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.
359 citations across 3,340 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
No. 4 has $38K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K outstanding across 7 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.
$38K
proposed penalties
$37K
current assessed
$32K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
350 assessments are final orders; 7 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-01-16.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
6%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$403 proposed, $380 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2003-11-25.
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. 4 shows 93% of 579 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: 2013-01-23, 13 years ago
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
579
samples
6.71
dust max (mg/m3)
287 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 292 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. 4 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.
Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US coal mining average was 5.57 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.89 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.
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)
2013
11
2,238
2012
9
19,855
2008
0
2007
5
8,535
2006
7
17,354
2005
8
19,813
2004
10
42,877
2003
8
33,821
2002
6
25,888
2001
7
23,733
2000
9
26,515
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No. 4 sits in Knox County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knox County, Kentucky · Population 30,034
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$33,153
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
2013 Q1
2,952
4
1
1355.0
2012 Q4
5,854
5
3
854.1
2012 Q3
5,251
8
4
1523.5
2012 Q2
4,604
6
2
1303.2
2012 Q1
154
3
3
19480.5
2008 Q3
0
0
0
2008 Q2
0
0
0
2008 Q1
0
2
0
Show 32 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2007 Q4
0
0
0
2007 Q3
1,355
7
4
5166.1
2007 Q2
2,143
34
14
15865.6
2007 Q1
2,747
28
6
10192.9
2006 Q4
5,541
12
6
2165.7
2006 Q3
3,160
20
11
6329.1
2006 Q2
3,502
32
13
9137.6
2006 Q1
1,724
4
2
2320.2
2005 Q4
3,728
6
1
1609.4
2005 Q3
2,748
2
0
727.8
2005 Q2
4,009
10
1
2494.4
2005 Q1
4,461
14
10
3138.3
2004 Q4
6,120
12
7
1960.8
2004 Q3
6,529
15
4
2297.4
2004 Q2
6,602
13
6
1969.1
2004 Q1
5,161
8
2
1550.1
2003 Q4
5,850
7
4
1196.6
2003 Q3
5,354
8
0
1494.2
2003 Q2
10
6
2
600000.0
2003 Q1
3,943
4
2
1014.5
2002 Q4
2,456
4
4
1628.7
2002 Q3
2,793
7
2
2506.3
2002 Q2
1,993
11
3
5519.3
2002 Q1
3,450
3
1
869.6
2001 Q4
3,323
7
4
2106.5
2001 Q3
3,695
1
1
270.6
2001 Q2
3,436
8
4
2328.3
2001 Q1
2,256
11
5
4875.9
2000 Q4
2,652
18
9
6787.3
2000 Q3
1,502
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
4,586
6
4
1308.3
2000 Q1
7,008
12
6
1712.3
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
20 on file
2005 · 1 incident
September 20, 2005KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
EE WAS OPERATING TRACTOR LOADING COAL AT FACE. WHEN WHOULDER STRUCK ROOF BOLT HEAD. SEAM HEIGHT IS 24". ROOF BOLT PLATE WAS FIRMLY AGAINST ROOF. EE WAS LAYING ON HIS SIDE.
EE WAS OPERATING ROOF BNOLTER. EE WAS BENDING ROOF BOLT TO INSTALL IN MINE ROOF. HIS GLOVE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH BOLT CATCVHING HAND BETWEEN SCISSOR FRAME & FRAM OF ROOF BOLTER BREAKING LEFT F OREFINGER.
January 17, 1998KY · Coaldriller operatorMACHINERY
EE WAS ABSENT FROM WORK MONDAY 1/19/98 ARRIVED AT MINE TUESDAY 1/20/98 INFORMED MINE SUPT. THAT HE HAD "POPPED HIS KNEE" SATURDAY 1/17/98 WHILE DRILLING A ROOM. HE HAD BEEN TO DR BERNARD MOSES OFFICE ON MONDAY. EXACT NATURE OF INJURY WAS NOT DETERMINED.
