time.
At approximately 12:00 noon, the operator noticed flames in the engine compartment below the radiator. The operator shut dozer down and along with the foreman proceeded to extinguish the fire. Fire put out within 20 minutes. They went to get more fire extinguishers and upon returning approximately 20 minutes later, the dozer had reignited and was burning rapidly.
2019 · 1 incident
March 26, 2019VA · Coalutility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stated that ee was dismounting dozer at the end of shift. EE stepped on a rock which was laying on the step of the push beam. EE foot slipped off causing ee to fall to the ground and landing on right foot. EE said ee felt knee pop which caused severe pain. Went to doctor next day and is off work.
2018 · 1 incident
November 26, 2018VA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was lifting a 3 gallon bucket of oil onto loader bumper. As they were lifting, their feet got stuck in mud causing them to lift & turn their back simultaneously. Minor pain rest of day. Next day they said they could hardly move. Went to ER and off work since that day.
2017 · 1 incident
February 20, 2017VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee stated that EE was climbing up the ladder on the hauler to check out a steering leak. The lower step swung underneath the bumper causing EE to pull self up the ladder. EE felt pain in the arm, neck, shoulder and back area. Went to doctor to get checked and missed work starting 2/21/17.
2016 · 2 incidents
December 7, 2016VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee stated was lying on right side on the ground installing a roller cap and 2 bolts on dozer. During this process, felt a pop in right shoulder. Continued work and went to doctor on 12/14/16 to have checked due to still being sore. Was placed on restrictions starting 12/15/16, thus reportable.