Mining Incidents

No 3: 61 MSHA citations Coal

Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Underground
Controlled by James H Booth
Debord, Martin County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1518298

No 3 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
2001–2003
Latest incident
Mar 2003
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
61
citations
16
significant & substantial
$5,128
proposed penalties
$4,827
paid to date
94% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $301 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
55
inspections on record
1,164
inspection hours
5.2
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.
61 citations across 1,164 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

No 3 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 12 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.
$5K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
59 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2003-04-10.
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.
26.7%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
28.3%
reasonably likely or greater
5.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.7% none, 10.0% low, 88.3% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
KENT20020192 Settlement Barbour 2002 $903 → $734
KENT20030175 Settlement Feldman 2003 $575 → $483
KENT20030145 Settlement Feldman 2003 $484 → $414
KENT 2003-391 Settlement Lesnick 2003 $357 → $317
KENT20020248 Settlement Zielinski 2002 $207 → $187
KENT20030206M Settlement Barbour 2003 $161 → $161
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at No 3 shows 89% of 203 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: 2003-04-03, 23 years ago
89%
within 1.5 mg/m3
203
samples
6.28
dust max (mg/m3)
103 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 100 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR113
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)17
  • SCOOP CAR OPERATOR12

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2002-10-08, 23 years ago
9.9
silica avg (%)
18
samples
33.2
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR17

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: 2003-02-25, 23 years ago
33%
over PEL
15
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR4
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)3
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER2
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
2003 100% 23
2002 94% 116
2001 77% 64
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2002 9.6 11
2001 10.2 7
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2003 0% 1
2002 33% 9
2001 40% 5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

No 3 recorded 11.99 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.

Injury rate, 2002
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.
11.99
total case rate
9.99
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 6.89 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 8.22 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2002 11.99 9.99 0.000
2001 * 20.55 16.44 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. Coalburg Enterprises 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)
2003 23 164,819
2002 40 712,383
2001 18 357,205
2000 0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

No 3 sits in Martin County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 8.0% 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.
Martin County, Kentucky · Population 11,181
8.0%
Mining share of county employment
$46,185
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
2003 Q2 5,508 1 1 181.6
2003 Q1 22,265 3 0 134.7
2002 Q4 24,667 10 5 405.4
2002 Q3 21,981 15 2 682.4
2002 Q2 29,548 8 2 270.7
2002 Q1 23,921 2 0 83.6
2001 Q4 26,848 9 4 335.2
2001 Q3 15,745 8 1 508.1
Show 3 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2001 Q2 6,072 5 1 823.5
2001 Q1 0 0 0
2000 Q4 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

14 on file

2003 · 2 incidents

March 4, 2003 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

THE EMPLOYEE WAS STACKING STRUCTURE ON TOP ROLLERS AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING POPPED IN LOWER BACK ON LEFT SIDE.

2002 · 7 incidents

December 2, 2002 KY · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Fall onto or against objects

THE EE WAS UNLOADING BOLTS, PLATES, GLUE ON A FLAT CAR & TRIPPED & TRIED TO CATCH BALANCE AND FRACTURED LEFT WRIST.

November 11, 2002 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE REMOTE CONTROL MINER WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK (4' BY 8' BY 11"THICK) FELL ON LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK OF HEAD KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND.

October 22, 2002 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

THE EE WAS PUTTING MINER CABLE DOWN CHANGING PLACES WITH THE MINER STANDING ON TIP TOES TO LET CABLE DOWN & PAIN STARTED IN LOWER BACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS BACK. INJURY WAS CAUSED FROM LIFTING CABLE.

July 23, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EE WAS OPERATING ROOF BOLTER WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL & HIT DIRECTLYON TOPOF HEAD.

June 20, 2002 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EE WAS OPERATING ROOF BOLTER UNDER CANOPY WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL ON CANOPY & BOUNCED OFF & HIT EE ON RIGHT SHOULDER.

May 28, 2002 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS OPERATING A SHUTTLE CAR AND A CURTAINBOARD BROKE STRIKING HIM ON THE CHEST.

2001 · 5 incidents

December 26, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS ROOF BOLTING WHEN THE RIB BROKE LOOSEAND HIT HIM IN THE BACK.

December 11, 2001 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS BACKING THE MINER UP STANDING AT END OF CURTAIN WHEN DRAW ROCK FELL BETWEEN INTERSECTION #7 AND #8 HITTING EE FIRST ON HEAD ROLLING DOWN BODY HITTING LEFT FOOT CAUSING LACE RATION. FOOT RECEIVED 4 SUTURES.

November 17, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

EE WAS OPERATING THE ROOF BOLTER WHEN A PIECE OFDRAW ROCK FELL FROM TOP STRIKING HIM ON BACK OF HEAD CAUSING LACERATIONS AND STOVED NECK.

September 17, 2001 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STANDING UP FROM THE KNEELING POSITION ON A LID OR PIECE OF COAL WHEN HE FELT A KNEE POP.

July 16, 2001 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Coalburg Enterprises Inc · Struck by falling object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS ON THE OPERATOR SIDE OF ROOF BOLTER WHEN HE HAD HIS HAND ON BOLT WRENCH PUTTING BOLT IN HOLE AND A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL AND HIT LEFT MIDDLE FINGER MASHING AND LACERATING IT .