EE WERE CHANGING REAR END IN MESCHER TRACTOR. ELECTRIC HOIST FAILED WITH TRACTOR SUSPENDED APPROX. 30". USING LOADER TO REMOVE TRACTOR FROM HOIST WHEN CHAIN SLIPPED CAUSING TRACTOR TO FALL STR IKING VICTIM ON FOOT.
April 25, 1997KY · Coaldraftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisorDISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
VICTIM WAS SETTING SPAD. LEFT X-CUT #3 ENTRY WAS SETTING SPAD. LEFT X-CUT #3 ENTRY WAS SHOT COAL AND PARTIALLY BLOCKED THE ENTRY. VICTIM BECAME DIZZY AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO FRESH AIR. COAL SCAM HEIGHT WAS APPROX 25" VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO SURFACE ADN ADMINSTERED 02 UNTIL AMBULANCE ARRIVED.
January 22, 1997KY · Coaldriver, jeep driver, tractor operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS TRAMMING TRACTOR TO SURFACE AT EN DOF SHIFT. WHIEL TRAMMING, NDER A PUMP DISCHARGE LINE, HIS HAND BECAME CAUGHT IN THE LINE AS HE WAS LIFTING IT FOR ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE WEDGING HIS WRIST AND ELBOW BETWEEN THE MINE ROOF AND TRACTOR FRAME. SEAM HEIGHT OF THIS MINE IS 24".
THUNDERSTORM. 2" OF RAIN FELL IN 30 MINUTES CAUSING DIVERSION DITCH ABOVE HI-WALL TO OVERFLOW ALLOWING WATER TO RUN INTO MINE PIT. 3-6" PUMPS COULD NOT KEEP WATER FROM FLOWING INTO MINE.
EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING MESCHER TRACTOR WITH HAND LAYING ON TOP OF POST ON TIMBER KNOCKER. OEPRATOR RAN OVER A ROCK IN ROADWAY CAUSING SCOOP TO BOUNCE CATCHIN GHAND & FINGER BETWEEN POST & MIN E ROOF, CUTTING 2ND FINGER ON RIGHT HAND. COAL SEAM HT. 24".
September 22, 1995KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS BUILDING A BRATTICE TWISTED KNEE WHILE BIULDING BRATTICE EMPLOYEE WORKED MONDAY 09-2 5-95 CAME TO WORK TUESDAY BUT DID NOT GO UNDERGROUND STATING HIS KNEE WAS SAFE EMPLOYEE WAS CA LLED AT HOME WED MORNING HE STATED HE HAD WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM THEEMR DOCTOR SUSPECTED A TORN CARTLIDGE
September 13, 1995KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS RIDING IN A SCOOP BUCKET AT THE END OF SHIFT. OPERATOR MADE A WRONG TURN AND RAN INTO THE TAILPIECE CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO STRIKE HEAD AGAINST BACK OF SCOOP BUCKET. EMPLOYEE CAME TO WORK THE FOLLOWING MORNING COMPLAINING OF STIFFNESS AND SORENESS IN NECK AND HEAD.
June 1, 1995KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)OTHER
VICTIM WAS HELPING ON CUTTING MACHINE. THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE FACE WHEN VICTIM TURNED AROUND & SLUNG HIS FOOT UNDER CUTTING MACHINE BREAKING BIG TOE ON LEFT FOOT.
1994 · 2 incidents
July 7, 1994KY · Coaldriver, jeep driver, tractor operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS LEAVING THE FACE AREA WITH LOAD OF COAL. RAN OVER A BLOCK OF COAL BOUNCING THE MESCHER TRACTOR INTO THE ROOF. STEERING WHEEL STRUCK A METAL STRAP, JERKING IT FROM OPERATORS HAND WHERE THE HANDLE STRUCK THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
April 14, 1994KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING BOLTING DRILL STEEL. CAUGHT THUMB BETWEEN JOINT OF PUSHER STEEL AND EXTENSION. EMPLOYEE WAS NEW, RECEIVED NEWLY HIRED EXPERIENCED MINER TRAINING ON 4-12-94; RECEIVED TASK TRAINING 4-13-94.